Friday, September 25, 2015

Visit to Mayo Clinic

This past week we made a trip to the Mayo Clinic.  In the world of Pulmonary medicine there are a few Doctors that specialize in Alpa1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.  Mayo Clinic has ONE Doctor and he has 60 patients with Alpha 1….he is called an Alpha Doc.  He is Doctor K.

We felt it was worth the trip…seven hours the first day because we avoided the Cities and traffic…the return trip we went through the Cities and we were home in five hours.

Chance went along and went to Doggie Day Care while we were at the Clinic.  The day we got there we took off on a recon mission to find the Doggie Day Care and where the parking garage was.  There are busses that run a shuttle to the clinic…but we got an early start and only had to park on the seventh floor of the parking garage.

It is quite a clinic, there are six elevators for the first twelve floors and six elevators for the next eight floors.  The floors are marble and I commented that it is a good thing that if you arrived in the winter in a snowstorm your feet would be dried off before you stepped a foot on those floors.

Exam rooms have marble floors and sofas

The exam rooms have marble floors and sofas.  Note: they even splurged for the sinks that have covered pipes.

Still using windows 7

They are still using Windows 7.

Dr. K. is older than me….I guessed 65 but he is 68 and Far Guy says he has credentials as long as your arm.  He was pleasant and straight forward.  He told us to keep on keeping on with what we are doing.  He suggested that we tweak a couple of medications and have some special tests…a Cat Scan, X Rays and a Liver Ultra Sound….which could be done over the next few days or we could go home and have them all done in Fargo in one day.  He said to stay away from germy people and get our flu shots.  He said that we should have antibiotics on hand at all times.

We asked about our oldest daughter that tested as an MS.  Dr. K. says that he is seeing many more people with the phenotype MS having liver problems especially liver cancer: so it is of the utmost importance that she should not smoke or drink alcohol because both will speed up the liver damage.

Dr. K. also said it is very important for anyone that is a blood relative to be tested.  Testing can be done anonymously…by a coded number.

Out the window of the 18th floor

The view out the 18th floor.

Tower od the Plummer building

This is the tower of The Plummer Building.  The Plummer Building was built in 1926/1927 and is a historic building.  It was a clinic building for a whole group of Mayo Clinic Doctors.

We visited with a couple from Michigan….Brian and Margo they told us that the Clinic now has 2,000 doctors, their son was one of them.

Chihuly Glass Sculptures at Mayo Clinic

Chihuly Glass Sculptures in the main part of the clinic…I didn’t notice them going in but I enjoyed them going out.

When we left you could barely see that huge expanse of marble floors…there were people everywhere.  Mainly old people, a few that were younger than us …but not many.

After our appointment we went and checked out of our motel, went out for a late breakfast and then picked up Chance who was really happy to see us and headed home.  It was good to be home before dark.

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28 comments:

Buttons Thoughts said...

Wow that is a incredible place. It sounds like this doctor knows exactly what to do. You needed that information. Take care. HUGS B

linda m said...

I am so glad you finally got what seems to be "straight" answers. Dr K sounds like just who you needed to talk to; someone who knows what he is talking about. Well worth the trip. Have a great weekend.

Pauline Persing said...

I agree with Linda M. Great idea to make the appointment and get the latest information.

Marty said...

I've never been to a medical facility of that magnitude. Very trust-inspiring, even without the stellar reputation.

DJan said...

I'm glad you two are doing all this to make sure there is nothing better that you should be doing. I just wish there was something that could be done more than these infusions. But every day that Far Guy is up and about is a good day. You three people are some of my favorites -- I mean two people and one furry guy. :-)

Tired Teacher said...

I'm happy that you made the trip to see the specialist. It was time well spent.

Mayo has a great reputation (my Dad went there in the early 60s) and have even expanded to Arizona. Their doctors are exceptional.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

I'm glad you saw a specialist, and it sounds like he is the best of the best! I don't understand what Far Guy has, but I am going to go read about it right now, so I don't sound stupid when I comment. Have a super weekend!

Shirley said...

Prayers for Far Guy (and your daughter) to keep healthy for a long time.

RURAL said...

A long drive for sure, but in the end it sounds as if it was so worth the effort in order to get more information and know that you are on top of things as you can be. The Dr. sounds knowledgeable, and helpful which is so much better than the ones that are dismissive and cold.

What a gorgeous building that is, you can see the amount of funding it has gotten over the years. No wonder it has such a amazing reputation.

Jen

Anonymous said...

The Dalai Lama is there today for his checkup!

Terry and Linda said...

I'm glad you were able to go!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

Everything I hear about Mayo is positive...they know their stuff, they give you good info, and they offer you choices. Plus Chihuly glass! Hope you both get some relief and feel better soon!

L. D. said...

I bet it makes you feel more confident about all that you have been doing. It looks like a fancy place.

Gail said...

I have heard wonderful things about Mayo.

Linda Reeder said...

It's wonderful that you have such expert medical help within your reach.

Red said...

It was also good to be assured that you are on the right track. The trip was well worth it to get some reassurance and you never know you could find something much better than what you're doing.

Judy said...

What a way to spend a day...glad you were happy with how it went...

Cheryl @ TFD said...

I'm glad you were able to go and got some very helpful information. Mayo Clinic has a great reputation. I've never been there but know several who have, including my brother years ago.

Karen said...

I think everyone has probably heard of the Mayo Clinic. Quite a trek for you to get there, but well worth it I think. Take the doc's advice and get those other tests done. All the best.

Diane C said...

Mayo is a good place. I grew up just 23 miles from their front door and ended up there about 20 years ago, after I had moved to Wisconsin, when my regular doctor couldn't diagnose a problem I was having, which Mayo diagnosed the first day as a rare auto-immune disease. For anything serious, that's where we'll go! Hope things continue to go ok for you and your family.

Granny Marigold said...

It`s good to know you`re already doing all the right things and you should `keep on with what you`re doing``. I hope it`s reassuring.

Jacqi Stevens said...

I bet catching a glimpse of that glass sculpture really pumped your creative juices!

Leah said...

I am glad you went to Mayo - sounds like your travels went went. It sounds like quite the facility! A doggy daycare - that is wonderful!

Susan Zarzycki said...

What an interesting and informative day you had! Thanks for sharing it.

Linda Kay said...

I've heard many good things about Mayo Clinic. My sister-in-law went there for diagnosis of her declining health. And I have a friend who volunteers there when she goes north for the summer. Very interesting and informative visit, and hope things are going well.

Rita said...

Definitely worth the trip! I have always heard that Mayo is quite the place. I have a girlfriend who had an inoperable brain tumor with a grim prognosis. Mayo did a new laser surgery on it and zapped that tumor! And that was many years ago, but she still goes occasionally down to Mayo for checkups every few years. It's a really long trip for you guys and Chance, but I'm glad it was a quick one. I hope all the follow up testing he suggested goes well. :)

MTWaggin said...

Good to hear you are on the right track for FG and it sounds like the doc is pretty common sense which is a change for sure so yay on those counts. Isn't the glass lovely - I enjoy his stuff so much and really enjoyed a recent special on him I saw on PBS.

Sam I Am...... said...

Good to hear you got the Mayo seal of approval. I took both my parents there and I went there myself. My ex-BIL is head of Radiology there and it is a great place. We stayed at Soldiers Inn I think it was? They had singing waiters at night which my Mother really enjoyed.