I called Mayo to speak with the scheduling and find out more about what they had in mind for me. And the good news is this odd bit. The spine surgeons are not allowed to see spine patients; the neurosurgeons do.

And, only two neurosurgeons are allowed to see complex cases, which I am.

There's a tight procedure there. First, a back patient MUST see the pain doc. He's the gatekeeper. He then refers to a neurologist. Only the neurologist is allowed to refer to the neurosurgeons. If the neurologist asks for neurosurgery consultation, I will see her the only reason I am coming is to see a neurosurgeon, and that if I have to wait a week, I will be out way too much money from earnings (I work for myself and have two kids in college) while I twiddle my thumbs there. I told her I will not come unless she can tell me that these two guys have open appointments next week.

So, she put me on hold and called their secretaries. It's "possible", she said, to see one of them. Not definite, but possible. Both are working, and one has an opening, although it could be filled by the time my consultation request reaches him.

However, sometimes they'll see an add-on patient. I'm just going to fight to be an add-on.

But how odd that the spine department has its own surgeons and none are the ones who do this kind of work.

I'm feeling better. Still very very stressed, but better. The idea of going all the way to Minnesota and spending all the money and time and stress to see some little kid just out of training was not working well for me.

So, tomorrow I pack.