Dear Billye,

Have a safe and productive trip. You're well prepared to make the most of what Mayo has to offer.

I love storms, including driving in them. Do you have four wheel drive? Snow tires? Chains are a pain, but you might want to bring a set along just in case. You can pick some up on the way BEFORE encountering icy roads. I hope you're leaving yourself some extra time for the weather so you and hubby don't stress out.

Good luck and Godspeed!

===========================

I just looked at the national weather forcast: http://www.wunderground.com/US/Regio...xpxFronts.html . With luck you'll follow the worst of it, but the roads may be icy. You should be under high pressure tomorrow. High pressure makes for cold, clear skies. As it sayeth in the Bible, "Get thee chains and fresh antifreeze before thy needeth them."

you DEVIL you! LOL

Even better...tell Dr. Dyck you are a researcher stringer for CNN! LOLOLOL

I absolutely am requesting a new brain when I get to Mayo. I tried to do this
post twice and keep messing up. Heaven help my poor husband when I try to work the new laptop.

Just wanted to thank all of you so much for your caring and support. Need to straighten out a mess I made earlier:

The doctor I'm seeing at Mayo is Dr. Peter J. Dyck. not David Dyck. I used to work with a man named David ""D..I...C..K.", so the name came automatically to my very overcrowded brain. Thanks Janster, for making me realize this. When you couldn't find him, I realized what I'd done.

The weather is really bad. Sleet, freezing rain, snow all day to day and the temp is in the mid 20's right now. We will be o.k tomorrow here in Texas when the temps warm up tomorrow. But it looks like the storm may dump 10-12 inches of snow tonight in the Oklahoma area we have to go thru. We'll look at the situation tomorrow and we are looking at some way to go around it. We allowed an extra day for the trip up. Looks like we will need it.

Nope, we don't have chain and it's not a 4-wheel drive, but it is a front wheel drive. It also doesn't have the interior the one we tried out and thought we were getting. But we are making do. No time to do anything else. We got the foam bed in today to check it out. Had to rethink it because of the changes, but it looks like it will work.

It's late, and I've still got things to do before tonight.
Thanks for all the support you guys!! I feel like I have a real family here.

Love to all,
Billye

p.s. You are going to get sick of me. But you can just skip this thread.

David:

Hate to tell you this, but no one in Minnesota uses tires chains anymore - they are illegal on our roads. But it is crucial to have a good battery and good snow tires help. Mayo Clinic is in Rochester, MN and frequently Rochester has big snows.

We in Minnesota when traveling have emergency food, blankets, etc. in the car. Jumper cables are in most of our car trunks just in case our battery gets weak and won't start the car. At least one can get to someplace to get the battery charged or buy a new one.

If caught in a bad snowstorm stick with the car - do not try to go for help during a snowstorm here! The weather reports here are excellent and it is best to know what is being forecast for any trip that is planned.

Shirley H. in Minneapolis, MN

Billye,

I am very glad that LJ convinced you to blog about the trip. Hopefully, it will be of value to you - maybe focus your thoughts, not forget things that you need to bring up, venting, etc, etc. And I am quite sure it will be helpful for others. Over the years, we always have folks who are thinking about going there. Now, I don't want to put any pressure on you to produce the DEFINITIVE thread . . , but I will look forward to a good read.

rfinney

Hey, Billye, well, you know where I stand on the blog issue--I want to hear all about this, and more! I'm bummed for you about the weather---just drive safely; I know you'll have blankets in the car, but also--flashlights or candles? and emergency flares and all?

The candles will come in handy in your fancy hotel room!

XO
LJ

I think the last ice storm or blizzard we had here in San Diego was approximately 23,347 B.C. during the last Ice Age.

Chains were legal in Oregon when I lived there. I can't imagine driving the steep Cascade mountain passes without them. I know that they chew up the roads and their noise and vibration make them hard to tolerate on level highways.

I'll worry about Billye until we hear from her. That's a long drive under the best of circumstances when you're ill and feeling lousy.

David:

I can understand how chains have to be used on tires in the mountains with the heavy snows that fall there.

Tire chains used to be legal here in MN and I remember seeing my husband put them on. What a pain they looked like to me - putting them on and taking them off. I guess they did such a number on highways that the State Legislature outlawed them. It's been decades since anyone here used them.

I hope that trip to the Mayo Clinic goes all right. Right now we are escaping all the snowstorms. The radio weather guys are saying we might get flurries tonight but that is no problem. They do warn about "Black Ice though - that is the ice formed on highways and bridge decks by exhaust fumes. Winters here in the Far North can be quite the driving challenge.

Shirley H.

Billye,

I am extremely interested in your trip to Mayo and am eager to hear every detail you wish to share about your experience.

I have been seeing specialists (like many people on this site) after specialist for about 3-4 years now. I am diagnosed with one thing after another, but my decline has been rapid in this past year.

My disease-of-the-year is a pseudo tumor behind my left eye. I began seeing a Neuro Ophthalmologist about 4 hrs from home and she started me on prednisone 65 mg to see if the inflammation and symptoms would subside.

After three visits in 2 mths, there was no change in the ptosis of that eye, nor the pressures and inflammations. She stated that in all of her years she had not seen a case like mine (and I am sure many of you have heard that one too).

She suspects a possible pituitary tumor or maybe Cushing's and referred me to Mayo in Minn. So I will be going there in January to see a Endocrinologist and a Neuro Ophthalmologist.

My entire endocrine system has either been removed or compromised and the only one that hasn't been checked is the pituitary.

So, I would love to hear the good/bad about your experience. I hear it is huge and that you spend your days trying to find where you are supposed to be, and I don't mean that in the negative sense, just that it is only honking big place.

I was told that you will get an itinerary which will guide you to each appt, test or blood work. Mine is in the mail. lol

I have heard nothing but positive things about Mayo and am counting on them to look at the big picture for me. In my case, if they find an adrenal or pituitary tumor and it can be removed they will add me on to the surgery schedule and do it while I am there. This is what I am praying for.

Funny how we almost welcome a diagnosis (good or bad) when we have been searching for answers for so long. I don't care what they tell me............just tell me SOMETHING. I am starting to feel like a side show, especially when I have been called a medical nightmare by a specialist.

So, you drive safely, count the stars and let us know how many there are, return safe and sound and with a definitive answer and solution.

I will say a prayer for you and yours. Maybe Mayo is the answer for both of us. Here's hoping!!!!!!!!!!!!

My sincere best wishes and good luck,
Judy

knew you were special, but, being in the 'really rare disease' category I'd not ever thought of!
Just think! 'bits' of you will be kept for HISTORY? Or, is it posterity? [NOT POSTERIOR!]
That they wanted to do more tests was, super, but all this means SUPER-DUPER as you KNOW they will do follow-ups big time w/your regular docs at home. Believe me, that old 'super-peer pressure' thing will be working big time!
I just want them to do/give/have something that gives you some sort of RELIEF! Like a rabbit out of a hat...
Just keep those 'seen it all [NOT YET]' folks on their toes....at least they can BE on their toes.

Super soft special HUGS dear Lady! - j