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| Scottsdale Campus |
Today we go to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale for the first time. The Scottsdale campus was the original Mayo Clinic building in Arizona and was built quite a distance from town. The town has since nearly caught up to it but it's still a very beautiful setting in the Sonoran Desert.
Campus activity in Scottsdale is centered around a beautiful five-story outpatient clinic. The facility contains 240 exam rooms, an outpatient surgery center equipped for general anesthesia, a full-service laboratory, a pharmacy, a patient-education library, an endoscopy suite and a 188-seat auditorium for patient, staff and student education programs. Services in more than 66 medical and surgical disciplines are provided, including programs in cancer treatment and organ transplantation.The commute today was a little MORE difficult. At one point it took 35 minutes to travel 2/10th of a mile. This was the week of the Phoenix Open golf tournament which is held about midway between the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix and the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. The day we traveled to Scottsdale, 179,000 people attended the tournament. Traffic was a little congested. This was the only day we were not on time for one of our appointments, but still we were only 10 minutes late.
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| One of MANY clinic check ins |
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| It is a BIG place ... |
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| VERY big ... |
9:00am -- Scottsdale Campus -- Radiology. Bone Mineral Analysis to determine bone density.
10:00am -- Scottsdale Campus -- Pulmonary Testing. Pulmonary Function Test to determine health (or disease) of the lungs and airways.
11:30am -- Mayo Clinic Hospital -- Registration. I know, right? Just making sure we know what we're doing I guess.
12:00pm -- Mayo Clinic Hospital -- Cardiology Testing. Exercise stress test with mVO2 measures capacity for exercise as your heart's ability to provide oxygen to your muscles during exercise. This one didn't go so well, as Lee was able to last less than one minute. In the past, this test generally started out slowly & the treadmill speed was gradually increased. In this particular test, the speed was set for a trot almost as soon as he began. Within a few seconds, the treadmill was elevated (as if climbing a hill) and Lee's bp dropped to 70/? and the test was stopped immediately. hmmmm What does THAT mean?
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It's FRIDAY!! Once again we are heading out to Scottsdale in the dark of the early morning, our Christian radio station keeping us company.
8:00am -- Scottsdale Campus -- Psychiatry Consultation. Need I say more?? Seriously, though this was an intense hour of questioning and probing to determine the emotional stability of a transplant candidate. Kind of a rough way for a person (Lee) who says of the early morning doings, "not my finest hour."
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| There is beautiful art everywhere |
10:00am -- Scottsdale Campus -- Cardiology. Vascular Testing. This was another test Lee has never undergone before. A type of probe (like for oxygen monitors on the fingers) is placed on the toes and blood pressure cuff-like devices are place on both upper arms, thighs, and calves. A Doppler probe is placed below each cuff as they are individually pressurized and held then released. Lee found this test fascinating as well.
It's especially nice to have someone who will explain what they're doing and why as the testing is conducted.
12:00pm -- Mayo Clinic Specialty Bldg -- Transplant Social Worker Visit. We were assigned our own social worker (well, we have to share her with some other folks in the transplant program). Her job is to assess our family for ability to cope with the stress of transplantation and the ability to follow a rigorous treatment plan, both before and after transplantation. She also discussed need for a support system, especially post transplantation. It was a very informative meeting and we took home several pamphlets to read and glean.
2:00pm -- Mayo Clinic Specialty Bldg -- Transplant Dietitian Assessment. Transplant Nutrition services. Wow! This was a very fact filled meeting. I thought I had a pretty good handle on nutrition but there is so much more to learn. We have a renewed appreciation for label reading, particularly for sodium, fats, and sugars. Our dietitian gave us an overview of the diet after transplantation ---- WHEW! more to learn. Two foods that may never touch Lee's lips again post transplantation are pomegranates and grapefruit. Never. Ever. I really do not remember why. It was the end of 5 grueling days and my brain could hold no more.
I want to make sure I thank all of you who have prayed for us throughout this week and will continue to pray for us in the months and years to come. It is a blessing beyond measure. Thank you also to family and friends who sent text messages and emailed notes of encouragement this week. Even though I had little energy or time to respond, it meant so very, very much to us. Thank you. Thank you.
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| On the concourse level in Scottsdale |
Day Six
Okay. It's Monday again. We've had 2 days to rest and try to regroup a bit. Today is the not so fun test. All of you over 50 will understand.
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| Scottsdale Atrium |
10:00am -- Scottsdale Campus -- Colonography. Look it up.
10:00am -- Scottsdale Campus -- Radiology. CT of Chest, Abdomen and Pelvis to help rule out the possibility of other diseases or tumors.
DONE and out of there!
Day 6 was a Monday. The next few days there were calls back and forth several times. Finally, towards the end of the week, we have a schedule for the next week. Monday Lee will take another exercise stress test. Tuesday, he will have a heart catheterization.
Thursdays are the days that the heart transplant team (doctors, nurses, specialists) get together to determine if a new candidate is ready and cleared to be place on the "List." We will meet with our transplant doctor on Friday morning for the results of all of our testing and where we are in the transplant list world.
Prayers gratefully accepted.
Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
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