I have been having trouble with my kidneys since December. I had an appointment today at 2:45 p.m. Then they call and tell me not to come. Now instead of going to the Park Nicollet Burnsville, MN clinic I'm told to go to the Park Nicollet clinic in Lakeville, MN clinic. I don't have the virus but I'm treated like I have the plague.
I am 70 years old. I have asthma, high blood pressure and diabetes. I'm considered to be in the high risk group but you can't get an appointment to get any help.
Please help me! Thanking you in advance.
Also, your profile says you are taking care of your husband with Parkinson’s disease. Both of you are at a higher risk than a younger person.
Best wishes to you and your husband.
FYI my son works in one of the labs at the Mayo. He just told me today that the Mayo's Infectious Disease team is finding covid-19 in stool and blood so now it appears it can be spread by means other than saliva, which is even more worrisome. They are also saying that there can be permanent lung damage to survivors of the virus. This is why we need to know just how serious your kidney problem is -- you'll be taking a great risk and we need to get a sense if it's worth it.
I hope you can make it to the 2nd location. At least they didn't cancel you altogether.
Everybody is being treated "like they have the plague." It's the precautionary principle. I expect your appointment has been relocated because the Park Nicollet organisation is separating facilities by specialty, and that's where they've put the renal clinics.
I was with a client who had accidentally taken an overdose yesterday. I needed to call his doctor for urgent advice. It took me nearly an hour on the phone; and while I waited, listening to recorded messages which frankly made me want to scream with frustration, the other thing I learned was that support staff and clinicians alike are being subjected to a great deal of verbal abuse at a time when they are under immense pressure. We are all stressed, the situation is stressful, but taking it out on anyone is just not going to help.
You are in a high risk group, and you should be shielded. It's up to you to decide whether you want to break quarantine and attend your appointment, or sit tight and wait a few weeks more. Can it wait? If not, can you get there?
Doctors are having to double up on duties, I am sure the clinics are not operating normally. I would think this is part of doing your part.
How recent are your labs including specifically serum Creatinine level & GFR?
If your labs are greater than 3-4 months old the nephrologist will need recent labs that you aren’t able to get done now due to lab overload.
A nephrologist is a kidney specialist. They run dialysis centers and have big problems keeping their patients and staff safe as right now every patient receiving chronic hemodialysis in an out patient clinic is at risk.
If it’s kidney stones you will see a urologist. I think they too are shutting down and treating emergencies only.
You can always reschedule if you like.