Mayo

I have spent the last two days in and out of the Mayo Clinic having a variety of tests done. My husband and I decided a complete check up would be our gift to each other. The first day went smooth. The Scottsdale clinic is staffed with helpful patient professionals and good service is found in the cafeteria and the Dr.s office alike. After your initial visit with an intern she/he comprised a laundry list of medical procedures/tests and you are sent to the scheduling area where some amazing people work the schedules out and hand you your "patient itinerary" telling you where to go and what to do to prepare you for whatever you are about to do. My husband and I eagerly perused ours and headed out with the excitement of getting your school schedule or Disneyland map. Strange I know but somehow we got caught up in the experience. We are here during a slow week but I got to say the place runs like a well oiled machine. It is clean and comfortable. Well anyway my dear husband opted for the immunization route and had a flu shot,pneumonia shot and tetanus. I thought about asking for the same but am glad I did not for about 8 hours later my husband got the chills and aches and has not felt good since and is now knocked out in bed with a 102 degree temp. Coincidence or not I do not know !
So today I spent the day at the clinic alone. My appointments were hours apart and I had no car so I stayed and got to know the place.
What I found.... the MRI machine with the crazy face mask was relaxing. I told the technician I thought I would not be able to do the test(I am prone to claustrophobia) she talked me through and showed me the vehicle and I said I'll try. I picked a Gospel CD for my listening pleasure. The origins of it I know not. And I will be dog gone if
the experience did not turn out to be quite worshipful and restful. I think I actually dosed off. I then went to the cafeteria where a man with an impish grin mans the short order grill and does it with charm and gusto. I enjoyed my first meal and coffee of the day as I gave thanks for the completion of my medical fast and enjoyed a delicious Denver omelet and potatoes and a good cup of Joe.
Then I wandered around and found a nice flat screen TV to watch and could tell right away that something horrible had happened and discovered the details of the assassination of the beautiful Pakistan opposition leader Bhutto. I watched it for awhile and felt sad but the continuous replay of the details mad me weary and a little room off to the side caught my eye. It was called something like the relaxation room and the lights were dim and there was a row of reclining chairs calling my name. As I walked in I saw another women resting in her chair with a pillow and blanket. Oh my that looked so comfy I saw a closet with a sign "Clean pillows and blankets.YES! I grabbed my clean pillow and blanket that smelled oh sooo very faintly of bleach and kicked back and rested a full two hours. In my mind I pictured this room as the counter part to a maternity nursery just filled with old people but there was a little window I fancied people looking in oohing and awing over us all bundled up in our nursery.
When I got up I went back to the cafeteria for some berry frozen yogurt and by the time I got to my next appointment my nurse was amazed as my blood pressure was awesome at 100 over some low number. The relaxation room is Mayos best kept secret! I go back tomorrow for more tests and a definite visit to the adult nursery.