• It takes 6 months to a year to get on the study waitlist.

• You pay for flights. Hospital stay and all tests are free.

    Sunday: (Saturday for me bc can't afford to miss a connection)

• Arrive DC Sat or Sun and depart DC late afternoon Wednesday.

• NIH Shuttle runs Sunday (doesn't run Saturdays) for airport pick up and will drop you back off at the airport on Wednesday for free. Have to check which airports the NIH shuttle serves. Metro subway or Uber/Lyft are options to consider depending where you fly in.

• I prefer flying into Dulles. The NIH shuttle or Metro are options from Dulles. The shuttle is best if you're coming in on Sunday and staying at Safra Lodge on campus because it's the easiest way to get onto campus and the shuttle is free as is the lodging. I use the Metro if I come in on a Saturday and then Uber or Metro from a Bethesda hotel to campus by 6:45am Monday in order to get through security in time for check-in.

• You stay in the hospital Monday, Tuesday and leave Wednesday mid to late morning. Don't book departure flights earlier than 4:00pm-ish.

• Sunday night you can stay for free, on campus, at Safra Lodge if rooms are available. You need to request such within a month of visit. 

• Or choose to stay at a nearby hotel Sunday night at your expense but know you have to go through the security entrance process to get onto campus early Monday morning and that can take 20 minutes or more. You have to be at the Clinical Ctr by 7:15am Monday morning. Once on campus you can't leave until your done on Wednesday mid morning.

• Sunday morning you start the 5HIAA diet, avoiding certain foods.

Monday:

• Sign in to the clinical center Monday at 7:15am. You'll be towing your luggage with you. Blood draw and ekg.

• After labs and ekg you'll be assigned a room on floor 5NW.

• Private room with big windows, bathroom & shower, tv, internet.

• Nurse Practitioner will come to your room and take medical history and give you your schedule and a "hat" for the toilet to collect urine.

• 18 FDOPA PET/CT Scan or CT of chest, abdomen, pelvis

• Drink lots and lots of water after these test are done. Flush system.

• Done for the day. Go walk outside around campus. Check out the food court and food trucks bldg 10 South, Lot 10H 11:00 am to 2:30pm. The food court pizza is pretty good.

• Dr. Wank & Nurse Practitioner(s) will come to your room around 4 or 5 and tell you the results of that days scan.

    Tuesday:

• Phlebotomist will draw blood early morning while you're in bed.

• You'll have whichever scan test you didn't have yesterday

• Drink lots and lots of water after these test are done. Flush system.

• Done for the day. Go walk outside around campus etc.

• Dr. Wank & Nurse Practitioner(s) will come to your room around 4 or 5 and tell you the results of that days scan.

• Let Nurse know you have to be at the airport by 1:00 or 2:00(?) tomorrow so you are able to catch a 10 or 11am(?) shuttle from NIH.

• Do more exploring around campus or the bookstore, gift store etc.

    Wednesday:

• Phlebotomist will draw blood early morning while you're in bed.

• Nurse Practitioners will come see you around 9 or 10 to go over discharge papers and answer any questions you haven't asked already.

• Plan to catch the shuttle to the airport with enough time to not be rushed.