COVID or not it looks like I have to travel from Kansas to Iowa City for a biopsy at the university hospital.

I was up there two weeks ago so I'm familiar with the trip now, about 8 hours but all interstate, but don't know what's happening in the state now. I will have to be up there Monday (3/23) - Wednesday (3/25).  What's the status on gas stations, restaurants etc...  We hit every casino along the way last time but we know that's out.    We'll probably drive my truck, it's got some mile on it but also a 750 mile range.  My wife is most concerned about finding bathrooms along the way.  Are convenience stores open inside?

I realize I sound like an idiot to even have to ask these questions but it's the age we live in for now.  Thanks for the help and wish me luck while they stick a freaking needle into my eye on Tuesday.

You will have no issues.

Restaurants will be drive through only.  Gas stations etc should be fine.

It's not a dumb question these days man, it's nice that arfcom can provide eyes on local situations all over this country.

Good luck with your appointment!

Thanks to all!

We were worried at first about where we would get good local information but arfcom comes through again!  Noise aside this site is such a great resource unknown to most folks.

Hope the biopsy result is negative for you.  Just an FYI should you go 25 miles further north for entertainment or dinner.  They have speed cameras on I-380 downtown.  I've given more than my share to them so, now I provide this as a PSA.  

The surgery was fine, more involved than I expected.  Ended up with a few stitched and it hurts like hell but I got a pirate eye patch and blocking the light really helps.

The trip was great.  No problem finding gas but we had to get fast food drive thru for most meals.  Last night we found Pancheros on 2nd was open for carryout only, it was fantastic.  The highways were busy, mostly with trucks but a strong highway patrol presence in both Iowa and MO.

For anyone not familiar with University hospital, it was amazing!  I had a day of testing two weeks ago and then the surgical followup yesterday and today, I probably spent eight hours with the lead eye oncology doctors which if you've never been it a hospital is phenomenal.   I hope to God my tests come back clear but I don't regret for a minute the effort it has taken to get referred to this hospital and the lengthy travel.  If the news is not so great I'll back up there again.  Not everything can be fixed but I'm confident they are some of the best and will get it there best effort.

Glad you had a good trip and prayers for the best outcome!!

Pomerance Building? 4th floor? I am there at the hospital at least once a month. Sucks but the place is huge and very nice people. 5th floor Pom cafeteria is a lot better than the main hospital cafeteria.

They did the surgery on the 4th floor, eye clinic on the 1st.  Every single person we dealt with there was just amazing.

I had to wait an hour for the hospital pharmacy to fill my bill of goods so we asked about the cafeteria and got very confusing instructions to get to the main cafeteria a couple buildings over.  We wandered down the hall obviously lost and a nice older lady who missed out on a NASCAR career had us hop onto her cart thing and we flat flew from building to building (helped that the flu emptied out most patients).  All we had to do as go down the elevator to find our lunch.  For whatever reason hospitals always seem to have good cafeterias and this was no exception.

ETA>>  Looks like I'll be travelling back there quarterly from Kansas for scans, doesn't bother me a bit, they are the best. Good news is we found several restaurants that were closed due to the flu that should be open when we go back.