ER

I had some sharp stomach pains early in the morning on Tuesday that wouldn't subside, so I decided I needed to go to the emergency room. I was of course trepidatious and had visions that the ER would be kind of like the television show- crazy and chaotic with hosts of people with multiple gun shot and stab wounds, lots of good looking doctors and nurses running around treating them, and maybe even a hostage situation. I was also dreading it because in New York usually a visit to the emergency room can take hours of waiting for a doctor to see you while you are doubled over in pain.

So I took a taxi to the closest hospital, the Hotel Dieu on the ile de la Cite. The emergency room was eerily quiet with only two people in the waiting room. The attendants at the front desk only asked me for my name, date of birth, and insurance card.I was shocked that they didn't give me the usual questionnaire the length of War and Peace to fill out. Immediately a nurse directed me to a holding room and asked me a few questions. She then took me to a treatment room and within 5 minutes another nurse took my vital statistics and I explained what was going on. She examined me thoroughly and took notes. A few minutes later, she said she would go to her supervisor doctor with my information and would return with the doctor and my diagnosis. Ten minutes later the doctor and nurse came back and explained the results: It was most likely a kidney stone and it would probably pass in the next 48 hours. They prescribed some pain killers and anti- inflammatory drugs to ease the pain and said I was free to go. I had to pinch myself to see if this was real: in and out of an emergency room in less than an hour and the staff was efficient, professional, and courteous? It's interesting that the oldest hospital in Paris, dating back to 651, can me so modern. Maybe the emergency rooms in the U.S. can learn a lesson from Hotel Dieu.

I am feeling much better and have just a little discomfort. Boy, those drugs really did the trick but I still haven't passed the stone yet. I will keep you posted.

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook. First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte’s professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 3 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com

Comments

[Evelyn]

As the healthcare reform debate rages here in the States, it's nice to know someone is getting quality healthcare quickly and efficiently and at a reasonable cost somewhere in the world! Even here in quiet central Iowa, I doubt you would have gotten in and out of the ED in such a short period of time. Hope you're feeling better real soon.

[melissa]

I am happy to hear you were in & out and on your way!! That never happens in NY or Chicago where I recently relocated. I hope you get well soon.

Do you think you could post about an in hotel babysitting service?

[Anne]

So pleased it wasn't too serious, and that is what I call "good service" ..not even in the UK would that happen, our medical care is beyond belief..gone right down hill!!

[Stu "El Inglés"]

I also had a good experience with French emergency medicine, when I developed cardiac arrythmia while travelling in the Midi this month. I was successfully treated and out in time for dinner.

Anne: I've also had the same experience in the UK and I couldn't fault it. What's more it was totally free, whereas I had four bills to pay in France.

My US-side cardiologist is going to have her own private heart attack, though, when I tell her the Euro-docs proscribed digoxin "to be used as needed". US mainstream medicine would regard that as extremely dangerous.

[Lisa Tunney]

At the beginning of the year I wrote a story about the French medical system and emailed it to the White House. Our new government is open to this and a week later there was a committe developed on health care reform. While I have no delusions that it was "because of me," I do think the more each of us take an active part in sending information the better. If you are interested, you can send a copy of this article to: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ I strongly recommend you do...It's a good article. Thanks for posting!

[Polly-Vous Francais]

Hi Richard!

So glad you were in & out promptly and hope all is better. I wonder if there were so few ER patients because most are well taken care of and don't HAVE to rely on ER for medical care (the way so many do in the US).

Anyway, all's well that ends well.

Also, next time you're suddenly ill (I hope there isn't one!), you know about SOS Medecins, right? They're docs who will come to your apartment to cure what ails you. If only THAT still existed in the states...

bises
Polly

[Layla Morgan Wilde]

Oh how awful. Thank the gods you're better. Do the pharmacies still have lots of alternative medicin i.e. homeopathic, aromatherapy, herbs etc.? I would like to hear more about SOS Medicins. Is that only for E.U residents?