My nightmare urgent care experience in Paris
Bonjour à tous,
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I am an American completing my MBA in Paris. I had my first urgent care experience that has dragged onto another urgent care seeking answers.
On Monday, I started my menstrual cycle- nothing surprising. After a few bars with colleagues after class, I developed cold shrivers. I was shaking, my nipples turned cold, i was hurting, in so much discomfort that I was shaking inside my apartment. I managed to sleep through the night. I took a 1000 mg paracetamol as recommended by my colleague.
The next morning I went to class. I continued to feel a sharp pain. I dismissed it as typical cramp. I went back home, took another medication every 6 hour interval, but the keep became worse, worse, every 30 minutes i'm screaming... I live in the 20th arrondissement and the closest 24/7 pharmacy was near the république... and I didn't want to call the emergency room, so I took meds, hot water compression... nothing worked. I held on until 8 am when the pharmacy by my apartment opened.
I went to the pharmacy, the kind pharmacists prescribed 400 mg paracetamol and spasfon 80 mg. I am in tears at this point, and I need something to stave off the pain. She assured me that it would work. I stayed home that day - and informed my classmates of what is happening. I thought it would work. I took the first dose, no change in pain. I informed my classmate if by the 2nd dose, nothing changes i'm going to emergency care.
So 2nd dose, i'm still crawling like a baby... I called Uber to take to Europeen Hospital George's Pompidou. I was looking down emergency room with English Speaking staff. I arrived, and went to the Room... spoke with the Salle D' Attente ... i registered... she only asked for my date of birth and name. She told me to wait in the lobby... I then i met with the consultation. It is clear that the hospital is overstretched. Thankfully my class mate joined me. I was waiting for close to 3 hours... I was wondering if they had forgotten about me... I couldn't take the pain anymore.. i started to cry... the emergency staff brought a stretcher for me to lie down... awaiting for a doctor.
3 hours passed... no one is coming to attend to us. Until one nurse asked who I was... she asked for my bracelet... I was never given a medical bracelet... no bracelete = trace. So they brought into the ward... we are going on 4 hours... the pain intensifies every hour... I asked if I can get something to address the sharp pain... the doctor said the nurses are switching over, and it is going to take some time... another hour goes by... by 10 pm I was able to get an IV... I was happy I wasn't in pain anymore. I forget to mention that they also forgot about me when I entered the ward... they didn't resolve my medical bracelet until 12 am. I was officially in the system.
I took a CT stan
Bunch of blood samples
stool sample
and peep sample around 10 am. They said it would take 2 hours to look at the results.
Hours went by... I needed another IV... no doctor... I called the nurse through the intercom I didn't receive any attention until 1 hour after. All I need was the IV so I can be comfortable.
Then an intern comes over to determine if I needed a surgery without have any knowledge of my lab results. Another doctor swings by... I had a CRP of 135, a lymph node and inflammation. I was recommended to see a gynecologist. They prescribed 500 Mg and Spaspon 80... I asked them if these drugs were strong enough... i'm being discharged with a CRP of 135, 10/10 pain, and inflammation and being sent home with barely anything.
I then took swift action as soon I got back... with my reports I went to see another clinic recommended by the insurance company- Clinique du Parc Monceau.
I leave the urgency room to Clinique du Parc Monceau.. im still in dig deep... she told me you need to come tomorrow. I pleaded with her that I needed to see someone... I need stronger meds. She told me that a gynecologist is not who I need to see... I need to see a gestational specialist. I was going by what the European Hospital - Georges Pompidou said. So I meet with a doctor he looks at my paperwork- he is confused as to why they discharged me and why they recommended only 500 mg paracetamol. So I asked if he can recommended better options. He recommended Lamamine. And Asked if there is a stronger option. I was made aware that French pharmacist do not like to prescribe strong drugs to foreigners. I was a bit dumbfounded, but i pleaded for a stronger medication than Lamamine. He also recommended I go to the newest 24 hour Obgyn urgent care.
God bless my classmates, they came to the pharmacy to advocate on my behalf... we got the drugs than went to Hôpital Tenon... while taking the lamamine... the meds did not work... thankfully my class mate hand Antady's... which helped curb the pain... I was able to manage... but i've been prescribed so many drugs that i'm not comfortable taking anymore.
We finally saw an OBGYN who said this a digestive issue... she than sent me to take another lab test and to see an OBGYN...
I am now at a GP.... please send me your best wishes.
I don't know much about France medical system, but they seem to ignore patients pain while they bounce you around from one specialist to another.
I am beyond grateful to have my classmates.