Hopital Hotel Dieu
View of Notre-Dame from the hospital
This story begins when both my roommmates Emma and Laura got sick, being one to always catch the bug going around I knew my turn would come soon. And it did on Sunday, I got the typical symptoms of a cold and then it turned into what seemed to be the stomach flu. I saw the same doctor twice, however he wasn't successful in prescribing the right drugs. The most embarrasing part of this story happened when I picked up medicines from the pharmacy. I had ordered, paid and was two minutes from being able to leave when I passed out then got up and vomitted what was left in my stomach lol ( I have to laugh about it now). The pharmacist was surprisingly nice and I asked him "are you from Paris?" and when he replied "no I'm from la provence" his kindness finally made sense.
That afternoon I skyped with my parents and they told me I should really call SOS Medecins, which is a service of doctors who make house calls. Dr. Lamour came an hour later and proceeded to inform that one of the painkillers the previous doctor had prescribed was dangerous to the kidneys. (I guess it would be important to note at this point that I only have one kidney). He did a urine test and a blood test and told me if the results came out positive for a urinary tract infection that I would have to immediately go to the hospital to be treated.
I was finally feeling better. Emma and I were picking out a movie to watch that night when I got the phone call.. Dr. Lamour told me I had perturbing results in my blood test and like he previously mentioned I now had to go to the hospital. Emma and I were so use to things going wrong in Paris, from housing, to school, to any administrative task, that we learned to take things lightly. So we casually packed our bags, and even brought cake and a camera. On the way we kept joking about how we're the best exchange students because we're so dedicated to getting the full french experience including going to the hospital.
The closest Hospital to my house was Hopital Hotel Dieu, which is actually right beside Notre-Dame Cathedral and was also built in the middle ages (pretty cool!). At the hospital I checked in, did a blood and urine test again and then sat with Emma in the waiting room.
Finally the doctor called me in to tell me about my results. She informed me that I had a "blood infection", my response "uhhhhh what?", "It's complicated to explain" said the doctor. Alright cool that's reassuring... I ended up having to stay the night and the next morning they did an ultra sound on my kidney to see if it was okay. My kidney was in perfect condition. I got transferred to a room in the higher levels of the hospital and the doctor told me I had a urine infection. I asked him about this "too complicated to explain blood infection" and he looked confused and told me I never had a blood infection, instead I had a blood inflammation which occurs whenever the body is trying to fight off anything. The strangest thing about all this information I was getting about what I have or don't have was that I've had urine infections before and I knew what they felt like, but since I started getting sick I never had any of the symptoms, the only thing that was causing me pain was my ear, throat and the fever. But I'm not a doctor so what do I know...
On the morning of the third day of my stay, the doctor informed me that I never had a urine infection, but I do have an infection they just couldn't identify where. She promised me that they wouldn't let me leave until they'd figured it out! Fastforward a few hours later, she returned and told me they don't know, go home, take these antibiotics, and good luck. As frustrating as it was for them to just give up, I was pretty happy to get out of there and go home!
I'm alright now, the most painful part is that the antibiotics they've prescribed have to be given in the form of an injection in the lower back everyday for 7 days. But I'm in Paris, can't complain too much...right?
Evidence that this is indeed a true story
LOVE,
Clara
Ps. I have to thank Emma for being the best roommate in the world and my friend Anna for bringing me books and sneaking in food :)
