So I'm still alive, but also still sick. I finally went to the doctor today though, only to find out that I have une angine. Which is just a fancy word for a throat infection. I guess that explains the fever, extreme fatigue and sore throat.
Since my medecin traitant is in Bretagne and I didn't feel like calling around forever to find a new one, I just went to a centre médical down the street (very similar to the one Alice referred to in her comment yesterday). They take walk-ins in the afternoon, and I only had to wait about 45 minutes to be seen. They refused to take my mutuelle (top-up insurance) because I'm still on Fab's with Groupama Bretagne, but it still only cost me 6.80€ to be seen.
At the pharmacy though, it was a different matter. I went to the one just down the street - they didn't want to help me because of my mutuelle (and I didn't want to pay the difference since it amounted to quite a bit). Okay, fine, on to the second pharmacy down the road - they were willing to take my mutuelle but couldn't because their fax was down. Third time's a charm, right? Well, not in this case - the third pharmacy had a working fax but the pharmacist was alone so she "couldn't" take the time to call Groupama. I looked around the pharmacy and said "But there's not another soul in here - no one's even waiting!" She just shook her head and said "Sorry, some one may come in while I'm helping you, and then what would I do?" It shouldn't surprise me anymore, but honestly - what is with these people who'd rather refuse business than do a bit of paperwork? Do they not care about their bottom line?
By that point, I was ready to cry. I'd been trekking around the neighborhood from pharmacy to pharmacy and I just wanted to get my frickin' medicine and go back to bed! I decided to give it one last-ditch effort and try the one right down the street from my house. Luckily someone else chez Groupama Bretagne had already been there, so they'd already been cleared and I was good to go. My prescription was filled in two minutes and now I'm finally at home again, with an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory pill to take three times a day. I'm kind of suspicious about the antibiotic - I know the French over-prescribe them and I'm not sure if it's really necessary....but I think I'll probably take it anyways since I've got visitors coming Sunday and I absolutely need to be better by then!
Alright, I'm off to take another nap to rest up - gotta watch the kiddies tonight (only three days left and then I'm free for the summer!).
Labels: Sick as a dog
posted by Ksam @ 3:23 PM
12 Comments:
hope you feel better!! did they do a throat culture? because it could be viral or bacterial, so you may or not need the antibiotics. my roomie last year was in med school and when she had an angine she was said the dr. she saw just prescribed the antibiotics without a throat culture because he couldn't be bothered to do it, she was kind of mad and almost went to the hospital to run the test herself. in the end she took the meds and felt better..
anyway it sucks being sick! take care of yourself so you can have fun this weekend!!
I hope you feel better so you can enjoy the weekend!!
What craziness about the pharmacies! I had no idea they could be so difficult about certain mutuelles -- is it because it's a regional mutuelle? That's so strange... Thank goodness that you finally fell on a pharmacy that was a bit nicer and that worked with you in the end. It's funny, I've had some negative experiences with pharmacists recently as well, and I tend to warm up to those who are friendlier and really make an effort to make contact with you rather than just fill out the paperwork and send you on your way... Guess that's the American in me, right?!
Here's hoping the medicine helps ASAP -- I'm always hesitant about taking antibiotics too, especially given my track record with side-effects, but in most cases it has helped for me to take them in the end... And particularly if you have a fever, it might be a good idea to take it. Sending you my best! I'm glad you were able to see a doctor in any case...
(I think Karina's totally right about the throat culture, but I honestly don't think they DO them very often here -- whether it's out of laziness or whatever, I don't know, but I agree that they tend to just prescribe the medicine...)
nope, no throat culture. and now that you mention it, i realize that i've never had one done here!
TLB - apparently if you are the first person from X mutuelle going to that pharmacy, they need to get the paperwork set up in order to be reimbursed from your mutuelle (ie. fax them their address, RIB, etc). i mean, it makes sense, but isn't very comforting when you're sick and no one wants to take the time to do it!! and i hope the medecine helps ASAP too, i really feel like crap.
Feel better soon and enjoy your upcoming vacances!!
FEEL BETTER SAM!!! It sucks you are feeling well.. I hope you get better with the medicine! Sucky ass pharmacist that wouldn't lift a doit to help a sick person in need!! No one should get that sort of treatment.. WIsh you could report her to someone!
Take care... Leese
Feel better Sam!
Being sick in the summer suucks horses balls
Sam, here's to feeling better soon!
And Mal, thanks ever so much for that image...
Get well soon, Sam !
I was sorry to hear about your probs with the pharmacie.
Rest up and take care ;)
Huh. Once I got strep throat in Paris and I went to a doctor and I didn't get a throat culture either. Nope - they went ahead and gave me the antibiotics which I refused to take - except that 4 days later I was still miserable so I finally took them but then I got sick from the antibiotics. I don't know what it is, but I just cannot deal with antibiotics and it bothers me to no end that in France, doctors will prescribe them for everything! Even my in-laws agree with me that there are way too many antibiotics being prescribed in France.
Oh well. Hope you feel better soon.
If you want a decent GP in Paris who speaks English let me know. My main doc is pretty good and there's a list of English speaking doctors in/around Paris that I use.
it's true normally i'd be suspect about taking the antibiotics without a culture, but if you had a fever that went along with it, it is most likely strep. ick. hope you're feeling better and having fun with the visitors! see you in week!
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