tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170894183997582562.post7032530291971400760..comments2023-09-09T13:45:11.765+02:00Comments on L'Étrangère Americaine: Wait For It...The Un-Ashtangihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08441505521636811441noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170894183997582562.post-27815493069546973462009-07-18T09:21:49.418+02:002009-07-18T09:21:49.418+02:00My blood pressure used to be high at the dr's ...My blood pressure used to be high at the dr's office because I was nervous the first few times.<br /><br />The dr says to disrobe, which I have to do right in front of his desk while he does stuff on the computer. I don't have to get totally nekkid for my checkups, tho. But still, standing there in socks and boxers (I always wear boxers for the dr visit. TMI?) is a bit weird. <br /><br />Then to the scale, with the requisite pronouncement of how my weight compares to last time, then on to the table and the blood pressure cuff.<br /><br />Now that I'm used to the routine, my bp is always quite normal when the dr measures it.wcshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00551283829616757577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170894183997582562.post-56637760432505960802009-07-17T01:55:28.808+02:002009-07-17T01:55:28.808+02:00American clinics have more staff than French docto...American clinics have more staff than French doctor offices. Most physicians in France are self-employed and don't want to pay for unnecessary staff.<br /><br />This is probably part of the reason why a physician visit in France costs considerably less than in the US.Duckynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170894183997582562.post-14201362991633101302009-07-15T17:57:05.596+02:002009-07-15T17:57:05.596+02:00David, I forgot to mention one other big differenc...David, I forgot to mention one other big difference. Here in France I'm fully responsible for mailing any test samples to the lab for analysis. In the US that's completely taken care of.The Un-Ashtangihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08441505521636811441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170894183997582562.post-2698406746893642222009-07-14T13:02:18.360+02:002009-07-14T13:02:18.360+02:00David, Stacy summed it up pretty well in her comme...David, Stacy summed it up pretty well in her comment. The key differences are: <br />1. there's always a nurse in the room<br />2. you're given a modesty gown to cover up and given some privacy to undress<br />3. the nurse takes my blood pressure before I disrobe and asked to assume the position.<br /><br />It's not so traumatizing it's just a different experience and if you're unaware of that it can be somewhat traumatizing the first time around. <br /><br />Isabelle, you make me feel much better :)The Un-Ashtangihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08441505521636811441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170894183997582562.post-37919633395563419202009-07-14T10:16:43.278+02:002009-07-14T10:16:43.278+02:00Jasmin, if it can be of any comfort, my blood pres...Jasmin, if it can be of any comfort, my blood pressure is always terribly high when my gynécologue takes it.<br />Although I'm French and perfectly used to this kind of situation, I can't help it.<br />So here is what I tell my gyn at every visit: "Well, my blood pressure is this high because you scare me to death!!"Isabellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17941076675305356648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170894183997582562.post-69946733587444706342009-07-14T09:15:03.895+02:002009-07-14T09:15:03.895+02:00Americans are hilarious sometimes... (mostly when ...Americans are hilarious sometimes... (mostly when it comes to nudity)David in Setouchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09895289419248698831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170894183997582562.post-10923090036199825512009-07-14T02:13:22.575+02:002009-07-14T02:13:22.575+02:00LOL it may as well be in the dark! Here's my U...LOL it may as well be in the dark! Here's my US experience:<br />A nurse/assistant brings you into a private examination room and hands you a hospital gown and a little paper blanket. Then she LEAVES the room, giving you plenty of time (about 5-10 mins) to change, fold and hide your "personal items" (God forbid the Dr sees your underwear laying out), wrap the gown around you, get comfortable on the exam table and cover your legs with the blanket. And at my GYN, they actually have a curtain to divide the room in half so JUST IN CASE the Dr walks in before you're ready she won't see you naked. But they always knock on the door to ask if you're "decent" (ready for her to come in) first. During the exam she pretty much averts her eyes and just chats with you about your job or the weather so you can be a bit more relaxed. Plus you have that blanket covering your lower half (while the gown is securely hiding everything else) so you can't see what she's doing down there and she can't really see you. <br />LOL its actually pretty funny when you think about it-- such a production. Going to the doctor in France was so shocking for me but really, its probably more efficient :o)<br /><br />http://bisousfromparis.blogspot.com/2007/11/about-french-4.htmlStacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13493637078660630466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170894183997582562.post-18581099528172357772009-07-13T20:29:05.141+02:002009-07-13T20:29:05.141+02:00OK, I have a candid French man's question, but...OK, I have a candid French man's question, but you're not the first American I read/hear about how traumatic the experience can be in France.<br /><br />What does the gyn do in the US? Just chats and drinks coffee with you?<br />Or does they look at you in the dark?<br />Or?David in Setouchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09895289419248698831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170894183997582562.post-42048484411913649132009-07-13T18:22:07.197+02:002009-07-13T18:22:07.197+02:00LOL, hilarious! Going to the GYN in Paris may have...LOL, hilarious! Going to the GYN in Paris may have been the single most traumatizing experience of my life!! No one warned me what it would be like so when the doctor stood there staring at me as I stripped naked in the middle of her office I thought I would die! lol, I guess that's what we get for being American with our hyper sense of modesty :o)Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13493637078660630466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7170894183997582562.post-71264689365684276242009-07-13T15:42:09.145+02:002009-07-13T15:42:09.145+02:00LOL I'm glad mine doesn't take my blood pr...LOL I'm glad mine doesn't take my blood pressure. My appointments are over in like 5 minutes, and I love it.Jenniehttp://www.ielanguages.com/blog/noreply@blogger.com