When I lived in the US I knew exactly how to find a doctor. I would consult the big ole directory given to me from my insurance company and I would basically pick a doctor out of the book. My criteria usually being location, board certified, school and name. If I didn't use the hard copy directory I would use the online directory. And voila I would call the selected doctor and make an appointment. Being here in Paris I have absolutely no idea how to go about finding a doctor and I have no idea how to go about getting my allergy medicine refilled. Now that spring is in the air I know it's just a matter of days before I wake up unable to breathe through my nose. So dear readers, if any of you know how to go about seeing a doctor in this country with excellent socialized health care please hook a sista up. Also, if you know whether or not I actually need a prescription for my allergy medication that would be helpful as well.
And while we're on the topic of trained medical professionals I think my days are crunching on crispy baguettes have caught up with me. As I was enjoying my lunch today I sensed a weird sensation in my mouth. Turns out that a piece of the bonding on my permanent retainer has chipped off and now I have a rough spot on the back of my teeth. It's not an orthodontic emergency at the moment but it does have the potential to worsen and it would be nice to know where to turn prior to things getting completely out of hand.
So consider this post my S.O.S. If you have any valuable information to share please leave it in the comments. My nose and my tongue thank you. Seriously.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
S.O.S
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9 comments:
Greetings,
Why not have a look at the US Consulate's list of English-speaking doctors and dentists? That might be one place to start. Here is the link (to the pdf doc):
http://france.usembassy.gov/consul/acs/guide/doc.pdf
Bonne chance!
Are you insured here? You can always come down to Antony and see my doc.. He's very cool.. but you may want to find someone in your area... I have friends in Paris.. one's you have met.. I will ask them ... one in particular has allergies... better yet.. I will email you her email address... It's Dawn, my friend (the blonde) from NY you have met twice... Take care, Leese
Euronewyorker, thank you for the list of doctors provided by the US embassy. Unfortunately, none of the ones listed for the Paris region are actually IN Paris. They are not completely inaccessible but a little inconvenient.
Lisa, I'm sort of insured here I am just waiting for my paperwork to go through (what else is new). If you can ask Dawn who her dr is or if you can send her info my way that would be great.
Are you kidding? I don't want to argue, but there are absolutely plenty of doctors listed IN Paris itself -- in the 5th, 6th 8th, 9th, 16th, et al. arrondissements. The ones located in Neuilly might be a bit out of the way, but not much.
I've spent a lot of time in Paris and know the city and its environs quite well -- well enough to know what is/isn't in Paris itself. Have another look at that list, starting on page two, and you'll see.
Ok ok my bad, I thought I was computer literate but I guess I'm really not. I haven't fully mastered the Preview application on my Macbook that's why I missed the majority of the doctors listed in that document.
Thanks again.
AH! Gotcha! I'm relieved to hear it was just a glitch.
I hope you find a doc à toute de suite. If your allergies are REALLY bad, go to a pharmacie and ask for Zyrtecset (Zyrtec in the States) for some temporary relief until you can get an appointment.
A pharmacie was going to be my suggestion too. Take you allergy medecine to the pharmacist and ask whether you need an "ordonnance" to get it here. If you are lucky the way I have been, you might not even need allergy medecine in France. I was a basket case in California from Feb. to June, but here in Saint-Aignan I've been just fine. No allergies.
Hi Ken I'm in the process of setting up a dr. appointment as I type this but I took your advice and went to the pharmacie to see if an ordonnance was necessary for my allergy medicine and it is :(
On the flip side I now know the french equivalent of Flonsae. :)
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