taconictraveler

JanisJ - glad you are home, and getting better. I understand the Brit position on antibiotics, but hate the thought of being subject to those rules. (just like other Americans, I guess)

You did manage a lot during the trip even tho, just proving that you are indeed a great traveler.

Keep on keepin on!

StCirq

Glad to hear you're home safe and sound and on the mend.

Maybe you can add packing for European doctors and hospitals to your packing classes

It's practically impossible to get antibiotics here in France, too, though you can get bags full of medicines from your doctor and pharmacy. Codeine? No problem. Antibiotics, uh uh.

bilboburgler

taconic, kinda why we don't like your beef

nyse

"<i>I understand the Brit position on antibiotics, but hate the thought of being subject to those rules. (just like other Americans, I guess)"</i>

Speak for yourself, TT. I'm an American who welcomes this crackdown as there is something very, very scary about superbugs.

And Janisj, very glad you weathered this latest storm; your trip reports are ones I always read! Thank you for posting.

Gordon_R

Just curious: did the NHS ask for payment for their services? News reports here in the UK would have us believe they are trying harder to recover costs incurred treating overseas visitors.

hetismij2

Gordon_R that's why I asked.
The only time I needed A&E I showed my EHIC card and they reacted as if it was an alien being. They had no idea what to do with it. I felt really bad leaving without paying for the x-rays and nursing care.

MmePerdu

"...the UK would have us believe they are trying harder to recover costs incurred treating overseas visitors."

According to an English friend resident in France, the reverse is also true. The UK reimburses France for her care and, presumably, countries in the EU whose residents require care in the UK do the same, mutual reimbursement.

thursdaysd

Taconic - if you understand why overuse of antibiotics is bad (in fact, potentially catastrophic) WHY would you be opposed to limits on their use?

justineparis

We had to visit an A&E last june with step daughter.. waited about 45 minutes which we thought was very reasonable ( being Canadian..lol ) , unfortunately they couldn't help dd there.. and sent us somewhere else.

They charged us nothing , although we would have paid. Mind you it was all of a 3 minute visit.

Janis.. awful to be sick on holiday, glad you are recovering.

My doctor refuses to give out antibiotics for any cold like symptoms.. she says you get better in 7-10 off meds.. and 7-10 on them.. lol

Mind you , you can ask for a throat culture for strep which then clears you for anti biotics.

I firmly agree with my doctors stance. colds do not need antibiotics.. and rarely progress to a true sinus or lung infection in 2 days, but of course if they do .. then you must have the pills.

I bet doctor gave you some good drugs though.. they do that in Europe, when I was 23 I got something mysterious from a pharmacist in Amsterdam for a terrible cold I had been fighting for weeks.. it didn't cure the cold but I distinctly remember thinking.. I am high as a kite, literally.. and its not like I didn't know what that felt like..

janisj

Just noticed I never responded re what the meds were (BTW -- my GP doesn't go overboard w/ antibiotics, just for these semi-chronic sinus infections that some have gotten pretty serious -- he hinted that the next bad one and we'd have to discuss surgery)

I don't still have the box for one of them and can't remember the actual name. It was basically a sudafed-type med.

But the one that had the most affect was the prescription nasal spray containing steroids. Avamys (fluticasone furoate) I have never ever recovered from a sinus infection as quickly w/ fewer long lasting symptoms. I was skeptical when the doctor said the spray would have me feeling better faster than antibiotics. It is for once-a-day use with all sorts of warnings re not using it more. The bottle says there are 400 sprays . . . and I'm keeping that sucker.

yestravel

So sorry you got sick on your trip-awful to be sick away from home. Sinus infections are miserable. Glad you're better.

travelchat

Thanks for the info, janisj. Next week when I go to see my doctor for a routine visit I will run this by him. The sinus infections I get are considered "secondary", setting in after a week battling an upper respiratory. IOW, I don't ever just get a simple cold that runs its course and gets better after a few days. Perhaps this method of treatment would work instead of taking an antibiotic three to four times a year when I'm struck down with yet another miserable cold that moves up,'instead of out.
Perhaps this approach will preclude the antibiotic route. I sure hope so.

BTW, I'm scheduled to be in Paris, mid May and can't wait. I'll have three days to hang out before a river cruise. This, my eighth trip, will be about walking the city, having a Paris Greeters morning with two lunches scheduled - L'ange 20 and Taillevent. Dinners will be closer to my hotel in St. Germain, I'm thinking Breihz(sp?), Le Petit St. Benoit, Les Deux Magots for my favorite Croque Madam and people watching. The theme here being food, glorious food in my favorite city!