Loving All the Imperfections of My Trip

We are in Paris! One of the most romantic cities in the world and here I sit in the hospital with the love of my life.

Yep, you read that right. I caught something that made me very ill. Whether it was food poisoning or a bug that’s going around, it crept into my system and left me vomiting almost every couple of hours for a little over 24 hours in my beautiful Paris hotel bathroom.  As Americans (and according to Google) we’ve been told that flu like symptoms usually last around 24 hours. I was hoping it would settle down by them. Well, mine went past the 24 hour mark, so, that meant it was time to get off the floor of my hotel bathroom, research the best hospital for Americans in Paris and grab an Uber to get me over there at 4 in the morning. Ha, just typing this makes me laugh because it was so ridiculous.  You just have to laugh about it. Dehydration is no joke, people!

Even though I had a bag next to my mouth, our Uber driver seemed a bit nervous that I might make a mess in the car so he got us there quite quickly. When we got to the emergency room, do you know what the first thing the doctor said to me was? “Why did you wait 24 hours? In France every district has a neighborhood doctor that does home visits. They could have given you a medication for your nausea for only 60 euros. Then you could have continued your travels.” Needless to say, our overnight stay at a private Parisian hospital will NOT be only 60 euros.  I had to laugh, because again, where I live, I don’t have that kind of service through my medical insurance. A doctor that comes to your home and can give you something for the flu?!? That hasn’t happen in the U.S. since what, 1940?!? Sounds amazing! How could we have possibly known that was an option?!? American doctors say, “Wait it out.” Not in Paris! So, now you guys know! The hospital staff have been so kind and wonderful while I’ve been here. Also, I love how I’ve been addressed as “Madame Paynter.” I know it’s how they address “Mrs.” but I could totally get used to that. 😉

Instead of enjoying fine French cuisine in Paris, I have enjoyed 24 hours of being pumped with pain meds and IV fluids. At the same time, I can’t express to you how good the hospital food is in France! LOL! But, when you’re starving, have dry mouth, and a 5 inch layer of fur on your unbrushed teeth, just about anything is going to taste marvelous.

Thank heavens we were prepared though and have travel insurance. I will go into more details about what you need when traveling abroad in another post. It does ease the mind when you are prepared.

Despite the immense pain I was in, I can honestly say, I am really happy. I am with the love of my life and we have been laughing and making jokes about the romantic days and evening we’ve spent together in a Paris hospital.  Me in my hospital bed and gown and him sleeping in a chair next to me.

Nate snapped this picture of me while I was napping.  He titled it: “Notre-Dame des dents à fourrure”, which translates to “Our Lady of the Furry Teeth.” Look at me hugging that pulp kidney dish.  You couldn’t pry that from my hands of your life depended on it.

I’m still in the hospital, Nate is on the metro right now grabbing our bags from the hotel and bringing them back to the hospital. If I’m discharged tomorrow, Nate said he’d be happy to push me around Paris in a wheel chair for a bit!

C’est la vie! Life happens and you can either find the little joys in it or you can waste time complaining about it. I choose to accept it and see the joys in every moment!

Au revoir!

XOXO

Melessa