There’s been lots of moaning on behalf over the last few months about the French medical system as I’ve not had much positive to say about it due to all the bad experiences I’ve had, however, today I would like to thank them for saving my eye sight.
Since I posted last week about the One Eyed Blogger, things took a turn for the worse and I ended up back in Hopital Edouard Herriot Eye Centre inLyonthe very next day.
One of the funny things about eye problems is that you can’t see. Actually it’s not very funny at all but you lose a lot of perspective and things that you take for granted. I couldn’t see the Doctors that were treating me at the hospital and whilst I know that there were 4 different Doctors that saw me last Tuesday I cannot say what any of them looked like.
My pain was so great I had a cover on my head at all times to protect me from the light. The Doctors kept referring me to someone else, it became painfully obvious that my case was serious and when the Chef de Service of the whole eye hospital came to see me I knew that something was majorly wrong.
The hospital made it clear to me that I had to go in every day for cortisone injections directly into the eyeball. This was time for me to get over the all consuming fear of hospitals and medical staff that I had developed since this summer. The first time they went to inject me, I actually crossed my legs and wriggled away screaming “non, non”. Obviously the trauma from my birth experience was still very real.
The team at the hospital were excellent and listened to what had happened. They offered me tranquilizers and explained why it was so important that they inject into my eyeball. They needed to control the inflammation quickly as it was getting out of control and as a consequence by sight was suffering.
Mr Piglet and I made arrangements for me to taken toLyoneach day. It was very stressful trying to organize child care, juggle work (neither Mr Piglet nor I were able to work) plus not know how long each hospital trip would last.
After a few days someone piped up that I was entitled to travel by taxi for my hospital trips and that Mr Piglet didn’t need to take time off work to transport me. This was such a relief and a great provision by the French health service. Not only were they taking care of my physical health, my mental well being and peace of mind was also being looked after.
So far my sight is improving, the pain is greatly reduced and I am no longer requiring daily Cortison injections. However, I have had to come to terms with my disease and realize that I need medication to help control it right now. This has been hard to admit as at the same time it means admitting I am ill. I have taken the decision to cease breastfeeding Baby Piglet even though I had not wanted to, I do not feel comfortable with the risk of her having medication via my milk.
This is the start of a new chapter in my life, a chapter which will redefine my role as a Mummy after only 6 months and a bit, a chapter which will redefine how I look after myself. Now is my time to get well and what better place for it to happen than inFrance?
I do sympathise with you re eye problems.
I was in the Royal Eye Hospital in London for what seemed like an eternity when a child, unable to see and in pain and I still remember the specialists who treated me.
(I also remember the nurses who stole my pineapple, but that’s another story.)
I’m s glad you had top class treatment…it must be reassuring after the childbirth debacle…and I’m glad you have the sense to want to adjust accordingly. Being in denial is no good to anyone.
Best wishes for recovery.
I think I’d remember someone trying to steal my pineapple too!! I am sorry to hear that you had eye trouble when you were a child, it is scary as an adult, I cannot even begin to imagine as a child.
Learning to trust the Dr’s this time round was very difficult, believe me they earned my trust, I was not giving it away easily! Even now I don’t trust them all though, only the last two that I saw and they know that. There is one Dr in particular that I will not let in the same room with me as he tried to trick me into having the injection, that’s when I went absolutely nuts.
OMG, you poor thing. You have really been through the mill this year. Hoping things can only get better from here on……….is this from your autoimmune syndrome? Sending out positive thoughts to you!!
Let’s just say that 2012 can only be better although 2011 really hasn’t been that bad, I know of people who’ve had it far worse and at least I have my adorable baby Piglet 🙂
Yes, this is all linked to the Ankylosing Spondylitis. I’d not taken any treatment for it but it looks as if this time I will have to.
You’ve had an awful six months haven’t you? Thank goodness the French health service came up trumps this time.
Wishing you a speedy recovery and sending you lots of love xx
Thanks Ayak
Oh my poor Piglet, what an ordeal you’ve been through. I can’t begin to imagine how scary it’s been for you and your family. Here’s hoping you get better soon and that the quality care you’ve received so far continues. Thinking of you!
Yes, it’s been very scary Kirsty but it’s also put a lot of things into perspective for us, just the thought of not being able to see Baby Piglet properly has made me sit up and know I need to take action. Thank you for your kind words. I hope everything is well with you and your gorgeous family.
What a scary experience, but I’m glad you are on the mend thanks to the fab doctors. I would have been a nervous wreck at the thought of having injections in my eyeball, I have a thing about eyes, so I’m all admiration for you going through that.
I really hope that’s as much as you have to put up with for this year. Thinking of you too. xx
Thanks Sarah. I have a thing about eyes too, I’ve never been able to let anyone touch them so you can imagine the deal with needles and eyes. argghhh.
I think they thought they were going to have to refer me to the Psychiatric Ward at first as whenever they came within a metre radius I would start screaming. Unfortunately I didn’t have any choice but to get over my fear of everything eye related as it soon became pretty obvious to me that I couldn’t see and the pain was atrocious.
Sorry, that’s me, not my mum commenting above!!
Oh no what a rough year you’ve had. 😦 I am glad there is a taxi service to transport you and that you are having a good experience with the docs this time ’round! Feel better. I am glad that you are being taken care of; it would suck to go through this all alone. Sorry to hear about you having to cease breastfeeding baby Piglet, but it just shows what a mature mommy you are and 6 months is quite a long time so I think it’s okay to stop now. Could you start again after stopping?
Yeah the taxi service rocks, I didn’t even know that I could one to go to and from the hospital. It saves a lot of time for Mr Piglet and gives me back some of my independence although I do feel guilty when I see the clock, I clocked up over 400 Euros worth in just two days! I live 45 minutes (by motorway) from the hospital. Oh well. I guess I’ve been paying into the system for long enough, it’s about time that I got something back!
As for breastfeeding, well, I didn’t really have a time set to breastfeed for, I was just happily plodding along. I don’t think that I’ll restart back up afterwards as Baby Piglet is more likely to get confused and I’m not sure all this change is best for her, plus I’ll be on the medication for six months to a year and I would have stopped by then anyway I think.
Thank you for saying I am a mature mommy, is very kind of you 🙂
I’m really sorry to hear about how rough a time you’ve been having this year. I hope you get better real soon xx
Thank you 🙂
Isn’t it wonderful what modern medicine can do? Think about our ancestors and what they went through – yikes! But a needle through the eyeball – makes me cringe – sorry. If you can stand that, you deserve to get well immediately!
Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words 🙂 Modern medicine is great but scary at the same time. I dread to think how our ancestors dealt with certain things but at the same time I wonder if they had the same things to deal with. Sometimes I think that it is us that are poisoning ourselves and creating these problems.
You poor thing; how scary for you and Mr. Piglet and your baby. I am happy you are better and I hope and pray you will be fully recoverd soon.
Thank you Michel x
Oh god, Piglet, I am so very sorry to read this !
And to top it off, you are dealing with Needles in your eye !!!
I will admit that I want to cover my head and scream just reading that.
You have had such a tough time and you don’t deserve a bit of it and I wish I were a neighbor ( for a few reasons ) but mostly so I could be helpful. You deserve so many Good Things now, you have had your share of Bad things.
You are in my thoughts … besitos. C
Hi Candice, sorry it has taken me so long to reply. I have not been very good on the internet recently. I think you’d be a great neighbour and wish you were my neighbour! Things are finally beginning to get better here, it’s been over a week since I’ve had a needle in my eye!
Sometimes when we have been to hell and back the simplest of things take on great meaning…our health is priority and everything else will fall into place. Take good care of yourself.
Thanks Dominique. I’m certainly learning not to take anything for granted.
I am very very sorry to hear that, Piglet ! Get well soon ! I missed the previous post about your eye problem and can’t tell you how shocked I am about this whole story ! What on earth happened there ?
Thanks Rosabell. I have uvertis, it’s an inflammation of the eye.
A lot of people criticise the French system but when I have neede them they have been brilliant. I had life saving surgery here earlier this year, and when I broke my back a couple of years ago they were incredible, getting a brace sorted out and me back on my feet in record time.
Sorry you’re having such a tough time.
I’m sorry to hear that you needed life saving surgery and I’m so pleased at the same time that you had it and that it did save your life! I think in situations where there is a degree of gravity the French system definitely pulls through and is careful that you don’t slip through the cracks.
I have had good experiences and very bad experiences (most of my problems now are due to the negligence that I experienced after baby piglet’s birth) so I try not to generalise about the French health care service.
Poor Piglet! Ever so sorry to hear about all your trials, but you appear to be being very brave under the circumstances – I would definitely have thrown my hands up and had a poor me pity-fest long ago! Anyway, I am mightily relieved that things seem to be going in the right direction. Just make sure you take it very easy, and for as long, or longer, than necessary. Health is the most important thing, and you mustn’t risk adding any other poorlinesses to the mix while your defences are low. Big hugs, and take care.
Thank you! I take note about taking it easy and I’ve been being very careful not to let myself get tired. Its now been nearly 5 weeks since this eye thing started and I’m still wearing the dark glasses but I do feel more rested than I have done in a long time.
As for the pity fest, I know it may sound silly but I’ve learned that I should appreciate everything that I do have and I am so grateful that it’s not a serious life threatening illness that I’m just glad to be here. Funny thing perspective. x
Hi Piglet
I am very sorry to read about your on going problems, but it seems that you are in good hands.
Take care x
Thanks!
A shot in your eye?! You are so brave on so many levels. Sounds like such a scary time right now. I hope you get better soon – it sounds like you are getting good care.
Yes, excellent care even if it is a bit hit and miss sometimes. The shot in the eye isn’t anywhere near as bad as it sounds although it is scary the first few times as you can see the needle coming towards you. The thought is far worse than the actual shot as they do give you some drops so that you can’t feel anything first.
Glad you’re on the mend, honestly don’t worry about having to give up feeding Baby P now, she’s had six months which is an amazing start for her.
Thanks! The weaning has been going well and thankfully we were able to take it a bit slower than originally thought. Baby Piglet has only just spent her first 2 whole days without nursing and we have finally found a milk that she will drink so all is good!