I have to go to the doctor!

Yesterday I had to go to the doctor for the first time since being in France and I have to say that I didn't have any sort of problem, not with doctors, lecturers, nor with the secretaries. Everything was really easy. I spent the whole week feeling really unwell and above all, my throat hurt, and on Thursday morning I couldn't go to class. On Friday I did go although I had a bit of a fever and one of my lecturers, in the first hour of the class, saw my face and asked me if I wanted to go to the doctor. I had no idea about where I had to go, who I had to call, nor what to do in any way, shape or form, but everyone helped me. They gave me a few telephone numbers of different doctors and one for a health centre right next to my university. To avoid any miscommunication with the doctors, the secretary in my department personally called and made me an appointment with one of the doctors. She told me where to go, the address, and that she had told the doctor my problem.

When I arrived at my appointment, it wasn't long before they could see me. I told him what was happening to me, he had a look... he did all the usual things that happen when you go to the doctor. The main difference from Spain is that I had to pay €23 there and then, as that is how much it costs to go to the doctor. But he gave me a piece of paper, which was a kind of doctor's note, or a receipt, and he told me that when I return to Spain I should give this to my normal doctor and they will completely reimburse me with the €23. You can pay for the "expeces" (as they call them in France-extras) with both card and/or cash. He didn't have a problem signing the doctor's note to take to the University either (as in Saint Nazaire attendance in class is obligatory) nor giving me a prescription for everything I need to go and get. I didn't go so far as to actually buy what he prescribed me as I brought some medicine from Spain, so I didn't need to get anything.

I would like to review, that all the problems in my story were so easy to solve, the doctors, as well as the lecturers and the secretary of my university department really helped. So, it's possibly the easiest experience I have had when I thought they would have run in the other direction or ignored me, but they treated me incredibly well.

So, don't be sad, as now you know what to do in case this happens to you!

Best wishes!

Photo gallery