So it's obviously unfortunate that I had to have surgery, go to the hospital, etc ... but I've been really pleased with the quality & efficiency (yesss, that's right!) of the French healthcare system. Well, I haven't received the hospital bill yet (and you'll be sure to hear from me after that one), but supposedly I will pay 30% of the total and the rest will be covered by my social security benefits. Anyway, I left the hospital with a packet of prescriptions including antibiotics, painkillers, anti blood-clot shots for 10 days, and all of the materials to re-do the bandage every two days for two weeks ... and I paid about 45 euro for that out of my pocket; once again my social coverage was 70%. Yesterday I finally bought the orthopedic shoe for my foot and paid 22 euro after my coverage. At least from a financial perspective, I feel like the system is very fair ... particularly for a foreigner who was here for a short contract period of 7 months (working 12 hours a week) ... I feel rather fortunate to be able to take advantage of their social benefits. Obviously I don't enjoy paying these completely unanticipated costs, but it could definitely be a lot worse. I keep thinking of how my situation could be reversed if I was a foreigner under a similar situation in the U.S., and based on the execution of our super-cher med system, I don't think I'd be as lucky. I'm simultaneously knocking as wood as I'm writing this, since nothing's over until my departure on June 10th :)
Finances aside, I've also been pleased with the medical care I've received. Sure I spent forever waiting around at the hospital for news & was a bit frustrated at times ... but that's normal for hospitals everywhere. My anesthesia, surgery, and follow-up visits have all been great - of course they weren't enjoyable, but from what I can tell, the quality was good. I was particularly impressed to have received a call two days after my surgery to set up a follow-up visit with an orthopedic doctor. So I went to that appointment this morning, where they informed me that it was very clean & healing well but that we need to wait another few days to take out the stitches. Unfortunately I'd jumped the gun and bought train tickets to go South this weekend, but I can reschedule those without a problem. So the nurse at my school who's been treating me will take out the stitches on Monday and then I should be able to continue with my little shoe, minus the bandages, for the next 5 weeks. Ugh but 5 weeks will be interesting with this shoe ... I've (almost) gotten over the asthetic/fashion aspect, but I'm already thinking of how painful it's going to be to lug my 100+ pounds of baggage back to the US on June 10th. I keep picturing myself falling out of the train while trying to get my bags out with one good foot. I know we've all probably cussed at those huge golf cart-like cars that whizz through the airports with high-speed priority ... but I'm honestly not opposed to the option ... we'll see how I feel :) Anyway the doctor today scheduled another follow-up appointment in three weeks ... it's technically on June 9th, the day before I leave. But if my foot feels fine at that point, then I'm just going to continue to wear the shoe, cancel the appointment, and wait to go to a doctor in the U.S. two days later. Ohhh and I got some more specifics on the injury - I cut (broke? I don't know what term works here) the tendon that makes my big toe bend! Based on how dead this toe has felt the past two weeks, I wouldn't be surprised if the little guy never works the same again ... we'll see, yiikes! But it feels pretty darn good to ditch the crutches and walk with my special shoe, woowoo!
Et, voila, I'll leave you with a picture of my shoe and I:
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