INTERFACING WITH THE FRENCH HEALTH SYSTEM

Skiing was not good for me this year! I fell badly on the first day, knocked myself out and ended up in hospital overnight for observation!

Margaret being taken down the mountain after her fall - still smiling!

I recovered well after a day apart from dizziness when I lay down and turned my head. Back in Reims I decided I needed further tests. So off to find a neurologist. The first was fully booked for two months, the second was available but I had to be referred by the polyclinique. So we went into what was the UK equivalent of A & E. 

A long drawn out process of tests, blood samples, balancing exercises and eventually a CT Scan which was what I wanted, for peace of mind. All was perfectly normal but we had to get to the bottom of this dizziness. So it was back to the neurologist that I'd tried to see five hours earlier but now I had a referral!! He heard my story and said 'Ah, you are suffering from vertigo, BPPV. I have a friend who will see you. The crystals in your ears have moved and need to be relocated.' Crystals?? In my ears?? What crystals?? He then proceeded to tell us he could speak some English as he had watched Little Britain and really liked it!

That night I was googling crystals in the ear, BPPV etc. and sure enough we all have crystals in our ears!! Next morning, un rendez-vous with the vertigo consultant. This was in a new clinic which only opened last year. It is the only one of its kind in France and is called C.E.R.V.E.M. centre d'évaluation et de rééducation des vertiges et troubles d'équilibration et de la marche (what a mouthful). Amazingly it was a couple of hundred metres from where we were moored. The neurologist was there as well even though it was across town from his surgery. He was still joking about Little Britain and trying to explain it to the consultant who didn't speak a word of English!  

The neurologist and consultant studying my eye movements which were relayed to a computer

After lots of head movements, shaking, vibrating and turning, the consultant performed the Epley Manoeuvre. I then had to be really careful for the next 4 or 5 days not to do sudden or extreme head movements and sleep on my back propped up on two pillows. Not very comfortable. 

Still it seemed to work.....dizziness gone and confirmation from the consultant that the crystals are back where they should be. 

I must say I was impressed by the system and had all that treatment for €44 with my European Health Insurance Card. What will happen with Brexit? I presume we'll all have to claim on our private insurance and surprise, surprise our premiums will go up!