#48 - Mercredi 30th

vieille et belle

(old and beautiful) 

I forgot to add yesterday, Anne's mum quite simply told me - young girls in France don't crochet or make pastry, I wasn't sure what to say to that...
 

Short blog today (for once I hear you cry) but I am exhausted! Ward this morning, I had to check up on my patients, thankfully tagged along with the friendly med student and we didn't do too much, followed the interne. At one point shockingly discovered a water fight, two nurses and the unarmed interne.... apparently it was her last day.. they'd also cut her notes into triangles....! I was useful on the ward for once, noticed a patient choking, my worried face was all it took and I said 'tousse' (cough), she was okay, but coughed and nearly vomited for a while... scary moment. My patient when we finally saw him looked terrible - it was pretty sad, he'd been so well. Eventually had the courage to visit my patient from the other ward alone, off I set...

"Bonjour... ca va?" He was sat up, looking a huge amount better than yesterday - how much difference a day can make! He was quite deaf so it took a while for me to explain, 'english', we got there and I managed to ask, "Douleur?" (pain) - a little, bottom right of his abdo, same as yesterday... he kept asking about surgery... and said he couldn't eat lunch... was he coming back here after? Well I was quite surprised he was going off for surgery this afternoon but gave him a simple, "je ne sais pas" reply (I don't know!). It had dawned on me by this point that he could be a different patient.... 

.....anyway at least I'd spoken to a new french patient alone..!

Time to escape with the med student, she dropped me off at 'hotel dieu' for a clinic this afternoon. Here is my adventure in pictures....

quite dark and deserted...telephone sign on the left..

advertised as the 'cafeteria'...

'picnic' spot

old maternity building, first floor houses geriatric consultations

Very interesting clinic, the doctor doesn't speak English but she spoke alot of french to me, which I think I did alright with. Followed alot of the consultations, memory clinic I think - very, very interesting... I learned alot and enjoyed it. We spoke a little more about the tour and I was teased abit for being English! Long and hot... left at quarter past six... 

cycling home... obviously took a wrong turn but found a different way home, through the most wonderful park - stunning lake with fist sized flowers. As much as I want to hate France and this placement (a few times everyday) then I see something beautiful again, or I understand some French...

Ratatouille again, little bit of ginger too... (don't worry the photo just shows my first portion!)
 

 

Old and beautiful: Hotel Dieu today.... simple recipes... the elderly (in my opinion at least)....

#47 - Mardi 29th

Sentir

(to feel)

Sentir: sleepy/angry/frustrated/english/sleepy

Woke up to a snapchat from Rosie - she was just going to sleep... oh how I fancied sleeping some more! Had a good breakfast to keep me going through the momentous ward round..

Needless to say, this fancy breckie, followed with a crepe made me a little late.... Handover and then onto the ward round. I was asked to take a blood gas from 'my patient' - unfortunately (& I was laughed at again, we don't get taught this type of blood test until fifth year in newcastle..). I watched and was quite glad I wasn't causing him the pain, even despite the local anaethetic cream he'd had applied! (not in England...). Spoke to another patient, which was nice, I felt I'd come a long way to approach a patient and try a few sentences, I'm not really sure what about but he was smiling too, the tour featured again. 

I understood a lot more of the ward round, doing alright. Only four patients seen by eleven.... but it was okay, however long this morning lasted I would be having the afternoon off to see Rennes and buy train tickets to Paris. Brioche break at mid-day, when I say break - I mean 'brioche' at mid-day in the middle of the ward...People are friendlier to me which is nice though.
 

labcoats and behind is the x-ray light box

The ward round eventually ended  (I'd been contemplating something was wrong with me always falling asleep) and I went to ask, "I'd like to, this afternoon buy my tickets to go to Paris..." Confronted with, "Will you come back...?" was tricky... I tried, "Well, I can but what's this afternoon..." Long story short, I was to come back, the other ward had four new patients - who I would examine first alone and then return with the doctor (I had said 'no' but was told 'I think try first..'). Needless to say I was pretty frustrated and angry and sad. As I left I saw the demented patient who likes to tidy, surrounded by a pile of clean facecloths - folding, how heartwarming. Had a pitstop at home, including a cup of Anne's coffee... Calmed down enough to cycle to the station, got lost again, so frustrating. Arriving at the station desk, having to use my written plan and the computer screen - tickets booked, next wednesday! 

Back on the bike (despite being quite late, I couldn't just hop on a bus... I don't know where to buy tickets...and you can't on the bus?!!!). Made it back to la Tauvrais, standing on a stone and feeling so sorry for myself. Took a few minutes to find a doctor, I found the scarier doctor first who thankfully spoke to me very, very slowly: "you...would like....to...see....new....patient...?" Well quite frankly, no. So I grimaced and said, "oui." The friendlier doctor was with the patient and I observed the end of his examination - very interesting, very thorough. I particularly found the ?kidney check unsual - quite literally hammering his back (left and right) and asking, "mal? (pain?)".... well we don't do that in England... He'd been admitted with some back pain and so he had to ensure some more deep prodding. He quite clearly had Parkinsons Disease and she repeatedly did the 'lead-pipe' arm test, until she was applying a fair bit of force... it was obvious already!!!

After a few minutes we returned to see him, I was to ask him some questions about his home. Again I tried to say no. He knew I was English and his roomate and wife had now returned too, an audience... "Vouz habitez toute soule?" - apparently made no sense when I asked it... With some help from the doctor we went for something simpler, "Vous avez l'infermiere?" - You have a nurse?, meaning like a carer at home... After a few attempts, blank silence from everyone... me trying loudly and clearly, he admitted yes. Now to ask how many times or everyday? With the doctor asking it eventually came out that he did not have a nurse... "Vous avez des enfants?" No one understood so the doctor told me how to pronounce it... honestly the same as how I was... I'm sure.... Laughing when I said 'beaucoup' to his number of grandchildren - English girl says something in French! Spent the next hour in the office, understanding the docs okay and learning swearing - the computer wasn't playing....

Finally managed to ask to go... came home to find Phoebe out... thankfully with the neighbour for a walk and after speaking to her and Anne's mum we set off to the countryside to the creperie... Well it wasn't the countryside - picture teeside park, lots of restaurants around a cinema... lots of cars to watch from the window. It was lovely and despite my terrible french and her lack of English I think we understood 60% of each other. Yummy gallete and crepe (caramel, apple and ice cream) for pudding... 'petite cafe' to wash it all down too. I thought Anne suggested we visit somewhere, unless I was too tired... we arrived straight home... so I'm not sure what I'd said.. She was lovely and very patient.

Phoebe and I have just had super, time for bed before another day of looking after my poor, poor patient (poor him being assigned me) and then clinic, who knows what time or even where... I know its not a la Tauvrais....

 

#46 - Lundi 28th

ecouter

(to listen)

CHU La Tauvrais

This is my 'geriatric hospital'. First floor to the right is Le Court Sejour (Short Stay, where I am), to the left and above is Long Duree (yes Mum it does sound like 'lingerie' in my french accent....). I think the top floor is a 'Maison de Retraite' - Retirement/Care home. The flowers are beautiful - the photo doesn't do them justice.

"Ecouter" - something I'm certainly doing a lot of recently (I know my parents and Pete right now are like... 'well you don't normally...' It’s been a good thing, I've definitely learned to be more observant. & I think other senses are important, touching a patient or holding their hand has an important place in consultations and here in France in greetings. Not being able to say a lot in French has encouraged me to really think before I speak and to perhaps just pick a few words, something which will hopefully stay with me when I return home.... even if it’s just in a professional setting....

Started the long ward round, comprehended a bit (I really struggle to remember the patients names though - they're not by the bedside like in England) and off we set. So slow... the second patient was a flamboyant elderly man, in I think Moroccan attire - I'm not sure the other staff understood him either, but he had no weakness, demonstrating this by exuberantly flailing his arms in the doctor's face... I could usually pick up the patient's medical problem from listening to a quick summary, which is a definite improvement. Lots of too-ing and fro-ing of doctors and while I don't think they're doing a bad job, not at all - I don't think for all the time they spend, they're doing the best job... I excused myself at half twelve, "je vais aller a manger?" (I'm going to go and eat?) - I'd meant to explain, because I have clinic at 1pm... but I got nervous... Imagine I annoyed the other medical students, they'd be stuck for the long run and I'd just asked (my only french words spoken in front of them) can I eat...? 

Lunch, my bread from Saturday was tough... so I took one of the little pains - I later realized everyone does it (I’d been told before it was okay) and the sign saying 'DON'T' is often ignored... Stocked up on coffee... Ready to go to clinic, found out it was actually 3pm... so before I could catch anyone I escaped home for an hour! I did some cleaning, took the bins out and emptied the compost (I haven't smelt anything so disgusting for a while... sorry nature but I can't handle a compost heap up here!). 

 

how cute? Just from the shop

Back to hosp via the pharmacy. I've been bitten another half a dozen times at least - and they're quite inflamed.... I was starting to worry it was something else - so I wielded my swollen arm at the pharmacist, 'J'ai beaucoup de piques' (lots of bites)... when she didn't say anything I settled for two packets of antihistamines.

Having now also taken a bus and the metro in Rennes, I can say - not only are French trains nice, French public transport is beautiful. How luxurious... the bus had funny sized seats at the front, not quite big enough for two but roomy for one... The CHU hospital was stunning again, so huge and each department is housed in an entirely unique style building - I'm going to try and take some photos. Two patients this afternoon, unusual cancers. The first arrived with three of his children and I proudly understood about 80% of the consultation, well I got some of the gist anyway... good chat about the Tour de France, and they asked me about England and the French healthcare system - I hope I answered the questions they asked... really enjoyed that hour and a half. The second patient highlighted to me worries of patients living 'tout seule' - alone....

Home via the shop, nachos, roasted my mysterious vegetable (tasted like the inside of courgette), ratattouille and then crepes... Half a tub of nutella and three attempts, the first had a burnt black circle in the centre.. the second I covered in butter which went crispy... and third was perfect. Sat, j'écoute to the BBC World News... in English - it is amazing how easy it is in your own language.

#45 - Dimanche 27th

la côte

(the coast) 

This is quite a long one! & I couldn't get the photographs to sit in the text properly...

Last night: I managed to sign up to the Rennes bikes myself for 5 euros for the week and set off at 10pm for the lumiere show on the parliament building, I'd just reached the canal when I decided it was far too creepy, took a photo of the snoopy graffiti and cycled back - finding my way along the road. Definitely gave myself more creeps than necessary, but believe me your thinking changes when you're alone, particularly in a foreign country. Back home just after 10:25.

Rolling out of bed, cuppa tea and watched some 'extreme cliff diving' - so annoying when they spoke over the English in translated French! (rescued my soap from the plug) and watched the news. Set off at quarter to ten - train was 10:37 - so plenty time for error (which of course, a small one, there was....) I'd planned to go to the ticket office but it was closed when I arrived, so I struggled with the machine, even despite it being in English - there were a million questions, do I have this card, that card, am I am member of this.. or that? & no prices were shown until right at the end... Anyway clutching my tickets I headed upstairs (there was a larger, open ticket office...) Thankfully checked the platform as it had changed since I arrived, walked on the platform and my train pulled up. (Checked it was St Malo) and off we went (perfectly on time). Well the French trains are lovely, nothing like the Hartlepool/Newcastle 'bus' style train. I spent most of the journey worrying I'd have to move to my allocated seat and the logistical difficulty with that!

Made it to St Malo (without moving seat) and bought a kinder bueno - who knew when lunch would be.... Sat crocheting in the sun when I noticed a man in a red cap looking for someone - that was my clue, met up with the couple and their dog and off we set. They were amazing, so, so lovely - driving me along windy, narrow, crowded streets, parallel-parking into tiny spaces so I could have a quick view of the town, hopped out to have a look out over the sea, there was a statue of the man who discovered Canada and they showed me some of the original buildings, from 1725!. Over 70% of the town was destroyed and has since been rebuilt (not, as I thought from Wiki, and asked them.... from a fire...but in WW2). 

  
St Malo is a very defensive town, the old buildings are big and strong, the town's walls were huge and about a metre thick - all to stop the British! The blue bay, with low tide was scattered with large rocky mounds - unless you know the way into the bay you would quite simply die, successful natural defenses. St Malo was destroyed by the Americans, once the Germans were inside the city. For a primarily defensive town it was beautiful. The blue sea was covered, covered in white sails on the horizon, behind this side of the town was the commercial yard, chemicals, wood being imported/exported and beside this another harbour - it absolutely blew Hartlepool Marina out of the water... (excuse the pun). Although I think the Trincomalee was better than their big ship... anyway this is getting petty..
 

We drove over the barrage, which has some fancy energy generating thing, from tidal movement in and out - very cool. We wound through another few coastal towns, stopping for a nice view back over St Malo and the row of original buildings. Arriving at the couple's beautiful home. They were lovely and their English, fantastic. You can't underestimate the brilliance of speaking in your own language again. They've traveled alot, lived in England, Africa and Sirbia. As he said "I'll have to do some work today, BBQ for lunch.." I could understand the couple bickering in French, she was telling him not to just offer me alcohol as an apperitif, I settled with trying something.... ergh aniseed, it was horrible... so I tried the safe 'fruit juice' option... grapefruit.... hmm.... Anyway I wasn't going to bring up the veggie thing and we sat down to potatoes, beef tomato, mozerella bazil salad, bread and chicken/sausage/tomato kebabs, all the better for being sat outside chatting in English. Had a little wine too. I made the woman laugh, describing my perfect french letters to Rennes (thanks to G) and my subsequent first meeting with Prof Somme... she couldn't speak she was laughing so much! The man was telling me about living in London and he's twice run with Seb Cohen... & completed a half marathon in 35 degree heat, wow. Onto the cheese course, just perfect. It's handy I know a little French... I understood that ice cream would be coming too (saved some space)... ice cream and biscuits later, just left time for coffee. It was hilarious we had spent this morning, "Sarah we'd show you here but we don't have much time, really sorry..." to this lovely, long leisurely lunch (rather than a quick english sarnie)... The woman kept nagging her husband in French, "c'est trois heures moins quart..." Hurry up... he was too busy telling me stories. So generous of them, it was exquisite.

Back into the car, they were great tour guides, explaining landmarks and slowing down so I could get a good look. We had a little wander along a rocky point, lovely views over the bays, even if the mist had descended. (You can see Jersey, less than 25 miles away!) We occasionally blocked the road, at one point we then starting suddenly and the dog (Gucci - yes, I know...) fell off my lap on to my feet! We drove past Dinnard and the famous Dinnard Golf club (Gran Tiff has been to Dinnard, but not played there). Courageously drove down this track ending in a million-point-turn so I could see the view (the photos aren't great, not sure it was the best view) but for effort it was lovely! Saw a working windmill. (ooped nearly typed 'window'..).

We had a good nosey of some fabulous houses, even the everyday houses are so unique and lovely, the big houses are something else... possibly saw the house of some designer guy? (it wasn't the nicest)... we saw a 'labyrinth' and I tried to explain the maize maze... bad idea...

I'd already picked it up in French nagging but they explained we had to make it to the barage before 5, it opens at five on a Sunday to let boats pass through.. (its not allowed to open any later on a Sunday as people kept missing their trains back to paris!). Back onto my train, thanking them very, very much. Possibly did the awkward English thing of avoiding the kissing and shook their hands - well I am English!
 

Learned how to stamp my ticket and hopped on the train. A guy sat next to me - reading this ecomonic magazine... writing notes and very dramatically scribbling them out and scrumpling up the paper after about half an hour....oh dear.

Cycled home, event free and watched the tour I'd managed to record! What a fun day!