Can I rant about French doctors?

[lottien]

I'm so cross I don't know what to do with myself and as(French) DP has just shrugged my anger off in that irritating Gallic way I'd love to see what advice anybody can offer me. DD (6) had what looked to me like a group of small warts on the back of her leg so I went to the pharmacy where I was told to consult a doctor so I went to the doctor. Dr said not warts, eczema, and prescribed a hydrocortizone treatment. After one application the bumps got really inflamed so I took her to see dermatologist. The dermato said it was Molluscum contagiosum (which I'd never heard before) and said that the only treatment was to scrape them off so she gouged them all out making great big bleeding holes in DD's leg. DD was in real pain although the dermato kept saying to me - it's just a bit uncomfortable. At the end DD was so shocked she was shaking. I've now looked up what Molluscum contagiosum is and have discovered that it goes away without treatment and that scraping is not normally recommended because it can scar. I feel so crap for not protecting my daughter and so angry I feel like going back tomorrow and gouging the dermato and I'm so cross with French doctors because they never explain things properly. and I'm furious with DP because he's French and therefore thinks that Doctors can do what they like.

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

Blimey

about the scraping

[bebespain]

Hi lottien

I can only sympathise as doctors here in Spain are just the same. I´ve just been in hospital for a week and what a bloody nightmare.

When I went back for a check-up yesterday I asked what had caused my illness - a normal question right? The Doctor said just think yourself lucky you didn´t have a blood clot Silly me - I´d forgotten you´re not supposed to ask questions and of course nothing is ever explained properly.

on your behalf, I dread having to take DS to the Doctors here.

[Pitchounette]

Message withdrawn

[Othersideofthechannel]

What a horrible experience for you and your DD. Here in rural northern France many people tend to treat doctors as gods and don't dare to question them and I suspect many of the older ones get a bit of a power trip from being perceived as omniscient.

For a bit of balance, we have a lovely 'médécin traitant' who is good at explaining things and so far he has always recommended specialists who have great manner with patients, particularly when the DCs are involved. For next time I would recommend asking around before you consult a specialist.

[blueshoes]

lottien, I feel so sorry for your dd about the scraping. I hope she is better. I am on the non-interventionist camp in the case where treatment is invasive as it was in your dd's case. I too would have removed the dr's testicles with the scraper without pain relief. Once bitten twice shy. It won't happen again. Next time, your dd will have you as her advocate. on your behalf.

[lottien]

Thanks for the sympathetic words which have soothed me! I'm actually quite glad that the dratted things have gone but what really bugs me is that the dermato didn't talk to me about what needed to be done and that she launched into the intervention straight away even though it would have been the simplest thing in the world to prescribe a local anaesthetic and to come back the next day to scrape them off. Of course it's fine now (a large number of disney princess plasters down the line). Pichounette - I'm sorry I know it's not just French doctors!

Othersideofthechannel - hi there - part of the problem was that because of the reaction to the hydrocortizone treatment I wanted to see someone urgently and it's August... We've just moved so I don't know anyone who could recommend someone(or warn against) so I could only take pot luck.

As a follow on, the dermato said that DD shouldn't wash for a week AT ALL does this sound logical to anyone? I can understand not taking a bath but a shower? All advice welcome.

[castille]

Lottien, what an awful experience, your poor DD

French health professionals aren't much good at child psychology (how's that for a sweeping statement!). My 10yo DD had an operation this week and was petrified, but some of the nurses and other staff she saw (not the doctors, they were great) just made her feel worse with their "don't be silly" speeches. Not to mention telling her that she was very likely be feel/be sick afterwards, which caused huge anxiety and left her refusing to eat even when she'd been told she could.

The treatment itself is usually excellent, but the psychology is seriously lacking

[Othersideofthechannel]

Of course, I'd forgotten you'd just moved. How are you settling in?
Not washing for a week does sound strange. I would have thought you'd need to keep the affected area clean. What advice did the dermato give for that?

[lottien]

Castille - Sweeping statement maybe but pretty spot on! where we lived before I shocked everyone by refusing to take dd to a pediatrician because the only ones I could get an appointment with didn't seem to be particularly keen on children! Although my GP was totally wonderful with her - I'm missing her now I have to say.

Othersideofthechannel - Re keeping clean she said to put cream on all over - including on the affected area - rather than bathing. she said only to wash face hands and feet (although I've decided bottom too because quand même). Re moving - Thanks for asking - it's a bit weird but we're surviving and there's only a week left til la rentree. It's true that people are more friendly here - the woman in the flat below saw us earlier and introduced herself - she's a child minder and said that if dd was bored she could go and play. also we met a little girl who will be in the year above at school playing in the square who said she would introduce dd to all her friends -bless, I could have cried with joy!

[Othersideofthechannel]

We were in your department during the holidays. We went to a maze called Artmazia (near Massy) which the DCs really enjoyed. It is full of sculptures and there is a trolls grotto at the centre. Also a lovely amusement park ideal for young kids at Le Bocasse.

[castille]

We don't have a paediatrician either - I take mine to our GP who is just as competent and very good with them.

Where have you moved to Lottien?

(Not sure I should be on a thread bashing French docs, as my DH is one... but as he's worked in the UK too, and I have trained him well, he is the exception to all the rules)

[lottien]

Hi - we've moved to Rouen from Vincennes in the East of Paris. (I've just realised I ought to bring my details up to date.) I'm sure we'll find a good GP soon and we're nearly at the end of smelly week !!! Thanks for your kind words (I want to insert a smiley but I'm typing on a mac and can't find the square brackets)