A few days ago I went back home later than usually.
I had worked a lot, solving many problems the whole day.
I had only eaten a sandwhich and drunk many cups of tea.
I just needed to rest.
It is true that I had a headache.
But isn't it normal when you work that much ?
It is true that my throat was dry.
But isn't is normal when you face a air conditioner all day long ?
It is true that I had a few spots on my hands and arms.
But isn't it normal when you are stressed by your work and life in general ?
Truth is : I had no time to think at all.
I came back home and met my friends.
I looked and felt tired (euphemism...) with red eyes.
And I started sneezing.
I could not stop for a few minutes.
Then I understood.
I had an allergy.
It was 11 p.m.
I overthrew my whole room.
I only found 4 empty boxes of anti-hystaminics.
There are many kinds of them and only one type is efficient on me (without making me sleeping for 14 hours).
I thought "Luckily I live in Paris."
In a way I was right.
It was 11.30 pm.
I went away to a drugstore not really far from my flat.
It was supposed to close its doors at midnight.
I was there at 11.45 pm.
A big bodyguard was standing in front of the door, which was closed.
Many people were arguing.
The bodyguard :
"No one can come in. There are too many people inside. Go somewhere else."
I said :
"No. I'm sorry but I really need to come in. Here is my medical presciption. I have a big allergy right now. I need my drugd now. So PLEASE let me in. It is not a whim. I DO need them within the next 30 minutes."
The bodyguard :
"As you can see, the door is closed from inside."
Me :
"I really need them. Please. Let me in."
The bodyguard waited then knocked at the door.
Another guy came fast.
They talked together.
At the same moment a customer went out.
Then I was allowed to come in (and the two other waiting people too).
Waiting was not a problem.
BUT
As I saw a pharmacist, he said to me :
"Which medicine do you need : "250mg or 500mg" ? It is not written on the prescription."
Of course I did not know. There is only one kind of box for the medicines I take.
He took time on his computer and added :
"We don't have it now. But we have generics. Which one do you usally take 250 mg or 500mg ?"
I can't take generics.
I'm intolerant to some excipients...
I don't care if I have to pay extra money to get my drugs.
He replied : "Then sorry I can't do anything for you, if you don't want this box. It is the only one that I have."
I felt "!?$!?!" and said :
"I really need them. Where can I find them ?"
He answered : "Sur les Champs."
It was midnight.
I was alone in the streets of Paris.
I had not my drugs.
My allergy was still there.
And it started raining.
I went to the only place in Paris, where you can find anything you want at any time :
The Champs Elysées
There I will break a well-spread cliché.
The "Champs" as we (the French) call them are NOT SAFE at night (specially after the tube station is closed). You have many robbers and tramps at night.
I needed my drugs.
I went there.
I met a little gang in the metro corridors.
I made a U-turn to find another exit.
It was 00.20 in the Champs Elysées.
It was a special day : many young French people celebrated the end of high school and their graduation. They had passed their Baccalauréat ("leur Bac").
As usually there were many US-European-Asian-Saudian tourists, beggars, tramps and open international shops too.
That night I went into 3 differents drugstores.
NONE of them had the drugs I wanted.
But they had generics.
In each drugstore I was proposed different kinds of generics.
In the last drugstore I was even told :
"If you don't find the medicine you need, then it may not exist anymore. So take the generic !"
Pufff...
By this time, being outside, breathing the fresh air of rain (don't laugh !) had decreased my allergy.
I decided to go back home.
I ran up the whole Champs Elysées avenue to catch the last metro.
I missed it...
It was 1 p.m. in Paris.
I was tired.
It was raining.
I was fed up.
There were far less people in the streets.
They did not seem very friendly or were waiting to go clubbing.
I could try to catch a bus then walk to my flat.
But when it's 1.30 am, it's too complicated.
I hailed a taxi.
The Champs Elysées is the only place of Paris where you can find a cab easily.
The driver was talkative and kind.
I just needed 20 minutes to be home.
I went to bed 30 minutes later.
Do not try to count what time it was.
Far too late...
I was afraid to have a new crisis.
It did not happen and I felt asleep.
The day after I almost jumped from my bed to my bathroom, took a good shower and went to the closest drugstore.
They gave me my drugs, complaining a little bit that I did not want generics.
I did not care, I was far to happy.
Now my drugs are next to me.
I'm reassured.
If I have another problem, I have what I need.
I do not sneeze anymore.
My eyes are not swollen anymore.
My snops are almost away.
Morality :
- Midnight in Paris in the real life may not be as rosy as in the latest Woody Allen's movie.
- I DO NOT WANT GENERICS.
- I would say that I rather was not very lucky, not finding the medicines I needed. But had my allergy worsen, I would have bought the first ones I was offered.
- On the box of my usual anti-hystaminics it is written "10 mg". I prefer not to think about what would have happened if I had taken the 250mg or the 500mg box, which I was offered by the 1rst pharmacist.
- I was lucky enough to have two very good friends who SMSed me the addresses of the open drugstores and the schedules of the last Parisian metro.
- Latest but not least : More than ever I DO believe in the role of pharmacists for the society. They study hard, are very good at helping, advising & curing people. But I am happy to see that my intuition was right that night.
