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Thu
2/10
After the
mayhem at Paris CDG (due to security precautions) it was wonderful to arrive at
Tunis Carthage and to marvel at the spaciousness and quiet as we were checked
by the police and went on to collect our luggage. Sonia and driver (whose name
I never did manage to learn) whisked us off immediately to the clinic, Sonia
explaining that they would take Nicole to the hotel later.
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The clinic was
something of a shock; such a massive hospital that I felt a little fearful that
recent experience in French hospitals might be repeated, viz. being left for
hours in my room with a dearth of information about what was going to happen to
me. Nothing could be further from the reality. What a warm welcome!
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Male nurse
Ben introduced himself and explained that he would be looking after me for the
whole of my stay ... any questions or problems I had he would deal with PDQ ...
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Sonia also was terrific, changing arrangements with the hotel (Ramada Plaza)
when Nicole decided that she would prefer to stay with me for the whole 5 days,
the room having been prepared for just such an eventuality. Whenever I've been
in hospital in the past, whether in England or France, I've always felt
imprisoned due to the lack of fresh air ... not so in La Soukra where every
room opens out on to its own large balcony where it was possible for me to smoke without any
criticism from the staff.
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That evening was quite eventful. I had expected that
all the pre-op necessities would be taken care of on the Friday but that was
not to be the case ...blood tests, blood pressure checked, ECG, temperature
taken, Dr Hamza 'painting' my bosom to provide himself with a 'map' to guide
his cutting and finally, at 10.30pm, chest x-rayed so that I should be ready to
go to theatre early on Friday morning.
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Fri 3/10
I was there by 8.30am
and Dr Hamza breezed in a few minutes later. Obviously I don't remember much else
about that day except that, when I came round, I was very surprised to feel no
pain ... I'd been preparing myself mentally for it to be horrific.
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Nicole's
presence was invaluable during the night ... perhaps because I was attached to
a drip I needed to pee every 15 minutes or so and could not have got to my
bathroom without help, nor would I have wanted to be such a nuisance to the
nursing staff.
Sat 4/10
The drip removed
and meals allowed. This seems an appropriate time to mention the food. It was
always quite good and sometimes excellent; three meals plus afternoon tea and
bottled water always being renewed.
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Although there was no hot drink provided in
the evening there was a comfortable common room nearby with a kettle and the
'makings'. Unfortunately I'm not accustomed to eating so many meals in the day
so I often had to return food untouched which made me feel very guilty, having
already observed how poor the ordinary Tunisians are.
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Sun 5/10
I felt
wonderful so we ventured out for a walk around the building ... quite enchanted
by the bougainvillea in so many marvelous colours.
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Then an excellent double
espresso in the cafe in the reception hall really put me right with the world!
During this day as on every day during my stay I was visited frequently by Ben
and other members of the team to check on blood pressure, take blood samples
and temperature and generally make me feel very well cared for. Dr Hamza himself
saw me every day ... when does he ever relax?!
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Mon 6/10
Great day!
Post-op dressings off and supporting bra fitted. Everyone very pleased with
progress of healing, especially Dr Hamza and Ben whom he referred to as his alter ego.
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Tue 7/10
We were both
quite sad to be leaving the clinic where we had been treated so warmly as well
as extremely competently. Arrived at the hotel mid-afternoon and were quite
stunned by the air of opulence and, perhaps, a little afraid that it might be
too 'posh' for us ... this proved to be absolutely not the case ... the
atmosphere very relaxed but the standard of service impeccable.
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After seeing
our large, well-equipped rooms close to reception and various amenities we
strolled to have a look at the sea ... rather further from the hotel than is
suggested on its website! The bites I suffered on this walk would drive me mad
for the duration ... this, and the ever-present flies were the only things
which threatened to spoil our enjoyment.
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We decided to try the Bistro for
dinner and couldn't believe how superb was the buffet ... ditto for breakfast.
I'm pretty sure that, during the next 9 days, I regained all the weight I'd
lost on the operating table!
Remaining days
As well as doing some touristy trips we returned to the clinic every
second day to have my dressings changed, giving us the opportunity to get to
know Sonia quite well. She really is a gem with a sparkling sense of humour.
Ben is not only a very caring, competent nurse, he is an artist as he goes about
his work yet he, too, has a great sense of humour. We made friends with some of
the other English patients, especially those who moved on to the hotel for a
few days. We both have the most wonderful memories of the whole two weeks and
of the friends we made there.
Back home
I have visited Dr Hamza in Paris where he continues to monitor progress at no
further cost to me. Nicole is a substitute for Ben to change my dressings ...
she's learning quite quickly.
N.B.
- I had no difficulty obtaining cash from ATMs at a
variety of banks.
- Taxis (distinctive yellow livery) are everywhere and very
inexpensive.
- Laundry (returned same day if submitted by 9.0am) and
hairdressing very good and inexpensive.
- Tipping - only a very few dinars seem to be very
welcome.
- Beware theft of items from luggage going into the
aircraft hold ... I lost my camera and 3 cartons of cigarettes.
- The evening entertainment, particularly Sally on the
piano in reception and a superb belly-dancer in the bar, we enjoyed enormously.
Now we're looking forward with great excitement to spending Christmas in the
hotel.
By the way, if you do publish some of this I am happy for you to include my
e-mail address in case anyone out there would like to communicate with me.
All the best
Flo
Anyone wishing to contact Flo about her breast reduction, please ask for her email address - or get the surgeons CV by using the button below.
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