Paris Diary

Traveling abroad has always come with its challenges because getting dialysis in another country is quite unnerving. We don't know what kind of centers exist there, what kind of protocols they follow. So, whenever there is an opportunity to travel abroad, I am always a little wary.

However, when the opportunity to travel to Paris recently arose, I felt a twinge of excitement. Paris is renowned for its beauty, and the healthcare system there is reputed to be excellent. I figured it was worth taking the chance, especially since the work I was going for could significantly benefit my health in the long run. So, I made up my mind to go to Paris and began planning for the trip.

Sightseeing

Despite the packed schedule, I managed to squeeze in a few sightseeing activities. We took a cruise on the River Seine, which turned out to be a truly beautiful experience. The cruise included a three-course gourmet meal, and as the boat glided along the river, we were treated to views of stunning architecture on both sides. The highlight was undoubtedly the breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower.

A former colleague and I also visited the Louvre. Although we didn't go inside due to the extensive walking it would entail, which I wasn't quite up for, we spent some time around the iconic glass pyramid structure near the entrance. It was a pleasant way to soak in the atmosphere and enjoy the beauty of the surroundings.

Croissant Baking Class

The highlight of my trip was the croissant baking class that I took. Paris is known for its croissants, and I really have a fancy for good croissants. Where I stay, very rarely do we get good croissants, so when I was researching what to do in Paris, I found a really good croissant baking class. I thought this would be something nice and offbeat to do during my trip to Paris.

The class was exceptionally well done. Conducted in English, the instructor, an expert in culinary arts, guided us through the entire process of making croissants. We also received a PDF file with instructions to replicate the recipe once back home. This truly was the highlight of my entire trip. We made two croissants and two pain-au-chocolats during the class, and I thoroughly enjoyed them. 

Dialysis Disappointment

The dialysis experience, however, was quite disappointing. I had planned to undergo three nocturnal dialysis sessions there. Language posed a significant challenge as the staff, particularly the nurses, spoke very little English, and I did not know any French. While the facility itself was decent, there were some notable challenges. For instance, I had to walk from the hospital gate to the dialysis center, which was quite a long distance. Local patients had an ambulance drive them. Additionally, during two of the three sessions, they did not remove enough fluid despite my explicit instructions on the required amount. This proved to be quite a challenge. When you're traveling, you certainly don't want to be burdened with excess fluid, and this was quite a disappointment. Overall, I was rather upset with the quality of dialysis I received during my Paris trip.

Harrowing Return

While the rest of the trip went smoothly, the biggest issue arose on the return flight. Recently, several airlines in India have been plagued by hoax bomb threats, and it seems my flight was affected. I was scheduled to take the 10:25 pm Air Vistara flight from Paris to Delhi, with a connection to Hyderabad. After checking in, about an hour before departure, we learned that our flight was delayed. Hours passed with little or conflicting information, and then suddenly, we were informed that the flight would depart only the next day at 6 pm.

Already carrying excess fluid and having never skipped two consecutive nights of dialysis in the last few years, I explored other options for alternate flights but found none feasible. Ultimately, I had no choice but to wait for the 6 pm flight the following day, meaning I would go two nights without dialysis while already dealing with excess fluid. This situation left me quite anxious. The airline put us up in a hotel, but I had to severely restrict my fluid intake and diet. Finally, we boarded the evening flight back to Delhi.

Due to this delay, I missed my connecting flight from Delhi to Hyderabad. It was a chaotic experience dealing with Air India, Air Vistara's partner airline for the Delhi-Hyderabad leg of my journey.

Eventually, I managed to board the flight from Delhi to Hyderabad and arrived home by afternoon. Given my concerns about potentially high potassium levels and excess fluid in my body, I opted for a short two-hour dialysis session at home. That night, I underwent another nocturnal dialysis session, which unfortunately didn't go as smoothly. I'll delve into those details in another blog post, but overall, this was how the experience unfolded.

Going Forward

While the trip didn't meet my expectations, I did find joy in certain parts, especially the croissant baking class and the meetings, which were the primary reasons for my visit. However, the flight and dialysis issues left me quite traumatized. I've decided that I won't undertake more foreign trips unless there's a NephroPlus center nearby where I can be assured of good quality dialysis. Additionally, I'll avoid less reputable airlines, even if it means paying a bit extra, especially when traveling abroad. Well, that is at least where I am at at the moment. I might change my mind in the future, who knows?