So it is Sunday

It is raining, again. We have been getting lots, it is the rainy season after all, and the flowers are doing better. I lost a few while I was gone because it was dry at the beginning. Back to before I left. My last posting was my terrible day getting set up with an appointment at CAJA. It is a week later and I am back at the clinic - BY MYSELF. I knew I had to start with the appointment lady and she would take me to where I needed to wait for the doctor. I figured I could handle it and I was stocked with chocolate chip cookies. Jose did call me to say if I needed his help he would come, or if something came up I should just call him. I thanked him and said if I had a problem I would call.  

In the waiting area I saw Dora, Gerardo’s sister. She invited me to her house when I was finished. The appointment lady took me to wait for a pre-consultation. This lady spoke some English but we managed. My cookies talked. She took the vitals and then took me to wait for the doctor. It seems to be a social center. I encountered several people I knew and met a few from Rio Macho who recognized me. Then into the doctor. It took longer than normal because it is my first visit. She wrote up all my meds for the pharmacy - or at least the ones CAJA covers. She gave me a list of lab work to be done at the clinic in Paraiso and two referrals for the hospital in Cartago. One is for a cardiologist   and one for an optomologist for my cataract. They have a good program for seniors and have you come every 3 months to keep an eye on you.

Next stop is the pharmacy and they tell me to come back in 3 hours. They will be giving me 2 meds and 2 insulin’s. I have to go back to the pre-consultation lady for the needles to go with the insulin.

Now about one of my meds. It has been a challenge to find meds that work for my blood pressure. Dr. Mora, here, started me on one and I have been on Carvedilol for several years. My numbers are very good on these two. Up until last month I have been on Carvedilol from the US. It is a generic for Coregand the generic is not available here. The Coreg is 54,000 colones a month. About $100.00. In Hutchinson I saw the doctor and got a prescription for a year and had it filled in Madison and it was $61.00 for the entire year. The reason for the referral to the cardiologist is because if he says I need that med, CAJA will cover it. The doctor in Hutch did say there are new meds he could try me on but since I won’t be there for him to monitor he just stuck with what I am on.

Natalie and I went to the hospital on Friday to give out hats and then she went with me to get the appointments. For the cardiologist I have to check back in 22days to see what they say. For the optomologist my appointment is for July 2020. Now it gets interesting. During the next month they will call with a new appointment date. If you miss the call they give it to someone else. I gave them Jose and my numbers.

It started a little rough but they are getting along much better.

This one broke my heart.

Jeanette made me a gift. 

If I haven’t heard in 45days I am to go back and they will have me see a doctor. This time I had fudge for everyone including the security guards, staff and chemo patients.

So back to my doctor appointment day. Between the doctor and when I need to pick up my meds, I went to eat and then went to Dora’s house. I still had some cookies and I shared them and invited them all to my house the 24th, after I return from the US. So, this past week I took the cats to the vet on Monday, went to Cartago and WalMart on Tuesday, had Jeanette and Ligia here on Wednesday, had Gerardo’s sisters here on Thursday and went to Cartago to the hospital on Friday. You see why I don’t get anything written.

More another day.