I saw this beautiful butterfly on Calle Nueva last week for the third time, the first being in August 2022 in my garden and again in August 2024. You can see the other photos in my gallery Mandarin Nica (linked). Some people call it “Little Banner” but I prefer to use the iNaturalist names.
¡Pura Vida!
My Latest Health Update for Close Friends & Family
- Day before yesterday I was with my Urologist at the public geriatric hospital in San Jose for a Cystoscopy to help determine why I sometimes “leak” or they just say incontinency. Of course Walter was with me as in almost all of my medical appointments and he watched the TV screen seeing inside me and that my prostate is small and just fine (I had a TURP 30 years ago and they thought there might be scar tissue or a new enlargement, but no) and then all the way up to my bladder that never empties all the way where they discovered that it is stretched and no longer has the ability to contract as much as when younger. That was caused by “holding it” too long and too often when younger. They told Walter that he had to go at least every two hours to avoid this. They gave me two medications which I will take for a year to somehow help the muscles or something build back up in the bladder so I can better contract it and empty it again. A simple outpatient procedure that will make my life a little better, thanks to a national healthcare system that works and works very well! 🙂
- I may have already reported that my general geriatric doc sent me to a nutritionist doc here in Atenas Public Clinic who is pushing me to lose weight by stopping sugar and other fattening things like bacon, ice cream, cookies, sweet tea, sodas, processed meats, etc. Every two months she weighs me and measures my waist. 🙂 No wonder it is common in Costa Rica for people to live 100 years! 🙂
- This week I’m getting a new local attorney with a slightly updated will and giving power of attorney to Walter Ramirez (my driver and medical helper and like a son to me). If I become disabled, he will continue to manage my medical needs and be able to make decisions for me when I’m unable to do so myself, as determined by a doctor.
- Overall I’m very happy and healthy for an 86 year old and anticipate many more happy years in the Pura Vida of Costa Rica! (Photographing birds & butterflies!) 🙂
¡Pura Vida!