Happy Hearts Day!

Today, I'm celebrating 4 years since my weight loss surgery and starting a new life chapter. I call today my "Happy Heart Day"! This photo was taken 16 months after my lap band surgery. The women on the right is my friend Kathy who is undertaking Bariatric surgery later this month.

I bet you thought I was wishing you a Happy Valentines’ Day. Well I wasn’t although its not a bad idea considering its so close to the actual date, so lets say yes and go with it.

I was actually thinking about how I felt when I got my surgical date for my lap band, I indeed had a happy heart. I was excited, scared, and wished that it was already over.

Well ladies and gentlemen, it is over with and I am here to celebrate my lap band birthday with you, February 15, 2011 will mark four years since my rebirth.

Where does the time go? I will tell you that I do not regret the decision, I only regret not having done it sooner. This seems to be a general consensus of people who underwent some form of successful life changing event. But I honestly believe that all things happen in  their proper time. I was genuinely ready to  improve my life, and all that went with it, the commitment to change, the growth and the new experiences that would undoubtedly occur as a result of my actions.

So there I was the day after Valentines Day and five days before my 48th birthday. Talk about some changes? No chocolate for me, no cake for my birthday, that’s  right, but I did get flowers, and more importantly the gift of freedom. A gift so liberating that I am still discovering the enormity of it four years later. This journey has indeed lead me to people, places and situations that I would never have experienced otherwise. I am wiser and no worse for the wear. I have used my experiences to assist others along the way. To pay it forward as it were, to honor those who went before me and counseled me along the way.

To my dearest friend Kathy, who is undertaking Bariatric surgery within the month, I love you.  I am soooo very proud of you, You Rock Girl! I am here for Kathy and any of you, with love, guidance, and words of encouragement sprinkled with a bit of humor. So that next year when I celebrate my 5th Happy Hearts Day,  I’ll know that together we assisted each other.

We all share a common bond in this journey through the uncharted waters of weight loss surgery. Together we will support each other, so smile as you embark on your journey. Be proud, for each of us, who independently decided to take the food out of our mouths and into our own hands with the decision to undertake bariatric surgery.

My advice for surviving the holidays after Weight Loss Surgery

Over-eat over the holidays? No Way! We've worked toooo hard to let that happen.

Oooooh, as if there isn’t already enough stress for the holidays: the shopping, wrapping of presents, going out to parties, writing out holiday cards, decorating, baking.

While spreading good cheer to friends and family, or in some instances’ tolerating those people who call themselves friends or family,  can be stress provoking, the  technique in which we handle it has to change. While we ate our way through it in the past, things are different now. Our coping mechanisms for handling stress have to change as well. Eat… no way… we’ve worked toooo hard to let that happen. Drink, well maybe just a little… it is the Holiday Season after all, but not too much. We do not, repeat, do not want to develop bad habits to replace the old ones.

I sometimes feel as if the packaging on a bottle (namely me) has changed, gotten a new more sophisticated stream lined look. No longer in the same body we were in the past, and yet everything else is the same…however what’s inside now feels foreign.

Take for example a perfectly good product, like aspirin. They jazz up the packaging, give us less product to maintain the same price and call it new. Well, isn’t that what we’ve done to ourselves? We have changed the outside packaging, lost some, or in my case a lot of weight and yet the contents remain the same.  If it works for major companies, why isn’t it good enough for us? Maybe it is, maybe we have to realign our brains to that fact.

I’m OK just as I am…….. I’m OK just as I am……
Repeat this mantra several times during the course of your day. We are so hard wired to believe that we must change things in order to press forward. Maybe all we need to do is change the way we think. There, ya have it, all the answers, Ta Da, change the way you think! Don’t I have some nerve….. If it was that simple then there wouldn’t be a need for all those self help books on the market. Mine to follow….

The best advice I can offer during this Holiday Season is to take it slow, breathe, stay focused on your blessings and be thankful for what you have. Remain mindful of the successful changes you have achieved during the past year. They were made one small step at a time.

If you fall off the proverbial  wagon with food stand up, dust yourself off (cookie crumbs and all) and begin again with the very next mouthful of food. Don’t compound the mistake by beating  yourself up. It’s not all or nothing, regardless of how we try to rationalize it.

As with sports, life has a learning curve  The more you practice making better choices, the higher your odds at bat will be. Practice does indeed lead you in the right direction perfect or not.

So…stand up straight, smile as you pass  your reflection in the mirror and love the place where you are….. which is indeed your truest holiday gift!!

*****
Marika had a lower body lift, and other after weight loss surgery procedures at CosMed Clinic with Dr. Quiroz in Mexico. She continues to share her experiences of weight loss surgery to help inspire others who are considering treatment. You can contact Marika, ask questions, and post your own holiday survival strategies right here, on her blog.

A Glimpse inside my After Weight Loss Surgery Recovery in Mexico

During my recovery time in Mexico, I wanted to see the local places that only a resident knows about, not the tourist traps that the concierge in a high end hotel tells you about.

While I was not required to stay in Mexico for the length of time I did, I decided to take all the time I might need to recover and be closer to  Dr. Quiroz and his wonderfully efficient staff at CosMed Clinic, Tijuana. Mexico.

I traveled by myself to the clinic and wanted to make sure I would be able to care for myself when I returned home. I had a lower body lift as well as having my buttocks filled out with a fat transfer and braquioplasty done on my arms.

At the conclusion of my surgery, there were two drains for my stomach and a small drain for each of my arms. I decided to leave Mexico after all the drains and stitches were removed from my body. My surgery was on a Monday and Dr. Quiroz removed two of the four drains on the Friday following my procedure. The following Tuesday he removed another drain leaving me with one remaining drain. The final drain was removed a few days later and home I went a couple of days after that.

I had the opportunity to stay at either a five star hotel or the home of a local person in Mexico. I wanted to feel safe. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself. I felt vulnerable and wanted to be invisible. I thought about it and decided to stay with someone who spoke the language fluently, knew their way around town and would treat me like a visiting friend. If I were to go to Europe, let’s say to Greece, I would love to go with my friend Dennis who was born and raised there. I would love to go to the local places that only a resident knows about, not the tourist traps that the concierge in a high end hotel tells you about.  I didn’t need to go to places that accepted/welcomed Carte Blanche, or the platinum American Express card.

CosMed’s team checked on me often. And when I was feeling better, I enjoyed some of the sites with the generous local woman who took care of me during my recovery.

A member of the CosMed team phoned to check on me often.            Dr. Quiroz is in the loop of everything that goes on in or around his clinic.  I never felt alone or uncomfortable. I stayed at the home of a local woman named Irene. She told me the first few days would be the most difficult; that my only job was to rest and allow my body to heal. It became a lot easier from that point on, Irene was right for the first three days all I did was take my medication, sleep and eat. She changed my bandages; made sure I took my meds on time, and took me for my follow up appointments. I maintained a low profile, rested, walked up and down the block for exercise by her lovely home. When I was feeling better and Irene wasn’t busy we went out for an afternoon drive and even went out for lunch together a couple of times.

During my stay I met a number of other women and men who also shared the same view of our recovery time in Mexico.  While I enjoy beautifully appointed hotels and all the amenities they have to offer I felt certain that I made the right decision to stay in the home of a local person who made me feel so welcomed and cared for.

To have Surgery in Mexico… or Not to have Surgery in Mexico, That is the Question

Is it safe?

The CosMed Clinic in Tijuana is located less then ten minutes by car across the border, not hours.

There are so many well meaning people, family and friends that will try to dissuade you from going to Mexico to have surgery, any type of surgery.  Well, I went and I’m very glad I did.

I repeat the question, is Mexico safe? You hear so much hype regarding this issue; well let’s look at the facts. The majority of the negative press is pertaining to the power plays between the drug cartels, very similar to what was written about the Mafia. Not a good thing, that’s right, however for the average person not looking for drugs or trying to get involved between the “families” it’s safe.

I lived in one of the largest, crowded cities on the planet, New York, for more than thirty years. There are dangers all around, but you keep your eyes open, and stay aware of your surroundings. This is important anyplace you live or travel to.

I currently live in the town of Carlsbad, in the North County of San Diego, California.  Carlsbad is not that small, but compared to the likes of New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles it is. Recently there was a shooting at the local grade school where two young children were injured at a place where they were supposed to be safe.

The issue is whether or not to have surgery in Mexico, in my opinion the answer is yes. Be discrete, don’t draw any unwanted attention to yourself, and don’t flash a lot of jewelry or cash. This advice is no different than what I would suggest if you were going on vacation to any major city. Remember why you’re there; remain low key, you’re there for a medical procedure not the opening of the Film Festival at Cannes. Do what you went to Mexico to do, have the procedure, heal and get back to your life. Then… dress up, celebrate and show off the wonderful work you had done.

One of my closest friends folded under family pressure and chose to remain in the States to have a lower body lift done by a prominent N.Y. City plastic surgeon and then had it corrected by Dr. Alejandro Quiroz of CosMed Clinic, Tijuana Mexico.

Be still, listen and trust yourself. Make educated decisions and do what’s right for you. To have a skilled and trusted surgeon is paramount, and Dr. Quiroz listens. He addresses your concerns and clearly explains your options. His clinic is located less then ten minutes by car across the border, not three hours. I drive to the border, leave my car on the California side, walk across the border and take a yellow cab to the clinic. I mention the fact that I take a yellow cab, one of many available and not a gypsy cab, remember I lived in NY and I chose not to take gypsy cabs in that city as well.

CosMed Clinic sends a private car or shuttle to pick patients up at the San Diego airport, escorts them over the border, and directly to the clinic.

I have spoken with many people who flew into the San Diego airport where they were met by a private car sent by CosMed, escorted over the border and brought directly to the clinic.  Dr. Quiroz does everything in his power to ensure a safe and happy experience for one and all.

I am planning to have additional work done at CosMed and I have returned to see Dr. Quiroz several times. I am thankful for having found such a talented surgeon and a clinic where I feel so cared for. I am confident in his skills and techniques, and thrilled with the outcome. It is my belief that once you get past the apprehension of going to Mexico for the first procedure you won’t hesitate going again and bringing your friends along.

Transformation, Respect and Gratitude… My After Weight Loss Surgery in Mexico

My experience with CosMed has made me feel like a new woman. Am I pleased with the outcome? You better believe I am!

Note: This entry is part 5 of Marika’s journey. Click to see her first post about choosing lap band surgery.

My surgical date was April 12th, 2010. I had a lower body lift, as well as an arm lift.

I chose to have cosmetic surgery to remove excess skin as a result of losing a significant amount of weight. After a thorough amount of research, and careful consideration I selected Dr. Alajandro Quiroz based on the following criteria, listed in the following order, which were the most important reasons to me.

1. As an elective surgery, the procedures were not covered by my medical insurance, and the prices quoted by Cos Med were within my reach, with financing options available.

2. To understand skin, to truly understand how it moves, stretches, and how to manipulate it is an art form.  He realistically knew what he was going to be able to with this large unruly mass of skin.

3. Dr. Quiroz is not only a plastic surgeon; he specializes in reconstructive surgery which was not the case with all the surgeons I researched.  In my opinion that placed him head and shoulders above his competition.

4. While his practice is based in Mexico, he holds a license to practice medicine in both Mexico and California.

5. Dr Quiroz speaks perfect English, which I also found out was not always the case with the other surgeons. There was no language barrier, no misunderstandings, it made sense to me. I knew I was on the right track.

6. In addition to the above mentioned items and equally important were the reviews on him and his clinic. While I understand that there are always pros and cons in all review s it was my belief that I had found the surgeon who best suited my needs.

7. As for my decision to have the procedures done in Mexico vs. the United States believe me, there were a lot of well intentioned  friends and family who tried to dissuade me from choosing to leave the country to have my surgery done. I was told that my safety was going to be compromised by going to Mexico. I understand your concerns, as they were also mine. With the amount of revenue Mexico takes in from doing dental work and surgeries on such a steady daily  basis  Tijuana must be a safe enough environment, After all there are many places in the United States that are unsafe, I felt I was making the right decision for me.

The care I received from everyone at the clinic had again confirmed that I had made the right decision.

The care I received from everyone at the clinic had  again confirmed that I had made the right decision. Joyce, who schedules the surgeries and trouble shoots the questions as well as allaying any fears you might have is a caring and dependable person. No mater how busy Joyce is, she does her best to get back to you in a timely fashion. She does not get upset if you call her repeatedly and will devote the time needed to make you feel important. All of the nurses,are wonderful. Under the direct supervision of nurse Perla, who heads an organized, efficient and caring staff you never get the feeling that you are a number, you are always treated as an individual who maters to each and every of them. Marta, the nurse who attended me after the surgery was an absolute professional, she was kind and caring during a time when I was in need.

As for the after care, the office provided me three different options, the first was a well appointed  luxury hotel located close to the office, The Lucerna. The other options were a choice to stay at the home of one of two different individuals who would take you in and care for your needs. I chose to stay at the home of Irene Sanchez. The care, and the attention to my comfort was overwhelming. Ms. Sanchez attended to all my needs, from changing my bandages, making sure that I took my meds on time, and cooking some of the best food I have ever eaten not to mention getting me to my follow up appointments. Irene is a highly efficient woman and kind beyond words. At a time when I was most vulnerable she made me feel comfortable and secure. I strongly recommend her!

My experience with CosMed Clinic has made me feel like a new woman.

Am I pleased with the outcome?  You better believe I am!

Being a mature woman, ok a fifty year old woman, there, ya happy I told you my age, I know you were wondering.

I feel healthier, sexier, and more confidant both in and out of clothes. I am enjoying shopping even more than I did when I was heavy, and boy did I like to shop then too. I can move, dance, walk and interact with total confidence.  Will I have any other procedures done at CosMed, where do I begin…The answer is yes, I will be having a partial face lift to get rid of my gobble gobble chin and an upper body lift as well. I would  also would like to have my breasts improved upon, a lift and quite probably implants.  Look out world, here I come, or more precisely HERE I AM!

I am available and invite you to write me, please give me your feedback and ask me questions. I will be forthright and sincere and promise to provide you and a few laughs along the way.

The day of my Lap Band Surgery

Valentines Day 2007, no chocolate for me, a liquid diet, countdown…twenty four hours to my lap band surgery.

On the blistering cold morning of my surgery as I waited for the bus to take me to the hospital with the bitter winds whipping across my face I wondered if I was doing the right thing. Shouldn’t I try one more time to tackle the weight issue myself?  I know the answers I know what to do… eat less and move more it’s really quite simple. After all, I’m an intelligent, strong and determined woman.

As I walked into the operating room, shoulder to shoulder with my surgeon again I briefly questioned whether I was doing the right thing and realized, yes, I am a strong woman, smart enough to know when to reach out for help. It was five days before my forty-eighth birthday and I was on the verge of giving myself a gift, a powerful gift, one more freeing and liberating then I even knew possible at that time. Onward through the fog!

Time passes, it always does the lap band procedure is behind me, the future is before me, and what I make of it is up to me. It’s said there are many different stages of grieving, in my opinion the same was true regarding the surgery.

I experienced sadness, anger and frustration, individually and in combinations during this time. I participated in every function offered by the hospital, whether it was support meetings, groups walks for charity or social dinners in which we were taught how to select appropriate meals to embrace this new way of life.  I learned from each experience, sometimes more sometimes less. I met fellow lap banders along the way who were in a rush to lose their weight. I myself needed some time, I had been large for so long that I needed to get used to the changes that were taking place. I underwent surgery to become thinner and now I wanted to take my time in getting there, perhaps that sounds absurd however I was more familiar with being fat than thin.

When you’re fat, as ridiculous as this is going to sound, you are invisible out of the running for so many things in life. Up to now, fat had been my reality. The attention I started receiving was unfamiliar, so I approached my weight loss slowly and with care. I didn’t beat myself up for not dropping the weight as quickly as some of the other lap banders, I was in the process of learning new things about myself  and enjoying this journey into this exciting uncharted territory.

Step One: Sit, Listen, Explore your Surgery Options

Step one, the info session: you sit, you listen, and if you’re ready- you learn more about preparing for and understanding your surgery options.

Make an appointment and meet with the surgeon. Discuss the possibilities with the doctor, lap band, gastric bypass, sleeve? Which one is right for you; it’s a personal decision, one that’s made between you and your surgeon, with care and knowledge.

Then onto the psychologist, who will evaluate whether or not you are having the procedure done for the right reasons. He spoke with me regarding my past, my present and my future. The reasons behind the decision. He asked about the depth of my willingness to be a cooperative party in the changes that were going to take place in my life. We discussed the reality, my new reality, was I prepared and ready for it? Was I realistic in what I expected as an outcome and was I willing to commit to as well as  understand that I was going to have to make permanent changes in  order to have this work?

Next on to the dietitian, who teaches you about the foods you’ll be required to eat or not eat in preparation for the upcoming surgery. Followed up with an explanation of foods you might/will have difficulty eating, or have to give up entirely after the procedure. The importance of protein, how much is needed, and how to get it in the suggested/ required amounts.  Learning to prepare and consume vegetables in ways that will work depending on the type of procedure you have. Fluids, their importance, the reasons why you should not to drink and eat at the same time. What you can drink, why carbonation may cause discomfort.

Vitamins, what you will need to take, how you can supplement the foods you eat with the proper amounts. This is especially true and important depending on the type of procedure you select, Listen closely, ask questions, and as a friendly reminder, after the surgery, when in doubt, approach any and all foods carefully and slowly. Try things in very, very, did I mention VERY small quantities, pause in between bites and listen to your body’s signals. Then on to the routine exams required for medical clearance prior to the actual surgery. Typically, blood workup, chest x-rays and whatever else may be required for you depending on your health background or type of surgery.

Choosing Lap Band for My Weight Loss Surgery

My name is Marika; I’m here to share with you the story of my transformation at the hands of Dr. Alejandro Quiroz and his staff at the CosMed Clinic, Tijuana, Mexico.

I feel it only right to tell you a little about myself. My journey began eleven years ago when at the age of forty I decided to see a bariatric surgeon in New York City. I was overweight my entire life, with two or three fleeting moments of normalcy. At that time my only option was a complete gastric bypass.  I listened to the physician tell me that I was a good candidate and  that my type II diabetes would resolve itself as a result of the surgery. However, after careful consideration and more research, I chose not to have my plumbing rearranged and opted out of having the procedure.

Five years later, now forty-five, still a diabetic and now on cholesterol lowering medication I met with another bariatric surgeon in Westchester who explained the new and revolutionary lap band procedure to me. It sounded reasonable:  nothing needed to be rearranged with this method of surgery; no mal absorption of nutrients and it too would alleviate my diabetes and now high cholesterol issues. Sounded good, huh?   I left that doctor’s office and never returned, vowing, yet again, to go on another diet to lose weight and do it myself. For what ever reason, whether it was my inability to relinquish control or my fear of failure I again walked away from something I knew, would afford me a better way of life. I felt and truly believed it would be of benefit to me, but was unable to move forward. At that point I was still obese, continued to have co- morbidities, nothing was changing, nothing was happening. With one exception, time was passing me by, now three pounds shy of three hundred.  The depression deepened, fear continued to immobilize me, things were spiraling out of control. A sudden and costly financial mishap occurred in my life, the lies and deception done to me were overwhelming, I just didn’t care, I didn’t have it in me to continue the fight. It was all too much I wanted to do a Thelma and Louise off the top of a building, I was out of control, and food was my drug of choice.

With the help of my doctor, I began the slow and careful climb up from the bottom of my despair. Under her guidance  I was prescribed anti depression medication to take the edge off. This assisted in my ability to get a handle on my emotions however it added to the increasing array of medications that I continued to take on a daily basis.

Four years ago, when I decided to have the lap band bariatric procedure, I went back to revisit the first surgeon I had met with when I was forty. She exuded such a level of competency and confidence the first time I met her, I knew I needed to reexamine my options. By this point in her career, she had become so familiar with the lap band procedure that she was considered to be one of the foremost experts in this field. So, there I was sitting before the same surgeon I had met almost eight years earlier, what had transpired during that time? My options, her technique, and the fact that I was finally ready.

My doctor was kind, she didn’t reprimand me, or remind me of the wasted time in-between our meetings instead she told me that she would rather operate on a patient when the patient was ready. It reminded me of a saying, “when the pupil is ready, the teacher appears”. She also reinforced the fact that the lap band was only a tool in the weight loss process, not the entire answer, and a powerful one if used correctly.  With that in mind, I knew this was the right time and she was the right surgeon to begin this new and exciting leg of my life’s journey.