I am sure some of you have an idea of my feelings that good health comes first and it is very important to grab the reins of your own health.

This morning at Superlake, while doing my daily food shopping, I have had to avoid hugs and kisses with many friends wanting to wish me Happy New Year because I have an almost cold. I say that because I am still managing to fend off a full blown cold with daily doses of Echinacea and, of course, I did have my flu shot.

My husband got sick first in Canada and I did manage to get him better when I arrived there a week later. Then he has relapsed twice but is hanging in there as he has clients from out of town here so one soldiers on.

My son has been sick since December 19th and a seeming cold has turned into pneumonia and, as it is not any better after several courses of antibiotics, jarabes, (cough syrups) a series of injections and oxygen treatments, we are now awaiting the results of a culture text taken yesterday. I forgot to mention the Vick’s Vapor Rub thrown in for good measure.

His fiancé has a cold of course and so does my daughter and her boyfriend has bronchitis. He is a little better after 2 days of bed rest and nobody is laughing at me now that I bought the giant family pack of Tylenol Cold and Tylenol Cold Complete when in Canada. This is a wonderful product (only available sporadically in Ajijic, Lake Chapala) which works for all of us except those with pneumonia or bronchitis.

I am dosing myself daily and getting on with it as we have a houseful of people to feed and a wedding to plan which is bearing down on us with lightning speed. Also as of February 3rd the Canadian and American relatives arrive for the festive occasion.

All of these things are usually cause for great joy but when one is under the weather reaching for the remote can be too much to deal with. The other night I went to bed early which I am trying to do most nights without taking my Tylenol Cold pills. I lay there in bed hoping someone would come and get them for me as the thought of getting up to travel the 6 feet to procure said pills was not something I could entertain.

Fortunately, my almost daughter-in-law came to check on me, waking me and the dogs happily sleeping on the bed with me, and got my pills for me. I will be forever in her debt.

We are all working very hard on getting healthy again and appreciate always that we live in paradise with wonderful warm sunshine which not only is good for the soul but is also good for recovery.

Salud!

Here is some positive news about our beautiful village in the sun.

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1074406–peaceful-canadian-port-thrives-amid-a-mexican-drug-war

As you know I am very happy with Maskaras Clinic for a number of reasons. Dr. Carlos Garcia being the main one. When I was first here 17 years ago I sent every diagnosis to my team in Toronto and they were always of one mind which gave me total confidence in Dr. Garcia. Over the years Dr. Garcia has looked after my family with great care and now his wife, who is a pediatrician at Maskaras Clinic, is looking after my grandson.
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LCS HEALTH CARE FAIR

This is wonderful opportunity to get checked out before the Winter season and onset of snow birds. Take advantage of this Health Fair!

The Lake Chapala Society is located in downtow Ajijic on 16 de Septiembre # 16A.

Tuesday 11 & Wednesday 12 October 2011, 10-1 PM

* Sign-up @ LCS Office, Lake Pharmacy, 293 Medical Center
** NOTE: Diabetes & Lipid Profile tests take place only from 10-12. If
both tests are desired, they must be done on separate days due to testing
criteria. $ Charge: Tests & Price lists at sign-up locations & test sites
during fair. Pay on the day service received.

11 OCTOBER TUESDAY

*/** $ 10-12: CARE Lab: Various Cancer Screening, HbA1c Lipid Profile
(12 Hour Fast) – Gazebo
** 10-12: Diabetic Testing -High carbohydrate breakfast TWO HOURS
BEFORE (Pancakes, yogurt, oatmeal, granola, fruit, juice) – Gazebo
* $ 10-1: Shots: Pneumonia, Tetanus & Flu – Gazebo
10-1: Blood Pressure – Talking Book Room
10-1: Eye Pressure Testing – Clinic
10-1: Vendors – Neil James Patio
12-1: Lecture by Dr. Bernie Metcalf: Immunizations For Elderly – Sala

12 OCTOBER WEDNESDAY

*/** $ 10-12: CARE Lab – Various Cancer Screening, HbA1c Lipid Profile
(12 Hour Fast) – Gazebo
** 10-12: Diabetic Testing – High carbohydrate breakfast TWO HOURS
BEFORE (Pancakes, yogurt, oatmeal, granola, fruit, juice) – Gazebo
* $ 10-12: Skin Cancer Screening (Sign-up LCS) – Clinic & Insurance
* $ 10-1: Shots: Pneumonia, Tetanus & Flu – Gazebo
10-1: Blood Pressure – Talking Book Room
10-1: Vendors – Neil James Patio
12-1: Lecture: 4 Must Have Documents presented by Erik Slebos – Sala

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LCS HEALTH FAIR

Tuesday 11 & Wednesday 12 October 2011
10 AM – 1 PM

The semi-annual Health Fair offers various health screenings, lab
tests and presentations from medical and health professionals. Open to
all Lakeside residents and LCS members, so please take advantage of
these health services and seminars.

This year’s Health Fair, under the auspices of the LCS’s new Health
Program Manager Hebina Hood, will include the traditional screenings
as well as vendor booths occupied by healthcare providers including
Lakeside and Guadalajara hospitals and clinics, physicians,
pharmacies, spas, fitness centers, organic health stores, insurance
agents and retirement and convalescence facilities.

The representatives will be available to answer your questions and
share tips on how to live a healthy and active lifestyle. Many free
health care screenings will be available, including blood pressure
checks, diabetes testing and hearing tests. Various cancer screenings
as well as lipid profile and HbA1c tests will be offered by Care Lab.
Lake Med Pharmacy will be offering pneumonia, tetanus and flu shots
for a small fee.

Two lectures offering specific health information for Lakeside
residents will be presented. On Tuesday, Dr. Bernie Metcalf will
discuss “Immunizations for the Elderly”. Dr. Metcalf, who specialized
in family practice and emergency medicine in Arizona before retiring
to Lakeside, will discuss considerations for seniors relating to
various immunizations, as well as specific recommendations for living
full-time in Mexico.

On Wednesday, Erik Slebos will present “End of Life Planning: Four
Essential Documents.” Erik’s specialty, thanatology, is the science of
the social and psychological aspects of death, dying and grieving.
Erik provides guidance to individuals and families relating to end of
life issues, as well as proper arrangements individuals and family
members can make in preparation for the last phases of life.

There is no entry fee for the Health Fair and all Lakeside residents
are encouraged to attend. You can find a complete schedule on LCS’
website. Interested vendors not yet registered for a booth at the fair
should contact Lorena Rule at (376)-765-7777.

This is an expression I have used often in the past having had more than my share of personal and family illnesses.

Albeit Health Care in Canada is wonderful and free you don’t always get the information you want or need about your own body and the results of tests. One always has to wait for the information to get to your doctor and then you are given said information and results at that appointment. This process could take several weeks and now even months.
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THE NEW GLOBAL ECONOMIC REALITY

First: A reality check on Mexico

Mexico is in a unique position to reap many of the benefits of the decline of the US economy. In order to not violate NAFTA and other agreements the U.S.A. cannot use direct protectionism, so it is content to allow the media to play this protectionist role. The U.S. media – over the last year – has portrayed Mexico as being on the brink of economic collapse and civil war. The Mexican people are either beheaded, kidnapped, poor, corrupt, or narco-traffickers. The American news media was particularly aggressive in the weeks leading up to spring break. The main reason for this is money. During that two-week period, over 120,000 young American citizens poured into Mexico and left behind hundreds of millions of dollars.

Let’s look at the reality of the massive drug and corruption problem, kidnappings, murders and money. The U.S. Secretary of State Clinton was clear in her honest assessment of the problem. “Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade. Our inability to prevent the weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the deaths of police officers, soldiers and civilians,” Clinton said. The other large illegal business that is smuggled into the U.S.A. that no one likes to talk about is Human Traffic for prostitution. This “business” is globally now competing with drugs in terms of profits.
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The world is a scary place financially at the moment which is affecting Europe, Asia and, of course the United States.

Surprisingly enough as we watched the Dow Jones Index plummet 512 points yesterday we still find the economies in both Canada and Mexico are growing and even flourishing in many parts.

Real Estate is booming in Toronto and Vancouver, Canada and we are lucky enough to be busy here in Ajijic, Lake Chapala even though it not the “busy season”.
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Today I went for a consultation with Dr. Aguila mostly out of curiosity as many of my friends here have availed themselves of his services and been delighted with the results. These procedures have varied from mini face lifts to full face lifts and one full body lift.

Dr. Agula has a wonderful reputation and is very young and clearly up on all the latest technology and he is board certified. He is also referred to as “wunderkind”.
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Since 2008 there is a new Dermatology Center located in the Ajijic Plaza on the Carretera Oriente #57-5, Ajijic, Lake Chapala. Phone # for appointments (376) 766-2500 and also you may visit their website at www.dermika.com.mx

I am no stranger to Dermika as I have had firsthand knowledge of two friends who have been very happy with the results of this dermatology center and now I am a patient myself.

One friend had a complete face-lift and the other one had Rystaline shots in her face. Both procedures were hugely successful as was mine.
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Once again Dr. Carlos Garcia and Maskaras Clinic came through for our family with dispatch and kindness.

A freak accident caused my daughter to tear a ligament in her foot which was extremely painful. I was summoned to take her for an x-ray to see how serious the damage was.
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