Surgery Clinic Of NELA: You Do Not Have To Live With Pain

Maintaining Your Physical Health Benefits Your Mental Health

MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH MONTH.WE KNOW OUR PHYSICAL health significantly impacts our emotional well-being. In fact, those with physical pain are at a heightened risk for depression and anxiety.

All of us at the Surgery Clinic of Northeast Louisiana, home of Delta Vein Care, strive to relieve our patients’ pain and comfort them. Our Delta Vein Care success stories illustrate the power of pain relief. One of our patients, Barbara, could not sleep at night because the pain in her legs and feet was so severe.

Barbara said, “After my ultrasound, Dr. Bart Liles immediately told me the problem: the valves in my veins were no longer working properly. Then he explained how he would address my pain. He was so kind and upfront about everything. After our meeting, I had so much hope, which meant everything to me.”

Barbara underwent procedures to treat vein reflux, which occurs when veins cease to circulate blood properly. She said, “I had no pain after any of the procedures. I returned to work the very next day.”

She vividly remembers the night following the first procedure. “I was pain-free for the first time in years. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I was given my life back. I knew I could once again live a normal existence.”

Pain can appear in many forms. So many of our weight loss patients have carried obesity-related emotional burdens their entire lives. One of those patients is Krystal. While studying nursing at ULM, Krystal struggled with her appearance. She said, “Whenever I was at my heavier sizes, I always felt self-conscious about how I looked and angry for letting myself go.”

After graduation, she became a successful nurse, but her work was physically painful. She worried about her health due to her family history of obesity-related illnesses. She also worried about how her weight affected her son.

“One night, after a long, painful day at work, I had to tell my two-yearold son, ‘Mama can’t get down on the floor to play cars.’ That is when I finally decided to regain control of my life. I was sick of having pain dictate what I could and couldn’t do. I wanted to enjoy my reflection again,” she said.

Krystal decided to act. Dr. Walter Sartor performed her gastric sleeve, a non-invasive procedure in which a portion of the stomach—and the hunger hormone responsible for cravings—is removed. The smaller stomach ensures patients consume smaller amounts. She lost 80 pounds within the first year and 20 more in the following months. Krystal now walks into a room with confidence. She has also observed Dr. Sartor’s surgical skills and dedication from a nurse’s perspective. “What makes him great is that he genuinely cares—and is so diligent—about his patients,” she said.

If you are experiencing any pain, even if it seems minor, we urge you to undergo an examination. Our minimally invasive procedures can help you live a happier, fuller life.

Our Surgery Clinic houses surgeons Dr. Walter Sartor, Dr. Bart Liles, Dr. Patrick Smith, and Dr. Mohamed Bakeer.

“Home designing done well requires the skills of an artist, an engineer, a carpenter, a mind reader and a marriage counselor, mixed with gallons of grace, love and patience.”

~ Larry James