Results in Lubbock
The LAP-BAND® System has proven results. People just like you, right here in Lubbock, are meeting their weight loss goals every day.
Veronica Robles
Veronica has already lost 70lbs and is well on her way to achieving her total goal of 110lbs. Watch her and Dr. Hall in their KCBD-TV "Healthwise" Interview.
Rob and Brenda Tapley
By Kim Davis | FOR THE AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Reprinted with permission from the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Friday, June 26, 2009
"I don't think there's a diet we haven't tried over the years," Brenda said. "You name it, I know I've tried it." Rob added, "And they've all worked ... for a while. And then the weight comes back, plus some.”
"My 'aha' moment was realizing that I was closing in on 60 years old," Rob said. "And I really wanted to be as healthy as I could be and I knew my health wasn't where it should be."
Rob, 59, was 100 pounds overweight and was battling a hiatal hernia, high cholesterol and high blood pressure - all of which he was taking prescription medication to keep under control. Brenda was in constant pain from two knee surgeries earlier in life and was facing the threat of hip surgery because of her extra 65 pounds.
"We were both very clear on why we needed to lose weight," she said. "And it had nothing to do with cosmetic reasons. It was important for us to get healthy. Pure and simple."
Their research on weight loss surgery brought them to the office of Dr. David Hall in Lubbock. The Tapleys had the procedure one day apart in September 2008 at NorthStar Surgical Center, where each was released within only a few hours after surgery.
"It was amazing how quickly we were able to be in and out for something like this," Brenda said. "We stayed in Lubbock for a few days for follow-up appointments with Dr. Hall to be sure we were responding well to the procedure, but each of our stays at NorthStar was absolutely painless, and the experience was as good as I could have possibly imagined."
Hall explained that like dieting men and women, men tend to lose weight at a faster rate because of their higher metabolism and lower percentage of body fat. "It was a little frustrating at first to see Rob taking off the weight so much quicker than I was," Brenda said. "But, I guess I was used to it, because he always lost weight quicker. No matter what diet we had ever been on in the past, that was always the case."
Now, Rob is less than 15 pounds from his goal of being under 200 pounds. Brenda, too, is less than 15 pounds from her goal weight. Brenda is no longer in jeopardy of needing hip surgery, and her knees no longer hurt. Rob no longer takes any medication for cholesterol or hiatal hernia, and the dosage of his blood pressure medicine has been cut in half. His hope is for that to go away as well.
"It's a whole new world for us, but we had to do it together," Rob said. "Every heavy person has a love affair with food. It's that simple. We couldn't have gotten through this without each other." Brenda added, "We're lucky that we're each other's best friend. We do everything together, and I'm so glad we did this together. Our energy level is through the roof, and our health is so much better. We both have a long life to look forward to.
Steve Fourqurean
Steve Fourqurean, 36, who stands at 6’ 7", remembers well being a "bean pole" when he graduated from high school - weighing less than 200 pounds at the time.
"But the pounds slowly crept up on me over the years, and before I knew it, I was maxing the scales at 380," he said. Something, he said, had to be done. Not just for himself, but also for his family.
It was after a visit with renowned weight-loss surgeon David Hall, M.D., that he knew there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and a LAP-BAND®ing procedure would put him on the path to weight loss and better overall health.
"On my first appointment with Dr. Hall, he asked me, ‘How much weight can you lose in a month and how much weight can you gain in a weekend?’" Fourqurean remembered. "My answer was my ‘ah-ha moment.’ I can lose up to 8 pounds in any given month; but that’s also what I can gain on any given weekend. It’s a never-ending cycle."
He was the perfect candidate for the relatively simple procedure, which requires a band to be surgically placed around the upper portion of the stomach; and ultimately decreases the amount of food portions a patient will consume. With fewer side effects, and quicker recovery from what many know as stomach stapling - or gastric bypass - lap band procedures are now offered in Lubbock by Dr. Hall.
Since his procedure in mid-January, Fourqurean is already down 65 pounds - just about halfway to his goal of losing 130 pounds total.
"It’s absolutely amazing, and Dr. Hall and his staff have been wonderful every step of the way," he said. "My knee problems are virtually gone, and so are the foot problems I was having as a result of my weight. And, even better, I don’t watch the clock anymore, waiting for the next time to eat.
"It’s changed my life, and I’d recommend anyone with the same weight issues I had to do this same procedure yesterday if they have the chance."
Debie Stuteville
Debie Stuteville, LVN, another of Dr. Hall’s patients, agrees.
"This procedure has truly changed my life. I’ve not only lost 40 pounds already and feel more energy than I have in years; but my self-esteem is through the roof."
Stuteville had her procedure one day before her 57th birthday on Nov. 21, 2008. And, she says she’s looking forward to reaching her goal of a total loss of 90 pounds by the time she reaches her next birthday this year. Teetering on severe diabetes before surgery and the difficulties associated with the disease, Stuteville is also optimistic, along with Dr. Hall, that her weight loss may in fact diminish her diabetes altogether by the time she reaches her goal weight.
"There’s already a significant change in my diabetes," she said. "And all other health problems I had as a result of my weight. But now, I’m in good shape … and this procedure has truly, truly changed my life. I never want to be fat again."
With more than 28 years of surgery experience, Dr. Hall has become one of the most experienced obesity surgeons in the country with over 5,000 cases performed. That easily makes him the most experienced weight loss surgeon in West Texas.
Dr. Hall has also demonstrated weight loss surgeries to interested surgeons from all over the U.S. and has personally taught many seminars on weight loss surgery.
Stephen Salas
"I am no longer taking diabetic medication and my blood pressure readings are a lot lower"
"Before I had my surgery, my blood pressure and diabetes were out of control, I got tired really easily, had a hard time sleeping, and my weights were always fluctuating. Since my surgery, I am off my meds, I sleep well finally, I have a lot of energy, my health has improved, and my self esteem is better."
"Dr. Hall is a great surgeon and has given me back my life."
Pre-Op Letter from a former patient:
I am writing to ask for help. I am 30 years old and single. I am struggling to live "life"... I feel as though I have "checked out of life" and I need help achieving my dietary goals. I am morbidly obese and never feel good... I come home from work in pain and I am very fatigued... I have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, fatty liver, reflux, sleep apnea, arthritic knees, and low back pain. I snore heavily and wake up many times throughout the night.
I have nieces and nephews that live next door to me and love to play sports. Unfortunately when they ask if I will play with them, I just can’t. They do not understand that I can hardly breathe upon exertion and that I have no energy or that my back and feet hurt so badly that I am miserable. I feel sad. I would like to get married and have a family. I want to live and I know that I am on the path to an early death. I miss out on things that I would like to do as an adult. I never socialize or go out and I never have any relations because of my weight and how people see me.
I would like to live a long and healthy life for my family and myself. I know that my life would better physically and mentally. I would like to do normal everyday activities like walking up a flight of stairs without stopping to catch my breath or sweating profusely... I am ready to make a life-long change.
I am ready to take a chance on a solution that my doctors and I have discussed and reviewed. I would greatly appreciate your time in considering and allowing me to have bariatric surgery.
Thank You,
Stephen Salas