Patient Stories
Russ’ Story
“Before surgery I was always so out of breath. I love to hunt and wasn’t able to sit in a deer stand or even hunt at all due to my weight. I had high blood pressure and was on so many medications. Now I don’t have high blood pressure at all, my overall health is great and I haven’t weighed this much since I was in middle school! Shopping now is amazing! I can go to any store – not just big and tall – and find clothing that fits!! And I went deer hunting this year! I walked 10 miles and sat in a deer stand that was rated for some one that is 250 lbs. THAT FELT AMAZING! I am so happy – OMG SO HAPPY that I had the surgery! Thank you Dr. Hung!”
I started seeing Doctor Hung in August 2018. The first time I saw him he told me that I would be a great candidate for gastric sleeve. He told me that it wouldn’t be easy and that the surgery that he was going to perform on me was not a fix all – it’s a tool and like any tool, you have to use it right. So I walked away from that appointment thinking I wasn’t going to do it because of the fact that I will always be fat. I’d screw up the tool and get fat again.
So for a year I thought about it. I gained more weight. Then in June 2018 I went fishing with family and I couldn’t use the boat due to my weight. Once I got back to Lincoln, I called Dr. Hung and said I was ready to do the surgery.
He again said it would be a long journey. I told him I didn’t care – I want to fit in a boat and go deer hunting again and not be so big any more.
In December 2019 my weight was 420 lbs. I saw Dr. Hung in January 2020 and he told me to start my diet. By August of 2020 I weighed 380 lbs. and started thinking – I don’t need this surgery. I can do this on my own. Thinking I was going to cancel my surgery, by June 2020 I was back at 400 lbs. Later that month, I weighed in on surgery day at 369 lbs.
At my one month check up with Dr. Hung I was down to 345lbs. He was happy with this. I wasn’t. At the two month checkup, I was down to 320lbs. 1 year post-op I was down to 235 lbs, wearing sizes XL shirts. Down from 6 XL shirts. Down to 36 pants from 56 size pants. I am so happy that I had the surgery. I went deer hunting this year, walked 10 miles. sat in a deer stand that was rated for some one that is only 250 lbs. Wow!
- 2018 – 420 lbs
- June 2020 – 400 lbs
- Surgery June 2020 – 400 lbs
- 1 month post-op checkup – 345 lbs
- 2 month post-op – 320 lb
- 1 year out – 235 lb.
Patient Stories
