"I selected to see Dr. Doxey after another co-worker had used him. From my first visit to now, 3.5 years and 3 surgeries later, I wouldn't change surgeons for anything.
I was 5'8" and weighed 282 at the time of my surgery on 9-9-99 (my birthday). My first impression of Dr. Doxey was wonderful. I had done much research and went in with info off the internet. I do not handle annesthesia well and Dr. Doxey, spent much time with me, answered all my pages of questions and didn't seem to worried about my annesthesia problems. Previously, I have even thrown up in the operating room while under annesthesia because it makes me so ill.
My by pass was an R-N-Y Open and I have had 2 surgeries since, one for an incisional hernia at 6 months and another exploratory 2 months ago for a sharp admoninal pain that could not be connected to anything through tests. Nothing was found but adhesions which he removed and the pain is gone.
My impression of Dr. Doxey has never changed, only gotten better. His office staff is absolutely wonderful. Teresa, his insurance person, did mericles when working with my insurance. It was CHAMPUS at the time and when she called to find out how to submit the paperwork to them, was told up front 'don't bother' it won't be approved. The computer will kick it out - reason - at the time, CHAMPUS would not approve this surgery for anyone over 50. Needless to say, she bypassed that old computer, sent it to a medical review board and it was approved in 10 days.
I became very active in the support group, starting about 5 months before my surgery was approved and leading up to being one of the group leaders of one of Dr. Doxey's two support groups. He is caring, quiet, calm, has a sense of humor, a great bed side maner and is just all around great. He has a structured aftercare program including both diet, exercise and support group attendance. All risks of surgery are covered by him in his previsit, and all are talked about very openly in support groups.
He has attended the support group as a speaker three times, contracts a nutritionist to attend and arranged for a clinical social worker (Dr) to attend as a speaker. He stays in contact with his support leaders and is helping us with a support group for post 1 year patients.
I rate him the best (as if you can't tell), and he has both surgical competence and bedside manner - both of which make a relationship work to the patient's best advantage.
He was first in our area to do laproscopic R-N-Y and has become a pioneer in it. At the time I had my surgery, he did not use staples as did other surgeons in the area and our incisions look like they are done by a plastic surgeon. At 3 years mine is a thin line and is hardly visable. He stays abreast of what is newest in the field and this is evidenced by the different instructions/surgery procedures given to current patients compared to 3 years ago. He readely explains why he has made changes and why this is better than something else.
I have had surgery 16 times since 1974 at 7 hospitals in md and va, with 10 different surgeons. For 2 years I worked as a Red Cross volunteer in surgery clinics at the Navy hospital here in VA and in Rhode Island. I feel I can fairly state, he is one of the BEST!!"
