Wanting to get in touch with Dr. S. Ross Fox's office. Anyone?

I am an old surgery (1989) patient of Dr. Fox's and need to get some surgery records from his office.  I have tried the number that was available when I googled him.  (253) 833-7300.  No one answered.  Is he still in business?  Can someone pass on some information to me about him or his office.

Thanks,
Carrie

Vitalady is still in contact with him . I'm sure you could get a contact # from her . He's pretty much retired , as far as I know . But , he does do talks , etc... Hope you get what you need . Kathy

Thanks so much for the information.  I didn't think he was still active but remembered during my follow-up that he said his son (same name) was going to take over the business when heh retired so we could still go back for help. 

Have a happy 4th!
Carrie

I just talked with someone from Fill Centers USA and for Auburn area he is the consulting MD they use so maybe you could try there.

866-345-5872 ext 3

 

Thanks for the number.  I am going to call on Monday.  I am having a revision done and we need the old surgery records.  You have made things so much easier.

Happy 4th of July,
Carrie

Right number, but he is only open T-W-Th

I just saw him n April. Try again. Here's what I've got!

Advanced Surgical Weight Loss Clinic
204 Auburn Ave
Auburn, WA 98002

tel: 253-833-7300
fax: 253-833-7380

[email protected]

You know, that was the number that I was trying him on but no one every answered.  Not sure what is going on with that.  I will try his email address. You have most helpful.

Thanks so much,
Carrie

Hi, Carrie.

I was a Fox patient from '87. My surgery records were available to me through the Auburn Regional Medical Center. The hospital has changed hands and whatnot, but the records are still there. Amazed me, actually, but they produced them for me. You'll need to give them a few days to get them copied off of microfiche (sp?), but give 'em a call!

This is the phone contact page from their Web site:

http://www.auburnregional.com/index.php?PageID=1659

Good luck!

Kathy

Thanks a lot Kathy.  That really helps as I am going to have a revision soon and need a copy of my surgical records from my first WLS.

Just curious,  what type of surgery did you have through Dr. Fox?  By your bio stats, it would appear as if you also have had a revision.  Would you mind telling me about what happened?  It would help me get some prespective on what has happened as well as what is coming next?

Carrie

Hi, Carrie.

I had a VBG (vertical banded gastroplasty ... an old stomach stapling) back in 1987. I was in my 20s, and really pretty healthy, except for weighing over 315 pounds. My story and background is on my profile... at least a brief version of it.

I gained all my weight back (was able to keep it off only a short time), and then 23 years later, was scared into looking into a revision. I thought I was having a heart attack (it was "only" arthritis in my neck, causing the muscles in my chest to tighten protectively against the pain).

My revision was two months ago in New Jersey with Dr Greenbaum. I could have stayed local and had a revision to an RNY, but I wasn't interested in an RNY. I'd already lived with a pouch for 23 years, and I was tired of eating miniscule portions and vomiting. I also didn't like the possibility of sugar dumping, and I knew I'd need a STRONG WLS in order to overcome my now-stubborn metabolism. I didn’t like the long-term weight loss stats I saw, either.

I did a whole huge hurking LOT of research (became obsessed with it, for a while), whi*****luded attending six DS support group meetings to talk to people living with the surgery. I continued to read and research (I know my way around pubmed.org, I tell ya what!). The more I researched, the clearer the right surgery choice for me became.

This would be my second and FINAL weight loss surgery, regardless of the outcome, so I stepped very carefully, researched very thoroughly, and made the decision that I felt would give me the best chance for success.

What I found was the DS had superior statistics in long-term excess weight loss, co-morbidity resolution and... in my opinion... post-op quality of life. My blood tests has shown I had diabetes knocking on the door, and the DS would *eliminate* the risk of that disease in my future. I also have arthritis, and I did NOT want to be restricted from taking NSAIDs. And honestly? I *enjoy* eating. I didn't want to go back to eating just a few bites per meal. I had hated feeling deprived in my early VBG days, and I didn't want to go back there. All things considered, the decision was easy.

I interviewed two local surgeons who were willing enough to revise me to an RNY, but I knew I wouldn’t be happy with that. So… I’d chosen my surgery, finally.

But revisions are tricky and risky. I had chosen my surgery very carefully, and now I had to choose my surgeon very carefully. There are only a handful of surgeons that have a significant number of revisions under their belts... Rabkin in San Francisco, Husted in Kentucky, Greenbaum in New Jersey and Gagner ... who when I started this, was in Florida, and is in the process of moving to New York.

I decided on Greenbaum for several reasons. He didn't have a big "program fee," and didn't demand a bunch of his surgeon fee in cash up front. He worked with my insurance company. He uses the Hess method to determine common channel length (if you don't know what that is, I'd be happy to explain it). He had a reputation for taking on the really tough revisions that no one else would touch, AND... and I loved this about him... he was willing to spend some time explaining to me (via emails and phone conversations) how he approaches the surgery and why. There was no god complex, like so many specialist surgeons have.

 

 I've been very happy with my choices. I'm eating very well (high protein, high fat, lowlowlow carbs), and have had no compliance issues. It's not a bad way to eat, and I don’t feel deprived.

But getting here was a LOT of work, and after I had my surgery and the plane home touched down in Seattle, I had the most tremendous sense of completion ... an altogether astonishing feeling.

If you'd like to know more, or have any questions about what I've typed, feel free to PM me.

No surgery is right for everyone. You really need to do your footwork to determine which surgery is going to work FOR YOU. I wish you all the luck in the world with your decisions and your revision.

If you'd like to know more about the DS, please join us this next Saturday at the Southcenter Sizzler in Tukwila. Dr Rabkin is planning to be there talking about revisions and the DS. From what I understand, he’s planning on bringing along a psychologist from San Francisco. It should be interesting. The people that regularly attend this meeting are folks living with the surgery. They generously share their experiences with anyone who attends the meeting... it's a really great group of people. If you're shy about marching in on your own, I'd be happy to be the Meet and Greet Committee... ~smiling~

 

Xoxo

 

Kathy