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Re: Dr. Nancy Klimas, A BAD EXPERIENCE
Posted by Surfer Chick, Also....... on 10/11/08
In my post I forgot to add that after leaving several phone messages for Dr. Klimas and getting no reply, I sent an e-
mail to Dr. Lina Garcia to forward to Dr. Klimas. In my e-mail, I stated how I thought highly of Dr. Klimas and informed
her how dissatisfied I was and that I felt had been dumped.
I didn't get a reply from the e-mail.
Three times after the e-mail, I called and left a message with her office as did my father, we never got a reply.
Had Dr. Klimas called back, followed up with me by giving me an appointment or the phone consult that she had stated
would take place after my tests came back, I would not be typing this message for the public to see.
I don't take joy in writing this message because I really liked Dr. Klimas when I met her. I thought this is a caring
person.
Future patients have the right to make informed choices, that is my justification for this outting of my unfortunate
experience.
I had shared my experience with two of my doctors and they agreed that Dr. Klimas had "dumped" me and that the reason
was most likely because I have Lyme Disease, but whatever the reason it was unethical and unprofessional.
On 10/11/08, Surfer Chick wrote:
>
> Those of you who are suffering from unexplained fatigue, I am warning you not to seek the services of Dr. Nancy Klimas
> because of what my experience has been with her. Surfing onto this to this Toxic Law message board, I am shocked by
> what I am reading because I thought maybe this was just something that happened to ME.
> I feel a moral obligation to share my story. People need to know before they travel to see a doctor what the doctor
> is really all about; their ability to detect what your illness is, treat it and their moral obligation to care for you
> and follow up with you.
> My experience, I will first share my health history.
> In 2003, I began having strange symptoms-- strange parathesia, swollen glands and lymph nodes, headache and high WBC.
> By 2004, I had what I can only describe as electricity in my spine and brain, it was as if I was tied up to an
> electrical grid and it was turned on to zap me. It was excrutiatingly painful. At the same time, I had strange joint
> pain, joint pain that jumped from joint to joint and there were days when my feet hurt so bad, all I could do was
> crawl. In addition to these symptoms, I have profuse sweating and hair loss along with abdomial pain and pain in my
> lungs when I would breathe in deep and little by little fatigue along with a sick feeling came over me. At first it
> was just once every few weeks, then it came more and more frequent until it just grabbed me and would not let go.
> I saw a doctor who was of no help, but he gave me any pain medicine, anti anxiety or narcotic I asked for.
> I had frequent trips to the ER during 04-06 where it was noted I had some type of "infection" I would also have horrid
> bouts of vomiting and the runs.
> I went to a few doctors who checked me for RA, Lupus but I didn't fit into these definitions of illness (they also
> checked me for the worthless wastebasket diagnosis of "fibro" but I was not tender at all. No tender points anywhere.
> My suffering continued and in April o7, I saw a specialist in the area of taste/smell because my taste and smell had
> been gone for several months and now I had a feeling as if bugs were chewing at my flesh from inside, on my face,
> neck, back, arms, chest, stomach, arms and legs and then swelling in my elbows began .
> He and his junior resident had asked me questions for about 10 minuets and the attending told the resident that it
> sounded as if I have Lyme Disease. I had not really heard of this before. He told me that I needed to find a doctor
> who specializes in this because it was outside of his speciality. I followed his advice and two months later consulted
> with a Lyme doctor. When I saw this doctor and went over my lab work and history, he said he thought I had Lyme
> Disease and an infection Bartonella. He urged me to be tested for these infections right away and meanwhile gave me an
> Rx for doxycycline.
> Meanwhile, I did take the antibiotics for a short while but I discontinued them after I saw Dr. Klimas.
> I consulted with Dr. Klimas as I wanted a full evaluation of my condition. I trusted that she would be qualified to
> diagnose my situation, and besides I made the assumption that since she's well reknowned I should take her advice over
> a doctor who is only known locally. My mistake.
> When I saw Dr. Klimas in 07, my impression of her was favorable. She was very nice and laid back. Though I was
> surprised that she didn't do a full exam and only ordered a few blood tests, I thought she had my back. I told her and
> her assistant who was also very nice my entire history, including my visit to the Lyme doctor. Dr. Klimas was very
> quick to tell me I didn't have Lyme and that most likely I have "CFIDS" but that I would get well in time. She told me
> she could and would help me. I did feel at the time she wanted to help me. I recall telling my friends and father
> about my appointment with her, that she made me feel safe and comfortable and that I would be OK in time. My father
> was so pleased to hear of my visit that he thought it would be best if I relocated to Miami so I could see Dr. Klimas
> regularly.My father wanted to purchase a condo in South Florida so I figured this sounded like a great idea.
> I also told Dr. Klimas during my appointment that I would see her as often as what it takes to get well.
> I left Miami feeling hopeful and with an Rx to get a sleep study, and to be checked for toxoplasmosis and mercury.I
> had these tests done. The agreement I had with Dr. Klimas is that she would call me after the sleep study and the two
> blood tests came back. She also ran an immune panel when I saw her.
>
> Meanwhile, I followed up with the Lyme doctor. He asked how the antibiotics went. I told him after about two weeks
> first trying them, they made me feel like hell but that I discontinued them because I got a CFIDS diagnosis at
> University of Miami. He told me he really thinks I have Lyme Disease so I should be tested. I got tested that day. Two
> weeks later, my Western Blot came back CDC positive. I didn't know what to do at this time. I had finished the tests
> Dr. Klimas had ordered and I was still waiting to hear back from her. I decided to get yet another opinion while I
> waited to hear from Dr. Klimas. I found a rheumatologist on my insurance list. I got a quick appointment with the
> Internal medicine doctor who worked with the rheumatologist. The Internist strongly felt I had Lyme but wanted to
> retest and run other co infection tests along with other tests too. My tests came back positive for Lyme, Bartonella
> and other infections. My ANA was also positive speckled.
> I saw the rheumatologist and she too diagnosed Lyme disease.
> Meanwhile, I got a call from Dr. Klimas but missed it so it went to my voice mail. She promised to call back that next
> Tueday for a phone consult and told me that my blood work is back (that she had ordered) and that she has "A TREATMENT
> PLAN" for me.
> While I waited for her phone call, I had asked the lab to send Dr. Klimas all my blood work ordered by the other
> doctors, plus I faxed her what copies I had available.
> Tuesday came, no call. I assumed Dr. Klimas was busy. I gave it a week and then left a couple of messages. I heard
> nothing.I really did not know what to do, I was really counting on Dr. Klimas. Leaving messages went on for two
> months. Finally, a doctor from the University of Miami called me, a Dr. Lina Garcia. She identified herself as working
> with Dr. Klimas and bluntly but politely told me "We don't treat Lyme Disease here" and suggested that I seek help
> elsewhere and stop calling. I asked Dr. Garcia about my follow up, the results from the sleep study, and my TREATMENT
> PLAN that Dr. Klimas had mentioned in my voice mail. Dr. Garcia stated "No treatment plan" and that I needed to go
> somewhere else for help. Again, I asked about my follow up, that I flew out from California to see Dr. Klimas, etc.
> All Dr Garcia had offered to do is comment about my hormone tests results (ordered from another doctor)looked low and
> that she would ask Dr. Klimas to write a letter so I could take it to a gynecologist or endocrinologist. Dr. Garcia
> also said she would try to get me a follow up appointment since I came across the coutry to see Dr. K. She left me her
> e-mail address. I emailed her to ask about the follow up visit, a request for my records and the note. I got a reply
> stating the note was in the mail and that I would get a follow up appointment.
> I never got the note, never got the follow up. I called a total of 24 times!
> If you want a doctor who is this unprofessional, go see Dr. Klimas.
> My father thinks it's a blessing in disguise that she shirked her responsibility to care for me because her brand of
> care is half assed. She never tested me for Lyme and co infections even though two other doctors suspected this is
> what I had. She was quick to deliver her CFIDS diagnosis and quick to come up with a "TREATMENT PLAN" with only
> running a handful of tests. She saw those test results and could not be professional and get back to me. If she didn't
> want to treat the Lyme, I understand but she owed me the courtesy of follow up. Just imagine she had a treatment plan
> which was most likely antidepressants for a person infected with bacteria.
> I recall her words during my appointment about not having Lyme.
> My experience begs the question, how many of her other patients came to her not tested for Lyme or God knows what but
> gets the "CFIDS" diagnosis.
> Thanks to this experience, my Lyme is even "later" treated. Going off the antibiotics, then trying to get back on was
> difficult so I gave up.I have a doctor who cares about me now. Maybe I will get well someday.
> I hope you can understand my disconnected post. I know it's a mess but I want to type it and get this out of my system
> and not look back.
> Please be careful what doctor you put your trust in. I never thought Dr. Klimas would just turn her back on me. I
> thought she was so nice.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 8/15/08, BE wrote:
>> This is just typical Klimas.
>>
>> On 7/28/08, Former Klimas Patient wrote:
>>> I call myself "Former Klimas Patient" but that's not fully accurate as she never did anything a good doctor would
>>> do besides run a couple of her "CFS" type blood tests. You probably know the drill, the NK cells, HHV6 and EBV.
>>> Never did she take the time to find out why I was so sick but that didn't stop her from giving me a CFS diagnosis
>>> with no answers.I thought going to a university hospital they would pull out all the stops to find out the cause
>>> of the fatigue but that didn't happen.
>>>
>>> Don't waste your time, energy or hard earned money traveling to see Dr. Klimas.I was snowed at first thinking she
>>> was a caring woman doctor but really she cares about only her medical politics and government handouts. I had her
>>> all wrong and I paid for it with my health declining thanks to her. Did she diagnose me correctly? No. When I
>>> called her to leave information about the real cause of my "chronic fatigue" did she offer to help? Hell No! I
>>> didn't get a phone call back from her. I must of left about 10 messages at least some on voice mail others with
>>> the flighty secretary of hers.They never answer the phone.A very unprofessional medical practice.
>>> Johnnie
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 7/21/08, Seattle wrote:
>>>> I saw her and what a mistake it was! Half-baked medical care and no in depth diagnostic tests, only a few blood
>>>> tests.Very hard to reach by phone and those who work for her are unprofessional, she never returns calls. She
>>>> missed what was the causative factor involved in my fatigue.I have a good doctor now that is not involved in CFS
>>>> and that racket.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 7/16/08, Bruce wrote:
>>>>> Has anyone seen Dr. Nancy Klimas at the University of Miami for chronic fatigue? Please write of your
>>>>> experience.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 7/13/08, S wrote:
>>>>>> Robert,
>>>>>> You do make a good point but mold allergies are real and mainstream medicine knows that too. Lyme (not
>>>>>> Lymes) is real but it's not well understood, though your point is well taken there are quacks out there who
>>>>>> do diagnose such conditions with little proof and sell patients all this alternative garbage and promise
>>>>>> them they will get better.
>>>>>> "CFS", is a vague diagnosis doctors give when they lack the imagination to know what to do for these
>>>>>> patients. Many times, it's hormonal, bacterial or viral but everyone is lumped together but Fibromyalgia is
>>>>>> the champion of all quack conditions, just throw in the kitchen sink and this whopper of a so-called disease
>>>>>> describes it all. What is unfortunate is those stuck with this pitiful diagnosis which is maninly a hormonal
>>>>>> problem primarily in women with declining hormones and hypothyroid individuals. Too little is done about
>>>>>> women's hormonal issues, but you're right, it attracts quack-pot fringe doctors and so-called mainstream
>>>>>> doctors at universities who are on the payroll from big pharma.If you read the post above, the CFS doctor
>>>>>> at Georgetown sounds like a quack too, just a different variety then those in the alternative world.
>>>>>> I do want to add one thing worth mentioning, "mainstream" is not always correct. If you do your homework on
>>>>>> history of medicine you will find what was once considered a "stress" issue with a psychological base,
>>>>>> turned out to be real illnesses--such as RA, MS,bacterial ulcers--H-pylori. The doctor who discovered H-
>>>>>> Pylori (Dr. Barry Marshall) was laughed at for decades by his peers, then he won the peace prize.
>>>>>> Mainstream can be too ridgid and dogmatic in their aproach to understanding unknown disease--but quacks know
>>>>>> this too and take advantage of people--THAT is the problem. When mainstream can't explain things, they blame
>>>>>> psychology--that is a problem too.
>>>>>> The best we can do is find open minded doctors who truly want to help others and not take advantage of the
>>>>>> ill, or practice deceptive medicine.
>>>>>> I said what's on my mind but I do think your points are valid.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 7/08/08, Robert Christ wrote:
>>>>>>> I recommend that people google "how to spot a quack" One thing quacks always gravitate towards is
>>>>>> conditions
>>>>>>> that conventional medicine doesn't address like mold related illness, lymes, cfs, mcs, etc. Just because
>>>>>>> they believe your condition is real doesn't qualify them to treat it. Many push vitimans and tox screens,
>>>>>>> expensive blood test's that are irrelevant but boast their bill and give the patient the impression the dr
>>>>>>> knows what he's doing. Many will sell you phony cures that supposedly "boast your immune system" or "remove
>>>>>>> toxins" Shoemaker is one of the few that actually prescribes conventional medicine for an unconventional
>>>>>>> purpose. I am not familer with the colosteral medication he prescribes but dubious of the claims he makes
>>>>>> as
>>>>>>> far as it's removing toxins, and especially dubious of the VCS test to measure its progress. Anyone who
>>>>>>> knows different please correct me but I don't think the purpose he prescribes it for is recommended by
>>>>>>> conventional or main stream MD's.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ACMT has an article that refutes the mycotoxin connection to illness that shoemaker and others have been
>>>>>>> touting.
>>>>>>> http://www.acmt.net/cgi/page.cgi?aid=12&_id=52&zine=show
>>>>>>> Particularly read the passage where they say that we consume way more mycotoxins in the food we eat by
>>>>>>> orders of magnitudes than inhaled even in some of the worst mold contaminated buildings. So I am not
>>>>>>> attacking the person, just his practices, and have evidence to back it up via the acmt document. Some will
>>>>>>> say the science is payed for and bogus but this is not the MO of "paid for" science. They usually use straw
>>>>>>> man arguments, or smoke and mirror tactics, or Plausible deniability like the ACOEM position paper which I
>>>>>>> believe to be fairly accurate except where they claim MRI doesn't exist in the context of CFS which is
>>>>>> flat
>>>>>>> out wrong.
>>>>>>> Needless to say very damaging to those that suffer from mold related illness.
>>>>>>> http://www.acoem.org/guidelines.aspx?id=850
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ACMT on the other hand made a direct statement about a specific item, "mycotoxins" that could be
>>>>>>> challenged if what they are saying were not true. But nobody has.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I believe mold related illness is much more complicated than the quacks make it out to be. I believe they
>>>>>>> are cashing in on our misery and the professional witness fees they get. I have suffered from it for 12
>>>>>>> years and believe the only treatment that is effective is mold avoidance. The best bet for a sufferer
>>>>>>> barring extreme measures is to find a relatively new house to live in with no history of water damage. You
>>>>>>> don't need to pay Dr's like showmaker tens of thousands of dollars to come to this simple conclusion. Just
>>>>>>> skip the middle man and save your money for the higher quality housing you need to control your mold
>>>>>> related
>>>>>>> symptoms.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Those that believe they suffer from lymes, MCS, CFS, etc. I would implore to make close observation to
>>>>>>> their symptoms and their dwellings specifically to the degree of mold in them. Don't spend money on
>>>>>>> expensive testing or remediation, your better to save it and put it towards higher quality new housing.
>>>>>> If
>>>>>>> you can find a friend or relative willing to let you stay with them (with a new house with no history of
>>>>>>> leaks) for a month or two do this. Otherwise take the money you would spend on remediation and move into a
>>>>>>> new clean house or apt. for a month or two, if the difference in your health is undeniably better "MOVE"
>>>>>>> Craigslist.com has people with brand new homes looking to rent a room out, you can get into one of these
>>>>>> for
>>>>>>> about 600 a month. Less than one visit to shoemaker or any of the other ahem "alternative medicine
>>>>>>> practitioners" and you will learn far more about your condition and how to treat it.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Robert Christ
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 6/27/08, mgfs wrote:
>>>>>>>> First of all I would like to say I hope everyone suffering on this thread finds the answers and treatment
>>>>>>> they need to feel well and whole
>>>>>>>> again. After spending quite a bit of time with RS recently for a non clinical reason I would like to give
>>>>>>> my thoughts on the man. He is one
>>>>>>>> of the most immature egotistical self centered people I have ever met. He is a sensationalist capitalizing
>>>>>>> on the pain and ignorance of
>>>>>>>> others. And although I'm not a mental health pro I would lay money that he has borderline personality
>>>>>>> disorder. He is about one thing
>>>>>>>> and one thing only...lining the pockets of RS and pontificating the wonders of all things RS. All you have
>>>>>>> to do is walk in his waiting room
>>>>>>>> and observe "The Shrine" dedicated to the glory of RS to know there is something not right with this man.
>>>>>>> My favorite part of "The Shrine"
>>>>>>>> is an ad he has for a diet he made up that says something like "My way works, does yours?". Now what makes
>>>>>>> this so funny is he is a very
>>>>>>>> overweight man. Folks, use your head when it comes to this guy. if it looks like and smells like, it
>>>>>>> probably is.
>>>>>>>>
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