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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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