Hi there:) I am having an awful time right now and I don't know what to do. A little about what's going on...3 years ago, I started having horrific headaches. They started out small and periodic, but quickly grew into a 24/7 problem. I found myself taking loads of over the counter drugs to try and combat them, but nothing ever worked. I have a full time factory job and 3 kids, so I couldn't be out of commission so I decided to go to the doctor. Now, I've had a migraine before. I know what they feel like. These are NOT migraine headaches. But, my doctor kept insisting that they were migraines and prescribed me migraine medication that did nothing but give me nasty side effects. I continued to go back, every couple weeks, pushing for an answer. I was prescribed narcotics. They didn't help either. Then I was prescribed anti convulsants. All they did was make me woozy and sleepy. I nearly lost my job from not being able to stay awake. Forget that. I quit taking them. I also started noticing other problems. I was having dizziness, weakness in my arms and hands, also tingling. I also tried to tell him my headaches were coming from my neck, NOT my head. The headache intensified if coughed or laughed. When I would get a cold and started coughing and sneezing, forget it! The headaches were unbearable! I went through this for 2 years. Soon, more symptoms started arising. I started having chest pain and heart palpitations, along with tachycardia. He put me on a beta blocker and did and EKG and blood work. My heart is perfect. Again, no answers. I also started having problems with my hands turning blue and white and going numb when they're cold. Even if I hold a cold beverage. I cut out sugar and caffeine from my diet, as well as gluten and that didn't help either. Finally, at the end of those 2 years, my dad, whom I love dearly, was diagnosed with lung cancer. I was crushed. Of course I sobbed, and POW! The headache! My doctor then decided that my headaches were due to stress of my dads diagnosis. It was at that point that I sought out a new doctor. I was appalled by that statement. I found an amazing doctor! She listened to me and took tons of notes. She asked me loads of questions. She actually felt my neck and shoulders. She touched me, something my other doctor never did. She told me that she suspects I have chiari malformation and ordered an MRI. Well, I find out today that my insurance company denied it. My out of pocket cost is met for the year as I had foot surgery on both feet this summer. I was so happy to be on the road to a diagnosis and start feeling better. Now I feel defeated. I don't know what to do. I drive 30 minutes to work everyday at 5 am and it's getting scary with the dizziness and pins and needles in my hands and arms. I'm struggling to cope with doing my job everyday. I've been dealing with this for 3 years now and it's only getting worse. If I lose my job, I'll lose my insurance...and my house. I NEED to figure this out! Has anyone else ever ran into a problem with their insurance company? I called them today and they said I didn't meet the criteria for the approval and that was all she would tell me. I would think that 3 years of SEVERAL appointments and lists upon lists of medications would be enough. Ugh