So, I went on the 2 hour journey to Columbia on February 10th. My parents took me. I saw a neurology resident first and explained all of my symptoms. It took quite a while. Then the resident took the films I brought (MRI, CT, and MRA) to the attending neurologist and after they looked at my films the resident and the attending came in to see me.
The neurologist diagnosed me with migraines. She told me to double my dose of gabapentin and basically live with it. I was floored, too stunned to ask any decent questions. I think I asked if my ear issues could be caused by migraines and how in the world could a migraine be all the time (I always thought migraines were episodic). The only answer she offered was that “migraines can do all sorts of weird things.”
She ordered some blood tests to check on a few things.
I left feeling quite upset. I know it’s not migraines. So, I am no closer to an answer.
I already had an appointment with my doctor in Conway scheduled, so I figured I would just wait until then to see what other avenues could be explored.
Over the next few weeks, my symptoms continued to increase, though initially doubling my dose of gabapentin did seem to help. I had constant headaches, worsening ear pain, electrical shocks across my head and face, increasing tinnitus, numb arms and face, trouble swallowing, and that terrible feeling like my left cheek is made of cold metal.
All of a sudden, one morning I woke up with a completely stiff and painful neck. I was unable to turn my head to the right at all, and when I tried, my left ear tinnitus got so loud I couldn’t bear it. I sat in a chair at home all day. The next day my pain got a little better, and I decided to put on an old cervical collar I had in the closet to stabilize my neck. Surprisingly, my other symptoms started to get better with the collar on. I now have confirmation that my problems are all related to my neck.
A few days later was my appointment with the doc in Conway. They apparently already had a hunch that my issues were my neck. They said they were trying to get me an MRI of my spine, but the insurance company had a lot of questions in order to approve it. They wanted to know if my previous surgery was through the front or back of my neck – I told them front. They told me they would call when they had any news.
In the mean time, I had met a local chiropractor through my web design business in Lebanon, MO, and he suggested I come in to see what was going on in my neck. He did an exam and told me I had circulation issues, neurological deficits, and muscle weakness. No crap, I thought. Anyway, he did x-rays and the results were surprising to me.
The spinal x-ray showed evidence of at least 2 herniated discs and cervical kyphosis (reverse curvature of the neck). The cervical spine should have a curvature similar to a “C” the opens to the back. My neck shows a “C” that is opening to the front. Now I really need that MRI to see what this mess in my neck is doing to my spinal cord. I don’t want to start physical therapy or chiropractic treatment until I know what’s going on in side there.
Got a letter on Saturday, February 25th stating that my insurance was denying my doctor’s request for an MRI. Unfortunately, i had been stuck in the bed and didn’t get the letter until Tuesday. The letter stated that the information provided did not meet their criteria, and that had my surgery been done through the back, the MRI would be approved. Grrrr….
There was a phone number on the letter to request an expedited appeal. I called Wednesday morning. They told me an expedited appeal would only be performed if my health was at risk if I had to wait. I told them I was worried about permanent nerve damage, including permanent hearing loss. A few hours later they called and said an expedited appeal was approved and they would be calling my doctor and getting records and would make a decision within 72 hours.
Friday morning I got the call that my MRI was approved – the denial had been reversed! Yay! Score one for the patient! Finally!!! I immediately called Conway and asked to speak with the nurse- no such luck, so I gave the info to the receptionist. I didn’t hear anything back so I called back after lunch. The receptionist was rude and told me their computers were down and that they wouldn’t be able to do anything until Monday. I waited in agony all weekend. Called back Monday morning – the rude receptionist said they hadn’t gotten to it yet. Called again after lunch – very rude receptionist now says they are so busy since the computers were down on Friday that they wouldn’t get to it until tomorrow. I told her I had been bed ridden for a few days, and I needed this ASAP.
I got in touch with the chiropractor who’d said he had a connection with an MRI center in Springfield. He said they take my insurance and they had an available appointment on Tuesday and on Wednesday. I called my doc back right at 5 on Monday and hoped they could get an order over there to get me in Tuesday. No such luck. I called them this morning (Tuesday) and left a message with the rude receptionist again. I got a call back finally from the nurse who said they needed some sort of authorization number from my insurance company in order to get the MRI scheduled. I gave them the phone number to call and am now waiting to hear. Apparently there is still an open appointment for tomorrow (which would be amazing since my husband doesn’t have classes tomorrow and can take me).
I am now unable to drive, plagued with horrific headaches and my other myriad of symptoms. I am ready for a resolution NOW. It has been almost a year since my symptoms started, and I am deteriorating rapidly. My headaches are getting much worse and I am losing motor control in my hands. My balance is completely off and my eyes aren’t working right. I can’t work. I have spent the last week in the bed, only getting out to go to the bathroom. I need help.
