First about your brother - there has to some sort of review board for this sort of issue. Have him contact the administrative offices of the plan, document everything. Make the case to the plan, they will force the doctor to refer your brother or refer directly or go outside the plan. Is there a provision for an out of network visit or even an emergency visit? Have your doctor contact the G.P. and have him insist. Stand firm in your resolve. Sorry to be forceful but it pisses me off when doctors think they are god. I am 41 years old and was diagnosed with LOCAH a year ago. It has not been an easy year. I also have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - (hypothyroidism). I'm on synthyroid, dex, aldactone and just recently came off birth control pills. I have the hair problems and the acne scars on my back from teenage years. I live in NYC. I have find that any stressful situation I deal fine initially but am exhausted and drained of all energy afterwards. My fiance jokingly refers to me as a power sleeper and says I'm the only one he know who takes a nap before I go to sleep. From reading most of the messages on other boards, I get the idea that maybe I have a mild case of LOCAH. I have not had a crisis and my doctor hasn't even brought up the subject about bracelets and stress dosing. I take it one day at a time. I hope this helps. Laura