The timid one
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 2001 Nov / Dec VOL III NO 6.
'Spigelia / Lapis-alb / Chionanthus / Puls, Nat-m / Thuja / Carc
An obese acquaintance, 37 yrs old, came to me with ovarian cysts and uterine fibroid. K/c/o migraine since 20 yrs - changes sides, < before menses, fasting, sin and exercise, accompanied by chilly extremities, head sweat and nausea. No food preferences but likes warm food and is thirsty. Very chilly with hot palms and soles yet dislikes warm weather. Always takes a long time to fall asleep.
H/o measles, recurring ear infections with sticky, sour discharge, recurring throat infections.
F/H: F- DM, M-thyrotoxicosis, 6 heart attacks, CA thyroid, MA: hypothyroid Menarche: 13 yrs, 3/23 scanty since 2 yrs, irregular, late, sometimes spotting 3 days after menses. 2 pregnancies both LSCS.
She cries easily, is sensitive to order, neatness and has tremendous anticipatory anxiety about my forthcoming event, however trivial or ordinary. She enjoys cooking, stitching, painting and is an excellent hostess.. she has had a lot of disappointment in life, is sad easily but rarely angry. Deeply religious and silently involved with regular voluntary work for an orphanage and destitute home. She was the youngest in a large, well-to-do joint family with lots of cousins. She loves plants and nature, as father had a thriving nursery and enjoyed childhood, especially on the farm. Her elder sister who lives closed by, has always overshadowed her in all ways, furthering her timidity.
She lost her father while at college. She gave up a good job after her 1st child as she was particular about bringing up her child well. Her husband lost a lot of their savings during the stock exchange scam, then lost his job few yrs later. And has not had a steady income since. Her mother died of cancer just before the 2nd child birth.
I perceived a silent, deep, overwhelming grief, despite everything. She was warm, affectionate and yielding yet there was some element of self pity and sluggishness. She never exercised and said a short walk to the grocer was enough.
Chilly yet desires cool, scanty menses, takes long to fall asleep, fastidious, likes company, timid, enjoys being a homemaker and silent grief all pointed to Pulsatilla. Yet as the F/H of Thyroid and cancer was strong, as also too many disappointments in life, suppressed grief and frequent headaches, I decided to address this issue 1st even though it was not the remedy of the totality. I selected Nat-m to remove this layer.
29/7/94: Nat-m 1M 1P, Spigelia 30 SOS for headache.
30/8/04: only 4 headaches with the one before menses being the worst. As she was responsive and headache had lessened, it was time to give the constitutional- Puls 10M 1P. The sycotic mode (ovarian cyst) intercurrent Thuja dictated. Lapis-alba was choosen to address the pathology with a F/H of cancer and thyroid disorders. 15 days later Thuja 1M 1P, Lapis-alba Q BD. If we want to understand how the treatment progressed, let us put down all the remedies which came up in the follow up:
Acute: Spigelia for headache, Chionanthus, Lapis alba
Constitutional: Pulsatilla
Deep acting Phase remedy for the deep-seated Grief: Nat-m
Anti-Miasmatic: Thuja - for Sycotic belt. And Carcinosin for F/H of cancer
3/12/94: Headaches same, pelvic pathology same. As headaches were the predominant symptoms. Repeated Thuja 1M !p. Chionanthus Q BD.
10/3/94: no headache before / during menses. Otherwise also frequency and intensity considerably lessened.
USG reports
1994: uterine fibroid (report misplaced)
USG Pelvis - Nov 1996
Uterus N size and echotexture. Endometrial echo in midline -11mm. No free fluid in pelvis.
Rt ovary--1.8 x1.4 x1.0 cm. vol-1.3 cc. normal appearance
Lt ovary--3.5 x 3.1x 2.2 cm, enlarged, showing an area of abnormal
echo texture with multiple small hypo and hyper echoic areas, no calcification present
USG Pelvis - Jan 1997
Comparison with previous study shows almost complete regression of the area of abnormal echotexture in left ovary and a marked reduction in size of lt ovary. A small residue persists on lt side superiorly-2.7x4.1x1.4 cm vol-2.7cc
No change in rt ovary and uterus measurements. Endometrial echo-9mm
No free fluid in pelvis
USG Pelvis - April 1997
Uterus and Rt ovary normal in size and echotexture. Endometrial echo of midline - 6mm. No free fluid in pelvis.
Lt ovary - 2.3 x1.3 x 0.9 cm vol-1.4cc
USG Pelvis - June 1998
Uterus is normal in size and echotexture--7.4 x 4.8 x 4.3cm. No focal mass.
Endometrial echo of midline - 4mm
Rt ovary-normal in size and appearance--3.4 x1.5 x1.0cm vol-2.6cc
Lt ovary -normal in size and appearance--3.2 x1.2 x1.2cm vol-2.4cc
No free fluid in pelvis.
She re-qualifed as a teacher so that she would never have to compromise from the home front!
She still calls me sometimes although she has moved to another city. She still takes Chionanthus Q when she gets headache, which is less frequent. She had an eventful menopause. Her sister has moved away and I am waiting to see how she blossoms now!
