Lupus Case - long

[Rhonda Bird]

I'd like some thoughts on a case. I have permission from him to post.
Patient: Male, 35.
P.C. Lupus - dx 13 years ago. Began on face, appearance like acne. GP
said it was caused by stress(***), and gave cream (Cortisone??). Within 6
months spread to arms, chest and back. Given steroids. (*** - relationship
breakup around this time)Appearance of skin: dry, white flaky,>
humidity and cool weather. Doesn't use any oils or creams on skin. Is not
on any allopathic medication. >>warm shower. Skin itches, which drives
him to scratch until it bleeds. The R side of the body is most affected,
especially R arm, which he blames on being the arm exposed to sun should he
need to drive thru the day(we drive on the Left here in Oz!). No longer
bothers with sun block-out creams.

Family History: Allergic dermatitis; Graves disease;alcoholism; asthma;
High Blood Pressure

Birth: Mum had eclampsia

Sleep: Poor - sleeps 1-2 hours, wakes, back to sleep. Works nights as
cannot stand being out in the sun. Doesn't get to sleep until 2-3 a.m. and
wakes around 10-11am. Shift work since April 2000. Dreams not recalled.
Sticks feet out of the covers. Sleeps on back or R side.

Thirst: Enjoys orange juice about 1 litre daily. Used to drink about 10
cups of coffee daily, but at time of interview(Feb 2003) having 4-5
cups/day. Intolerant to alcohol.Says 2 litres water, which is cool.

Diet/Appetite: No breakfast. East around midday usually a sandwich, then
not until 7-8p.m.
Very little fruit or vegies.

Habits: Smokes 15 cigarettes daily. Hx marihuana use.

Appearance: is thin, wears a beard as skin condition makes it difficult to
shave.

Personality: honest, very patient, very sympathetic (lives with his mum, as
she has nobody in her life, and pt likes to keep an eye on her).
Jealousy+++( after relationship breakup was when patient says skin condition
began - girlfriend was being unfaithful. His reaction was lots of crying,
smashed things up at home. They got back together after 6 months, she
continued being unfaithful - this time, he beat up his car. He says:"I felt
disappointed and loathing that someone could be so false"). Great fear of
heights. Untidy, and happy to be so.

Interests: Enjoys his computer. Avoids the outdoors. Works 4 hour night
shifts 3 or 4 times per week.

Digestion: Hx of constipation. Large amount of flatulence. Nausea begins
in early evening(4-5pm). Urination - takes a long time to begin, then
urgency of flow.

Head: headaches rarely, except past few weeks dull ache in band around
forehead. Had been having fevers, with a headache.

Extremities: Joint pains, cramps in legs. Gets very fatigued.

Energy: Not brilliant

Nails: peel around the edges

Face: butterfly rash of Lupus .

Lung: 1995 had an embolism - hospitalised. weak, nauseous, couldn't
breathe comfortably.

Respiratory: Nose - Poor sense of smell. Rarely gets colds. Experiences
lots of phlegm, which is yellow-green and daily. Says he mostly swallows
the phlegm. Has a yellow coated tongue.

Child History: Fully vaccinated. Adenoids removed age 10/12yrs.

Perspiration: Easy. Feels opposite temperatures to others - can feel
really cold in the middle of Summer.

Other information: Worked in a job(after diagnosed with Lupus) removing
aspestos from houses - used decontamination chamber.

Prescription: Sulphur 6
2nd visit 2 weeks later: Appetite much improved. Skin much paler. Lots of
flaking of skin. Left arm much improved. Skin less itchy. Feeling much
better in himself. Lots of cramping in R foot. Mentioned he likes to drink
milk usually a litre a day, which was less in the past 2 weeks. Has
introduced vegetables to his diet. Nausea occurring later at night now.
Sleep much >. If wakes, goes straight back to sleep. Daily stool, a bit
loose. Flatulence much reduced. No headaches. Energy up slightly. Still
swallowing phlegm. Trying to cut down smoking.

Prescription: Liver drainage (St Mary's Thistle tincture)
3rd visit 2 weeks later: urinating more - less urgency, can hold contents
easier. Cramps in R foot only when lying. Appetite is huge, having big
meals. Doesn't fill up so quickly. Drinking orange juice and water and
coffee(x 5 daily). No nausea. Sleep mostly okay. Skin looks less
aggravated, and smoother. Bowels every day. Minimal flatulence. Heaps of
mucous blowing out green-yellow. Bone pain in shins from standing at work.
Prescription: Continued Liver drainage. Added supplemental Magnesium for
cramps. Intermittent Sulphur.

4th visit 3 weeks later: Nil cramps. Sleep is much improved. Energy much
improved. No fatigue from standing. Nil bone pain. Prescription: Continue
as before.

5th Visit 1 month later: Skin is very itchy. Cramps nil. Sleep great.
Bowels daily. Mucous much reduced. Craving milk after midnight. Feeling
very affected by world events. Tongue bright yellow coating. Prescription:
Kali Sulph 12X.

6th visit 6 weeks later: Skin less red in face. Flaking still occurring.
Happier then he has been in a long time. Good solid sleep. Mucous all
gone. Craving coffee 6-8 cups daily, and milk after midnight. Still
affected by world news, which depresses. Prescription: Nux 200 1 dose

7th visit 8 weeks later: Skin, less flaking on waking. Moods more stable.
Itching on arms increased. Energy good. Prescription: Psor 200 1 dose.

8th visit 8 weeks later: nails less flaking. Skin remains the same in
appearance. No flaking. Sleep continues to improve. Prescription: Nil

9th visit 8 weeks later: Appetite comes and goes. Loving milk and coffee .
Re world events said: " frustrated I can't do more about it. I should be
able to change what's happening". Not eating until 11. Showering is
drying out his skin - wants to avoid. Prescription: Sulph 200 1 dose.

10th visit 3 months later: Has had fevers past week. Raspy throat. His
grandfather, who lived in the same house passed away. Feeling lots of guilt
about not being there when he died. Had gone out of house, planning to
commit suicide( by drowning), but thoughts of no-one to look after his mum
stopped him. What triggered the suicidal thoughts: "I think Australia is
becoming a horrid place - I didn't want to live in this country or this
world". He didn't want others to find him or deal with his loss. Very
affected by news. Not at work lately. Sleep terrible since grandfather
died. Only a few hours here and there. Dreaming of police in a courtroom.
Very constipated - 4 days between motions. Hard, large stool passed. Lots
straining. Appetite down. Not caring about his mum really upsets him.
Skin red again. Aching bones and muscles. Very thirsty for water. Coffee
craving is way down (unusual). Got very depressed around Christmas.
Prescription: Ignatia 1M. Lay on the floor of my clinic for 10 minutes as
was very dizzy. Got up and said he felt fantastic. Gave Rescue Remedy to
take regularly.

11th visit 1 month later: Feels more accepting of grandfather's death.
Sleep continues to be patchy. Concern for how his mum is dealing with her
dad's death. Depression not as extreme. Trying to watch less television,
so he doesn't hear the bad news of the world. Appetite returned. Coffee
2-3 per day. Dreams of being abused, and returning the abuse (yelling).
Skin looking smooth, less flaking again. Prescription: Kali Sulph 12x
Does anyone have any thoughts? In the time I have been treating him, no
change with pigmentation has occurred (which I guess is good it is not
worsening). His skin currently quite itchy due to the change of season (our
Summer to Autumn), which happens with each change of season for about a
month. Should I be doing more (my impatience, not the patient's)?? I
haven't quite nailed the reaction to world news (<<

[Alva Irish]

Alumina sounds like the one to me.
Alva

[Joy Lucas]

Dear Rhonda, seems a good case so far. The anxiety about world news, bad
news, might also link in with what appears to be apparent guilt, dreams of
courtrooms and police and about being abused but retaliating - have you
looked into that more.

May I ask how he uses his body during consultations, i.e. nervous, laid
back, fidgety etc.

Best, Joy

www.homeopathicmateriamedica.com
on 7/5/04 10:05 AM, Rhonda Bird at rbirdhomeopath@powerup.com.au wrote:

edited

11th visit 1 month later: Feels more accepting of grandfather's death.
Sleep continues to be patchy. Concern for how his mum is dealing with her
dad's death. Depression not as extreme. Trying to watch less television,
so he doesn't hear the bad news of the world. Appetite returned. Coffee
2-3 per day. Dreams of being abused, and returning the abuse (yelling).
Skin looking smooth, less flaking again. Prescription: Kali Sulph 12x
Does anyone have any thoughts? In the time I have been treating him, no
change with pigmentation has occurred (which I guess is good it is not
worsening). His skin currently quite itchy due to the change of season (our
Summer to Autumn), which happens with each change of season for about a
month. Should I be doing more (my impatience, not the patient's)?? I
haven't quite nailed the reaction to world news (<<

[Ellen Madono]

Dear Rhoda,
Thank-you for the full description of the Lupus case. As a beginner, I have a hard time following sketchy descriptions of cases.
Blessings,
Ellen Madono

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]