Online case RH 1/02
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2002 6:26 am
Hi, All. Just wanted to thank all of your for your wonderfully thought provoking and helpful suggestions about this anxiety/ overwork case (that startd out as other things!). I've printed out all the replies, and will analyze them carefully, then let you know what direction seems appropriate. I also had a follow-up with him yesterday, finally, and my inclination is to continue the Nat-M a bit longer, because his emotional outlook is shifting, finally, and that was what had been lagging behind dramatically with the previous remedies. I didn't continue with previous remedies as someone suggested I might want to do, because while there was a partial positive response, it was mainly physical, and the emotional symptoms were stuck, even worsening -- not a good therapeutic direction overall.
Also, I need to write more at length about the previous patient, with the macular degeneration, who received a pathology report today from his ophthalmologist. He called, ecstatically, as soon as he left the doctor's office -- the retinal pathology has almost totally disappeared (on the crot-h), in both eyes. The dr. explained that the patient's vision hadn't improved because at the same time as the macular degeneration was progressing, cataracts were progressing with equal speed. I'm not sure I accept this explanation totally, because the bulk of the vision deterioration has been central rather than peripheral, a feature of macular degeneration but not of cataracts, which affect the whole lens. Rapidly progressing cataracts do, however, exist in this person's family. I suggested that he tell the opthalmologist that he wants a refraction study done of his retinas, to assess what visual acuity exists behind the cataracts (this can be done). But if the visible retinal pathology has substantially cleared up, that's certainly a large step in the right direction. When I find out more medical info, I'll keep you all posted, because if there are other problems than the macular degeneration itself (like damage to the optic nerve), then we'll need to consider a different remedy. The goal of all this is to retain and regain as much vision as possible, of course.
I'm writing these brief responses now, because I haven't had time to sit down and analyze the anxiety case more in depth, but I'll do that in the next day or so and then respond more in detail.
Again, thanks for your wonderful thoughts, which have contained some valuable suggestions and lessons as well for my own approach to patients.
Rosemary
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Also, I need to write more at length about the previous patient, with the macular degeneration, who received a pathology report today from his ophthalmologist. He called, ecstatically, as soon as he left the doctor's office -- the retinal pathology has almost totally disappeared (on the crot-h), in both eyes. The dr. explained that the patient's vision hadn't improved because at the same time as the macular degeneration was progressing, cataracts were progressing with equal speed. I'm not sure I accept this explanation totally, because the bulk of the vision deterioration has been central rather than peripheral, a feature of macular degeneration but not of cataracts, which affect the whole lens. Rapidly progressing cataracts do, however, exist in this person's family. I suggested that he tell the opthalmologist that he wants a refraction study done of his retinas, to assess what visual acuity exists behind the cataracts (this can be done). But if the visible retinal pathology has substantially cleared up, that's certainly a large step in the right direction. When I find out more medical info, I'll keep you all posted, because if there are other problems than the macular degeneration itself (like damage to the optic nerve), then we'll need to consider a different remedy. The goal of all this is to retain and regain as much vision as possible, of course.
I'm writing these brief responses now, because I haven't had time to sit down and analyze the anxiety case more in depth, but I'll do that in the next day or so and then respond more in detail.
Again, thanks for your wonderful thoughts, which have contained some valuable suggestions and lessons as well for my own approach to patients.
Rosemary
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]