Minutus

Hi,
I have a patient who has very heavy menses - she now uses a menstrual cup so she knows that she loses around 500ml of blood every month. Not surprisingly she's anemic. She's in her late 40s, and has a very large womb with fibroids (around 24 weeks). She has three children, and problems started after the first pregnancy. She feels better after the flow begins, even though it's very difficult for her to handle. Usually the first day of heavy flow she feels very cold, although she generally suffers from heat.
She's benefitted from several remedies in terms of constitutional (including Medorrhinum and Platina), but nothing seems to touch the menses. I have given her Lachesis around the time of menstruation, but that made things worse. The problem is there's very little margin here, and I wonder if I should give her a therapeutic, just at the time of menses, to lessen the flow and help her build up her strength. She does not want conventional intervention.
The flow is bright red with large dark red/black clots, mixed in with "black strings and crumbs" (her description). Usually the flow is painless, and the heaviest part of flow continues for one to two days. She reports that sometimes with the heavy flow, the blood is hot. She also reports that especially when the clots are expelled, the flow gushes suddenly. Usually increased flow on getting up from a chair.
Another symptom she reported that usually before menses she gets a headache, often right sided in the right temple, which is worse when she urinates. Also she often gets diarrhea or sensitive stomach at the time of menses.
Any ideas? I've been wondering about Bell, Ustilago, Crocus.
Regards,
Vera

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Vera Resnick RCHom
Classical Homeopath
Alternative Medicine
054-4640736
e-mail: vera.homeopath@gmail.com
www.freewebs.com/verahomeopath

you are requested to give following answers to find out the solution for the same
eye; heaviness; before period
eye; heaviness; during period
abdomen; heaviness; before period
abdomen; heaviness; during period
genitals; female; heaviness; during period
extremities, limbs; heaviness; before period
extremities, limbs; heaviness; during period
extremities, limbs; heaviness; foot; better period
rectum; dragging, heaviness, weight; before period
rectum; dragging, heaviness, weight; during period
genitals; female; heaviness; womb; during period
extremities, limbs; heaviness; hand; before period
Thanks,
Regards
--- On Tue, 9/2/08, Vera Resnick wrote:

the patient hasn't reported any heaviness sensation before or during the period. When the flow is heaviest and after the heavy flow she sometimes experiences dizziness and a sense of "floating".
you are requested to give following answers to find out the solution for the same
eye; heaviness; before period
eye; heaviness; during period
abdomen; heaviness; before period
abdomen; heaviness; during period
genitals; female; heaviness; during period
extremities, limbs; heaviness; before period
extremities, limbs; heaviness; during period
extremities, limbs; heaviness; foot; better period
rectum; dragging, heaviness, weight; before period
rectum; dragging, heaviness, weight; during period
genitals; female; heaviness; womb; during period
extremities, limbs; heaviness; hand; before period
Thanks,
Regards
--- On Tue, 9/2/08, Vera Resnick > wrote:

Hi Vera,
What's the mental/emotional picture like?
(If the menses were not an issue, what else might she be asking help
with?)

The head pain worse during urination is a nice small rubric.

If I rep
Generalities; DISCHARGES, SECRETIONS; AMEL. (371)
Female; TUMORS; FIBROMA; Uterus (88)
Head; PAIN; URINATION; During (19)

The ones that run thru are Sang, Bell, Sil, Iod. Might any of those
apply? I haven't checked whether any of those fits the menstrual sxs.

Some of that might (?) be common (and not so significant) in context of
the situation--3 big fibroids and heavy blood loss. I'd concentrate on
whatever's clearly unusual, and I'd think you'd need to get a good M/E
picture included, too?

(For therapeutic, I wonder if cell salts ferr-p for the anemia, and
calc-p for a general tonic, would help? But I wonder if that would be
needed, once the right remedy's given--I'd assume not. ?)

Shannon

Hi Vera,
I have a similar case. Belladonna, 1M has literally stopped the clots and slowed the flow immediately, but temporarily, if taken acutely during the menses. However, it seems to just suppress until the next cycle. I would look at it's chronic, Calcarea Carbonica which surprisingly covers the symptoms well and has uterine polyps and fibroids. Sabina is another to consider which covers the symptoms.
As for the Lachesis, if it seems to cover the case, have her try it *after* the menses. A simillimum given just before or during the menses is more likely to aggravate. If there isn't an overall good response to Lachesis but the case seems like a snake remedy, also consider Cenchris Contortrix (Compl Puls). Snake remedies like Crotalus Casc and Cenchris Contortrix seem underused and are often indicated with these types of menstrual symptoms. (At least I've had good results with them.) The dramatic picture of Crotalus-Casc does not need to be present just as the dramatic picture of Lachesis doesn't. I recall one reference stated Cenchris Contortrix is a good option to consider when Lachesis seems indicated but doesn't work and has clotted menses and copius menses.
Lastly, I would look at Causticum as it covers the symptoms and has the SRP of head pain agg by urination. But I don't know if there is anything in the case which would point to Causticum (an NWS maybe?).
I'd love to hear what you end up prescribing and how it works.
Hope it helps.
Truly,
Erica

Hi Shannon and Erica,

Thanks for responses. She came for the fibroids and the menses - the M/E have improved greatly during treatment, plus some other symptoms including food allergies, but the fibroids and menses are more or less the same. Many of the symptoms seem to relate to a picture of estrogen dominance. She's very irritable before menses as well, usually less so once flow begins.

I'm thinking of trying Bell - possibly even as a chronic in itself, I've never given it to her and I don't think she's received it from other homeopaths. She received Calc-C daily for about 5 months from another homeopath several years ago, and as far as I can see it didn't help and possibly entrenched the situation. She also was given Causticum in the past, and it has been helpful in acutes of heartburn, indigestion and the headache before menses. I'll also look into Sabina - it's a remedy I've never given and know little about.

Thanks to all!
Vera

Vera,
I forgot Pulsatilla which also covers the menses symptoms and has anemia due to menses.
Truly,
Erica

Erica,
Tried it! touched M/E slightly, menses not at all...
thanks,
Vera

Have you looked at Veratrum album?
Peace,
Dale

I have but it's not relevant for this patient. I'm going to go with Sabina - will try to post results.
Regards,
Vera