Minutus

The latest on this strange case is that I gave him Cortisone Ac 30 in a split dose on 22nd Oct. in the hopes that the swelling in the ankles that has only come up since being given Cortisone in hospital might be helped. (see last post below).

On 4th Nov he phoned me when I was very busy, in a panic to say that the swelling in his ankles had spread and had gone to his knees and he had been to the doctor but he didn't want to take the antibiotics he was given. He also said that the "boils" that come up and burst are in full swing and he has eczema in his scalp which is very itchy. The "boils " were smaller than usual . In himself he feels fine. I didn't like the sound of his swelling and since I was so busy with patients that day said to phone the homeopathic helpline and I would provide what they suggested. It was suggested that he took Sulphur 30 bd for 2 days and Urticaria 30 as needed. He phoned me 2 days later to say that the swelling had gone from his knees and he is coping with the itchy spots.

Tonight he has phoned to say that the spots are still coming up and bursting (no water in the spots now) and the itching scalp is driving him mad. His ankles and feet are still swollen and what did I suggest now!! Some of the spots are remaining as lumps under the skin Some come to head and he scratches the tops off as his skin is so itchy. The urticaria is still helping and he is taking 1 a day. The head is scaly and scabs when he scratches it. His skin is very dry. There is no fever. He is fearful that because the swelling in the ankles is getting worse it may spread up the legs again. also the "boils" that the doctor calls eczema are getting worse. He is not ill but just gets tired. He wants to know what now!!!

The way I see it is that the Cortisone has brought out more of the "boils" which have come up Unlike the usual infections there is no fever. But what has the Sulphur done. Initially he reckons there was an improvement. I am thinking of repeating the Sulphur unless anyone else has any ideas!! He is seeing a dermatologist on 25th Nov. but we all know this will mean more steroid creams. He says that in the past the skin has got better after a couple of days of steroid cream but he doesn't want to use it!!
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Oct. 20th
Just an update. Saw the man today after his 2 weeks back in Bermuda. He suffered another "boils" eruption. This one was 9 weeks rather than the usual 6 weeks since the last and he says was milder. All I saw on him were O.5 cms circles where the boils had burst and they looked like flat sores. I gave him some calendula cream mixed with a bit of urticaria to heal them up faster and stop him scratching.. He holidayed in Bermuda again and visited the hospital where he was given the treatment after the first attack. He was told that the injection he received after than first infection of the boils was a massive steroid and antibiotics mix. We then established that he had never had eczema before this injection + the swollen ankles that he now has started only after the course of steroids in the hospital after the one dose of Carc 200 I gave him made everything blow. I started reading Julian's description of Cortico and decided that a lot of his stuff was there including the suicidal thoughts he had last weekend with the itching and the terribly cracked and splitting skin on his feet (which prevents comfortable walking) which he thinks was caused by the UV Ray treatment (50 sessions) are in the proving. I have contacted Helios and they thought that 30C maybe the best potency to try. Hopefully this will arrive tomorrow and I will send him 3 doses. What he wants cured is the itching eczema, the cracked and splitting skin especially on feet and hands and lastly the cessation of the infection to make his life bearable again. I did look at Calc Sulph Joy and didn't think it fitted. He still has the anxiety which now can become suicidal so I am still thinking Calc Ars. I have also given him some more Apis 30 to take until he receives the Cortico as he thinks that this does help to bring the ankles down. I also made him up a Bach Flower mixture of Gorse, Gentian and White Chestnut as he is not sleeping due to thoughts roaming around in his head. I know that a lot of you will not approve of the complex prescribing but my thoughts are that this is a complex case and this man needs to be made comfortable.
www.rochellemarsden.co.uk

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Dear Rochelle, I still think it is worth a look at Salicyclic acid as this
could be a reaction to the aspirin he is taking (or has been taking).

Does he want warm of cold to the skin as this might determine whether
sulphur or one of the Rhus rx might be useful.

Best, Joy

www.homeopathicmateriamedica.com
on 11/10/03 11:16 PM, ROCHELLE at rochelle@ntlworld.com wrote:

The latest on this strange case is that I gave him Cortisone Ac 30 in a
split dose on 22nd Oct. in the hopes that the swelling in the ankles that
has only come up since being given Cortisone in hospital might be helped.
(see last post below).

On 4th Nov he phoned me when I was very busy, in a panic to say that the
swelling in his ankles had spread and had gone to his knees and he had been
to the doctor but he didn't want to take the antibiotics he was given. He
also said that the "boils" that come up and burst are in full swing and he
has eczema in his scalp which is very itchy. The "boils " were smaller than
usual . In himself he feels fine. I didn't like the sound of his swelling
and since I was so busy with patients that day said to phone the homeopathic
helpline and I would provide what they suggested. It was suggested that he
took Sulphur 30 bd for 2 days and Urticaria 30 as needed. He phoned me 2
days later to say that the swelling had gone from his knees and he is coping
with the itchy spots.

Tonight he has phoned to say that the spots are still coming up and
bursting (no water in the spots now) and the itching scalp is driving him
mad. His ankles and feet are still swollen and what did I suggest now!! Some
of the spots are remaining as lumps under the skin Some come to head and he
scratches the tops off as his skin is so itchy. The urticaria is still
helping and he is taking 1 a day. The head is scaly and scabs when he
scratches it. His skin is very dry. There is no fever. He is fearful that
because the swelling in the ankles is getting worse it may spread up the
legs again. also the "boils" that the doctor calls eczema are getting worse.
He is not ill but just gets tired. He wants to know what now!!!

The way I see it is that the Cortisone has brought out more of the "boils"
which have come up Unlike the usual infections there is no fever. But what
has the Sulphur done. Initially he reckons there was an improvement. I am
thinking of repeating the Sulphur unless anyone else has any ideas!! He is
seeing a dermatologist on 25th Nov. but we all know this will mean more
steroid creams. He says that in the past the skin has got better after a
couple of days of steroid cream but he doesn't want to use it!!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

When he came round yesterday all I could really see was this very dry and flaky skin + circular red places where these blisters have burst. I couldn't find any that had not burst but his skin is lumpy from them underneath . He said he has felt in himself so much better since the Sulphur. He is hot and says that he is always hungry. He is what I would call a little overweight not an iodide skinny. He only started taking the aspirin since the angioplasty last October and the rash was there before that. He is more bothered about his hot swollen feet than anything else and reckoned they went down with the Sulphur!! I was also thinking of Cactus because of the swelling which I reckon is from the heart as my Mum has had an angioplasty and gets swollen feet and legs if she doesn't get the Fusid down her as soon as it starts up. I decided to give him 2 doses of Sulphur to take.

Today I have been out at the Jeremy Sherr Live Clinic and met people from Minutus!! The patient had left a message on my answerphone and I phoned him. He said that his back has gone into eczema all over, very dry, but that nothing was happening with his feet. They are very painful. The swelling is on the top of the foot and they feel as if they are cased in cement and he can't bend them. The swelling is hot, red, very hard to touch and when he presses it pops out. I repped feet oedematous, feet swelling hard, feet swelling painful, feet swelling red and eczema and the top rx was Ars. It didn't show in the feet swelling red. One way he gets relief is to soak the feet in hot salty water. Arsenicum was one of the first Rx I ever thought of for him because he is so terribly anxious, in fact more on the Calc. Ars. line even. I don't do LM's but he seemed very happy when I said that I would make up a water potency for him and he could tap 5 times and take 5 drops to start with 3x tomorrow and see how it goes. If you ask why 5 taps and 5 drops I will just have to say that is the way I was taught to give a water potency and that it can be adjusted with that. The only allopathic drug she is now on are Tildiem an ACE inhibitor because of the angioplasty and an aspirin a day. I thought of telling him to stop the Aspirin after Joy suggesting that I look at Salic. Ac. but decided against it at the moment. If the swelling doesn't go down after this I think it really is my duty to send him to his doctor for diuretics. What do you think? I think I have a potential fuse here and am a bit scared about it. At the moment he is more bothered about the swelling feet than the eczema - quite rightly!! The eczema has been brought out by the Sulphur I am sure but IMO things are safer out on the skin than inside. He has no fever at the moment.
www.rochellemarsden.co.uk

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

Dear Rochelle, 2 points quite quickly - You said he was hot but you are
considering Arsenicum one of our most chilly remedies (although it does have
burning sensations).

Secondly, the Tildiem (the ACE drug) causes oedema (especially of the
ankles) and rashes. This ADR should really have been reported.

best, Joy

www.homeopathicmateriamedica.com
on 11/12/03 9:46 PM, ROCHELLE at rochelle@ntlworld.com wrote:

When he came round yesterday all I could really see was this very dry and
flaky skin + circular red places where these blisters have burst. I couldn't
find any that had not burst but his skin is lumpy from them underneath . He
said he has felt in himself so much better since the Sulphur. He is hot and
says that he is always hungry. He is what I would call a little overweight
not an iodide skinny. He only started taking the aspirin since the
angioplasty last October and the rash was there before that. He is more
bothered about his hot swollen feet than anything else and reckoned they
went down with the Sulphur!! I was also thinking of Cactus because of the
swelling which I reckon is from the heart as my Mum has had an angioplasty
and gets swollen feet and legs if she doesn't get the Fusid down her as soon
as it starts up. I decided to give him 2 doses of Sulphur to take.

Today I have been out at the Jeremy Sherr Live Clinic and met people from
Minutus!! The patient had left a message on my answerphone and I phoned him.
He said that his back has gone into eczema all over, very dry, but that
nothing was happening with his feet. They are very painful. The swelling is
on the top of the foot and they feel as if they are cased in cement and he
can't bend them. The swelling is hot, red, very hard to touch and when he
presses it pops out. I repped feet oedematous, feet swelling hard, feet
swelling painful, feet swelling red and eczema and the top rx was Ars. It
didn't show in the feet swelling red. One way he gets relief is to soak the
feet in hot salty water. Arsenicum was one of the first Rx I ever thought of
for him because he is so terribly anxious, in fact more on the Calc. Ars.
line even. I don't do LM's but he seemed very happy when I said that I would
make up a water potency for him and he could tap 5 times and take 5 drops to
start with 3x tomorrow and see how it goes. If you ask why 5 taps and 5
drops I will just have to say that is the way I was taught to give a water
potency and that it can be adjusted with that. The only allopathic drug she
is now on are Tildiem an ACE inhibitor because of the angioplasty and an
aspirin a day. I thought of telling him to stop the Aspirin after Joy
suggesting that I look at Salic. Ac. but decided against it at the moment.
If the swelling doesn't go down after this I think it really is my duty to
send him to his doctor for diuretics. What do you think? I think I have a
potential fuse here and am a bit scared about it. At the moment he is more
bothered about the swelling feet than the eczema - quite rightly!! The
eczema has been brought out by the Sulphur I am sure but IMO things are
safer out on the skin than inside. He has no fever at the moment.
www.rochellemarsden.co.uk
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dear Joy,



Well all I can say is that he has seen his prescribing allopathic doctor on numerous occasions so what more can I say!! He was given antibiotics which he won't take. This was when the whole leg was up which came down with the Sulphur! I will mention it to him so thanks for that.

Re the Ars being a chilly Rx - I am aware of that but everything else seems to fit so we will see. I will send an update when he next contacts me.
All the best
Rochelle

on 11/12/03 9:46 PM, ROCHELLE at rochelle@ntlworld.com wrote:

When he came round yesterday all I could really see was this very dry and
flaky skin + circular red places where these blisters have burst. I couldn't
find any that had not burst but his skin is lumpy from them underneath . He
said he has felt in himself so much better since the Sulphur. He is hot and
says that he is always hungry. He is what I would call a little overweight
not an iodide skinny. He only started taking the aspirin since the
angioplasty last October and the rash was there before that. He is more
bothered about his hot swollen feet than anything else and reckoned they
went down with the Sulphur!! I was also thinking of Cactus because of the
swelling which I reckon is from the heart as my Mum has had an angioplasty
and gets swollen feet and legs if she doesn't get the Fusid down her as soon
as it starts up. I decided to give him 2 doses of Sulphur to take.

Today I have been out at the Jeremy Sherr Live Clinic and met people from
Minutus!! The patient had left a message on my answerphone and I phoned him.
He said that his back has gone into eczema all over, very dry, but that
nothing was happening with his feet. They are very painful. The swelling is
on the top of the foot and they feel as if they are cased in cement and he
can't bend them. The swelling is hot, red, very hard to touch and when he
presses it pops out. I repped feet oedematous, feet swelling hard, feet
swelling painful, feet swelling red and eczema and the top rx was Ars. It
didn't show in the feet swelling red. One way he gets relief is to soak the
feet in hot salty water. Arsenicum was one of the first Rx I ever thought of
for him because he is so terribly anxious, in fact more on the Calc. Ars.
line even. I don't do LM's but he seemed very happy when I said that I would
make up a water potency for him and he could tap 5 times and take 5 drops to
start with 3x tomorrow and see how it goes. If you ask why 5 taps and 5
drops I will just have to say that is the way I was taught to give a water
potency and that it can be adjusted with that. The only allopathic drug she
is now on are Tildiem an ACE inhibitor because of the angioplasty and an
aspirin a day. I thought of telling him to stop the Aspirin after Joy
suggesting that I look at Salic. Ac. but decided against it at the moment.
If the swelling doesn't go down after this I think it really is my duty to
send him to his doctor for diuretics. What do you think? I think I have a
potential fuse here and am a bit scared about it. At the moment he is more
bothered about the swelling feet than the eczema - quite rightly!! The
eczema has been brought out by the Sulphur I am sure but IMO things are
safer out on the skin than inside. He has no fever at the moment.
www.rochellemarsden.co.uk
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Rochelle--

What about Ars-iod.? It's hot and has nodules under the skin like those you describe.

Peace,
Cinnabar

Yes Ars Iod is known as a hot Arsenicum but I think the heat with him is in the swelling and from the eczema. I have only ever given Ars Iod to skinny people and he is not skinny but well built. We will see how plain Ars. goes first.
Thanks for the reminder

Rochelle
www.rochellemarsden.co.uk

Have you thought of Ars-i, which fits the Ars picture but with a hot
patient?

Rosemary