Minutus

Dear all,
My son, 17, had a flu about two weeks ago. Just before flu symptoms
began (he says), he began to experience weakness in his legs during exertion.
He's the captain of his school track team and has been able to run for miles
without noticeable change in strength other than normal tiredness. But this new
experience has stopped him after a mile when, all of a sudden, his legs give
out. Now he even has a little trouble climbing stairs and walking with his
heavy back pack -- he keeps going but says his legs feel weak.
I took him to his homeopath/pediatrician and she checked his reflexes and
nerves. She found an insensitivity to stimulation along the sides of his
right foot. It was his right leg that collapsed under him when he fell during
running last week.
His hom doc also found a heart murmur, and his heart beat was 86/m. The
murmur wasn't evident in his yearly physical last spring. His blood pressure
is 60/120.
Also, I've noticed that his hands/fingers are very cold (Reynauds-like).
I've spoken to his athletic coach at school, and she says he's often cold
when others are comfortable, that he has to wear extra clothes compared to others.
I'm going to take him to a cardiologist and a neurologist on the
recommendation of his homeopath/pediatrician. But I wonder if you have any thoughts.
His mood is good -- he doesn't seem frightened by his symptoms (the way I
am). Who knows, maybe he's grateful he doesn't have to push so hard -- he has a
doctor's excuse to get out of athletics this week.
He's 17, 6 feet tall, thin, the president of his school, gets all A's
these days. Thank you so much for any insights.

Best,
Margaret in Boston

Well, in your place, I would certainly want him to be seen by a cardiologist, just to rule out the sort of heart abnormality that occuasionally has caused young athletes to die suddenly. Once he's cleared medically (the abnormality in question is congenital, a surgical case, not something that homeopathy would be likely to correct), then -- especially given the apparent onset with a flu-like virus -- homeopathic treatment would most likely be appropriate and effective. FWIW Rosemary

This is very common after Flu's it is a post viral infection treat him for
the virus, but based on what you say have a look at Alumina or Kalmia I have
had good success with both for similar cases.

Assuming you have checked out the more sinister concerns regarding heart, an
excellent post-flu remedy is Natrum Salicylicum. I've had excellent results
with it.
Good luck
Beth Landau-Halpern