Help with case of suspected ringworm - LONG
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 11:54 am
Hi all,
I have just spent a few hours typing up the case, when I realised I cannot post it in
its entirety because it was an inherited case from another homeopath - and I have
no interest in causing any potential conflict - so I will confine myself to as little info
as possible. Such was her sensitivity when I took her on, remedies could only be
taken in a litre of water ... which took some time to get to a tumblerful and then dry
pills). She is a family friend, so I knew it was going to be tough in the objectivity
department also - and hence this post.
The Presenting Complaint has changed (but has not completely resolved), but all
else at that time has been addressed. Naturally new symptoms have arisen in the
period of treatment, and I'm going to take it from this point. If anyone needs
further information, I'm sure it will be in her massive file - loquacity on paper and
verbally being the first strongest characteristic - so please don't hesitate to ask if
you need clarification !
Profile - she is a 48 y.o. married women with two teenage children (hx of
miscarriages). She is only 4ft 10in and stockily built (she has MANY moles and
looks like she might have water retention, as she has smallish hands and feet). She
finds it difficult to lose weight and is v. self-conscious not only about this, but also
her teeth (overcrowded, crooked teeth and misaligned jaw/bite) and her ulcerated
hand (presenting complaint) as she can't always conceal it under bandages or a
cotton glove. Her hair is dark/greying and crispy, but always clean, as she also used
to wash her hands obsessively, but not after Syphilinum some time ago. She is
however still fearful and suspicious of doctors and dentists, including, initially,
myself.
She is intelligent, has v. low self-esteem but is v. ambitious for both herself and her
family. She is an extremely talented pianist, and is now teaching privately. She also
performs this publicly - but she needed help with the anticipatory anxiety.
Family Hx - epilepsy; deformities; cancer, heart attacks.
Personal Hx - not breastfed, looked "lardy" at birth, measles, mumps, tonsilitis &
bronchitis (lots of penicillin orally, and also injections), colic attacks, constipation
when travelling, flu's, c.pox - glandular fever (spleen swollen & quinsy - almost to
the point of intubation). As a child, many amalgam fillings and a lower brace to
straighten eye teeth (metal clips around teeth causing ulceration).
- at the age of 8, she developed unexplained pains in her hands and her father
took her to "the bonesetter" who "worked her hands twice".
- at 15 had clarinet lessons, but this caused severe pain in the thumbs whilst
holding and the chiropractor warned that arthritis would ensue in middle-age if
continued.
- two years later started the Pill - on and off for apx 11/12 years. (Eugynon 30)
- a suspected epileptic fit aged 23.
- 24: wisdom teeth removed by GA. Mother diagnosed with uterine cancer.
Developed sinusitis and was unable to visit her in hospital.
- 25: MGM died suddenly of heart attack
- 26: treated for depression. Not helped by working alone on I.T., shiftwork.
- 28: holiday in Greece resulted in returning with deep crack on ring finger of left
hand - across joint. She believes she had contact with "blackthorns and they take
ages to heal" - relief obtained by pulling hard skin away. Took 6 years to heal.
[Wounds, slow to heal is key to this case anyway].
- 30: took big emotional step deciding to have children. Had Rubella
immunisation, followed by "missed abortion" and subsequent D & C.
- 31: problems with conception; became reclusive. Took on `temp' work.
- 32: discover pregnant - threatened to miscarry - left work. Hands and feet
swelled. Husband made redundant, but found a new job within the month. Series
of incidents including m-in-law becoming ill and dying (in px's arms); great aunt
killed in car crash. Afterwards, feels her husband changed and became "hard" (on
the outside). All this when her baby was due within 7 weeks.
- baby girl born with Vitamin K deficiency, admitted to hospital, and was given
drops orally for a substantial period; a terrifying period for px. Her hands started to
flare up at this point. Ulcerating cracks with weeping clear fluid and bleeding.
Intolerable itching and burning would leave no recourse but to scratch till
bleeding, but then it would all seal over with hard, hidebound skin which would
leave the hand taut and painful when clenching or stretching. Hands also swollen,
and circulation poor (mottling occurs, slighty blue purple tint, for elevation above her head. In the evening or when
out and sitting down, she scratches it furiously till it bleeds. They extend from her
finger joints to the knuckles, on the middle and little fingers, up the back of the
hand to a single patch on the wrist. The skin feels "burnt" where it is raw in
places, warm water bathing, but dries out and tightens, so
prefers to keep it moist under lint or bandaging, but so better for hard pressure; if she doesn't, the skin "seals". She has to
"shave the hairs that grow through the thickened skin" - they are bristling and
quite dark. They are between the first finger joint and the knuckle. The hand
looks swollen in places, < hanging down.
A glove does not cover the "volcanic" eruptions and she feels they are extremely
unsightly, < by the reactions of others. Embarrassment has loomed large and it
curtails her freedom somewhat and she feels she has to hide her hand behind her
back. Recently the flesh around the eruptions has felt like "insects crawling under
the skin". Deep cracks appear on the finger joints. New cracks appear all the
time. The skin is both `thin' but thickens and hardens too readily - especially if
Calendula cream is applied. There is tautness and tension in the skin which
sometimes makes it difficult to stretch the fingers out. [She wonders whether the
two tubes of Hydrocortisone cream applied in the past might have some bearing
on this.... She also used to have the condition on the outer edge of the soles of her
feet when I first met her, and on both hands - symmetrically, plus on the inner
thumb bases as well.]
She will not get it diagnosed, but previous suggestions by various GP's have
included eczema, ulcers and ringworm. The latter is more likely, except it is only
she who suffers from it within her household - but her sister has also suffered from
it in the past. She refuses diagnosis, and I never stop requesting it, because the
risk of long-term ulceration can lead to secondary infection, etc.
More significantly, she is unsure when it started. Theories abound, but three she
has mentioned are from picking roses (thorns and chemicals); 2 wasp stings to the
hand, and working with glitter for theatre costumes - she still "picks out glitter or
thorns from under skin" to this day. She collects it for me. She showed me one
recently - but it seems only she sees it glittering, as I couldn't, I just see a speck.
[This is also key to the case - that the skin seems to keep pushing out stuff it has
harboured for a long time - since daughter born].
The only other theory is she thinks it came on after her daughter was given the oral
Vitamin K (based on the media knowledge that cross-contamination can occur
after administration of Polio vaccine, through changing nappies). She is quite
impressionable, and v. fearful, but less so than when we first started out.
Other characteristics are an `evasive' quality to her - I rarely get true and full answers
to questions, and she loses the thread or changes the subject. Garrulous (I have
known people who know her find this aspect difficult), but has a big heart -
sensitive and weeping easily. The opposite is her temper is also huge, and she has
been known to throw things. I've known her `take against' certain people for
slights and be quite adamant she would never see them again, but not stuck to it.
Family-orientated, but strained relations with some: they fall in and out of favour.
What takes her time, energy and attention are the teenagers and mammoth piles
of washing and ironing, plus organisation of the various curricula's for their many
and varied interests. Her partner does the cooking and washing up (because of
her hand, which makes her feel inadequate) and she tries to organise the chaos -
and find things again after he has `filed them away'. To say she is the lynchpin of
the family is an understatement and she is firm, kind and wonderfully supportive
when not having an outburst at the unfairness of it all. Slight manic quality about
her - used to `see things' and have precognition - very impressionable, one has to
be careful not to alarm her.
Other ailments are anovulatory cycles recently (no menses for two months now).
Has PMT, breast swelling before flow.
- thirsty, at night, on waking (after midnight) and difficult in returning to sleep.
Sleep pattern is not good anyway, sometimes misses whole nights and then gets v.
`manic'. Then her skin itches, so she can't get back to sleep without chickweed
ointment (which has been applied on and off for 3 yrs. now).
- craves coffee, whisky and brandy - used to be fish too.
- drafts < (to back of head), but loves sea bathing regularly.
- won't discuss stools and urinating. Nor dreams lately.
- sleeps with hands crammed into axilla, or over head (high).
- used to be < late afternoon, but nothing recently.
- fears losing family (deaths/accidents), doctors, cancer, snakes, lightening, big
dogs. Used to be of "going on holiday and not coming back - things not being
sorted before you go".
She has had MANY remedies from 3 different homeopaths (one a GP) - and she
also self-administered - a short list includes Carc., Calc, Sil., Phos; Nat.m; Caust.;
Graph; Canth; Bac., Hyos., Psor., Med., Sulph; Syph., Stram., Gels; Thuja; Lyc;
Led., Ign; Mag.P; Phyt; Ip; Puls; Ars.alb; Rhus t, along with Thuja, Graphites and
Calendula creams.
Apis was the first rx I gave her - with great success, but it has never completely
worked on her remaining hand, even though she occasionally takes a 30c herself
from her kit when the `stinging' is bad.
Sorry this is so long - but it is still incomplete I know. Defining what needs to be
`cured' in this case is hampered by my lack of objectivity and her talking
`wandering' somewhat!
Happy to answer any further questions.
TIA, Barbara
I have just spent a few hours typing up the case, when I realised I cannot post it in
its entirety because it was an inherited case from another homeopath - and I have
no interest in causing any potential conflict - so I will confine myself to as little info
as possible. Such was her sensitivity when I took her on, remedies could only be
taken in a litre of water ... which took some time to get to a tumblerful and then dry
pills). She is a family friend, so I knew it was going to be tough in the objectivity
department also - and hence this post.
The Presenting Complaint has changed (but has not completely resolved), but all
else at that time has been addressed. Naturally new symptoms have arisen in the
period of treatment, and I'm going to take it from this point. If anyone needs
further information, I'm sure it will be in her massive file - loquacity on paper and
verbally being the first strongest characteristic - so please don't hesitate to ask if
you need clarification !
Profile - she is a 48 y.o. married women with two teenage children (hx of
miscarriages). She is only 4ft 10in and stockily built (she has MANY moles and
looks like she might have water retention, as she has smallish hands and feet). She
finds it difficult to lose weight and is v. self-conscious not only about this, but also
her teeth (overcrowded, crooked teeth and misaligned jaw/bite) and her ulcerated
hand (presenting complaint) as she can't always conceal it under bandages or a
cotton glove. Her hair is dark/greying and crispy, but always clean, as she also used
to wash her hands obsessively, but not after Syphilinum some time ago. She is
however still fearful and suspicious of doctors and dentists, including, initially,
myself.
She is intelligent, has v. low self-esteem but is v. ambitious for both herself and her
family. She is an extremely talented pianist, and is now teaching privately. She also
performs this publicly - but she needed help with the anticipatory anxiety.
Family Hx - epilepsy; deformities; cancer, heart attacks.
Personal Hx - not breastfed, looked "lardy" at birth, measles, mumps, tonsilitis &
bronchitis (lots of penicillin orally, and also injections), colic attacks, constipation
when travelling, flu's, c.pox - glandular fever (spleen swollen & quinsy - almost to
the point of intubation). As a child, many amalgam fillings and a lower brace to
straighten eye teeth (metal clips around teeth causing ulceration).
- at the age of 8, she developed unexplained pains in her hands and her father
took her to "the bonesetter" who "worked her hands twice".
- at 15 had clarinet lessons, but this caused severe pain in the thumbs whilst
holding and the chiropractor warned that arthritis would ensue in middle-age if
continued.
- two years later started the Pill - on and off for apx 11/12 years. (Eugynon 30)
- a suspected epileptic fit aged 23.
- 24: wisdom teeth removed by GA. Mother diagnosed with uterine cancer.
Developed sinusitis and was unable to visit her in hospital.
- 25: MGM died suddenly of heart attack
- 26: treated for depression. Not helped by working alone on I.T., shiftwork.
- 28: holiday in Greece resulted in returning with deep crack on ring finger of left
hand - across joint. She believes she had contact with "blackthorns and they take
ages to heal" - relief obtained by pulling hard skin away. Took 6 years to heal.
[Wounds, slow to heal is key to this case anyway].
- 30: took big emotional step deciding to have children. Had Rubella
immunisation, followed by "missed abortion" and subsequent D & C.
- 31: problems with conception; became reclusive. Took on `temp' work.
- 32: discover pregnant - threatened to miscarry - left work. Hands and feet
swelled. Husband made redundant, but found a new job within the month. Series
of incidents including m-in-law becoming ill and dying (in px's arms); great aunt
killed in car crash. Afterwards, feels her husband changed and became "hard" (on
the outside). All this when her baby was due within 7 weeks.
- baby girl born with Vitamin K deficiency, admitted to hospital, and was given
drops orally for a substantial period; a terrifying period for px. Her hands started to
flare up at this point. Ulcerating cracks with weeping clear fluid and bleeding.
Intolerable itching and burning would leave no recourse but to scratch till
bleeding, but then it would all seal over with hard, hidebound skin which would
leave the hand taut and painful when clenching or stretching. Hands also swollen,
and circulation poor (mottling occurs, slighty blue purple tint, for elevation above her head. In the evening or when
out and sitting down, she scratches it furiously till it bleeds. They extend from her
finger joints to the knuckles, on the middle and little fingers, up the back of the
hand to a single patch on the wrist. The skin feels "burnt" where it is raw in
places, warm water bathing, but dries out and tightens, so
prefers to keep it moist under lint or bandaging, but so better for hard pressure; if she doesn't, the skin "seals". She has to
"shave the hairs that grow through the thickened skin" - they are bristling and
quite dark. They are between the first finger joint and the knuckle. The hand
looks swollen in places, < hanging down.
A glove does not cover the "volcanic" eruptions and she feels they are extremely
unsightly, < by the reactions of others. Embarrassment has loomed large and it
curtails her freedom somewhat and she feels she has to hide her hand behind her
back. Recently the flesh around the eruptions has felt like "insects crawling under
the skin". Deep cracks appear on the finger joints. New cracks appear all the
time. The skin is both `thin' but thickens and hardens too readily - especially if
Calendula cream is applied. There is tautness and tension in the skin which
sometimes makes it difficult to stretch the fingers out. [She wonders whether the
two tubes of Hydrocortisone cream applied in the past might have some bearing
on this.... She also used to have the condition on the outer edge of the soles of her
feet when I first met her, and on both hands - symmetrically, plus on the inner
thumb bases as well.]
She will not get it diagnosed, but previous suggestions by various GP's have
included eczema, ulcers and ringworm. The latter is more likely, except it is only
she who suffers from it within her household - but her sister has also suffered from
it in the past. She refuses diagnosis, and I never stop requesting it, because the
risk of long-term ulceration can lead to secondary infection, etc.
More significantly, she is unsure when it started. Theories abound, but three she
has mentioned are from picking roses (thorns and chemicals); 2 wasp stings to the
hand, and working with glitter for theatre costumes - she still "picks out glitter or
thorns from under skin" to this day. She collects it for me. She showed me one
recently - but it seems only she sees it glittering, as I couldn't, I just see a speck.
[This is also key to the case - that the skin seems to keep pushing out stuff it has
harboured for a long time - since daughter born].
The only other theory is she thinks it came on after her daughter was given the oral
Vitamin K (based on the media knowledge that cross-contamination can occur
after administration of Polio vaccine, through changing nappies). She is quite
impressionable, and v. fearful, but less so than when we first started out.
Other characteristics are an `evasive' quality to her - I rarely get true and full answers
to questions, and she loses the thread or changes the subject. Garrulous (I have
known people who know her find this aspect difficult), but has a big heart -
sensitive and weeping easily. The opposite is her temper is also huge, and she has
been known to throw things. I've known her `take against' certain people for
slights and be quite adamant she would never see them again, but not stuck to it.
Family-orientated, but strained relations with some: they fall in and out of favour.
What takes her time, energy and attention are the teenagers and mammoth piles
of washing and ironing, plus organisation of the various curricula's for their many
and varied interests. Her partner does the cooking and washing up (because of
her hand, which makes her feel inadequate) and she tries to organise the chaos -
and find things again after he has `filed them away'. To say she is the lynchpin of
the family is an understatement and she is firm, kind and wonderfully supportive
when not having an outburst at the unfairness of it all. Slight manic quality about
her - used to `see things' and have precognition - very impressionable, one has to
be careful not to alarm her.
Other ailments are anovulatory cycles recently (no menses for two months now).
Has PMT, breast swelling before flow.
- thirsty, at night, on waking (after midnight) and difficult in returning to sleep.
Sleep pattern is not good anyway, sometimes misses whole nights and then gets v.
`manic'. Then her skin itches, so she can't get back to sleep without chickweed
ointment (which has been applied on and off for 3 yrs. now).
- craves coffee, whisky and brandy - used to be fish too.
- drafts < (to back of head), but loves sea bathing regularly.
- won't discuss stools and urinating. Nor dreams lately.
- sleeps with hands crammed into axilla, or over head (high).
- used to be < late afternoon, but nothing recently.
- fears losing family (deaths/accidents), doctors, cancer, snakes, lightening, big
dogs. Used to be of "going on holiday and not coming back - things not being
sorted before you go".
She has had MANY remedies from 3 different homeopaths (one a GP) - and she
also self-administered - a short list includes Carc., Calc, Sil., Phos; Nat.m; Caust.;
Graph; Canth; Bac., Hyos., Psor., Med., Sulph; Syph., Stram., Gels; Thuja; Lyc;
Led., Ign; Mag.P; Phyt; Ip; Puls; Ars.alb; Rhus t, along with Thuja, Graphites and
Calendula creams.
Apis was the first rx I gave her - with great success, but it has never completely
worked on her remaining hand, even though she occasionally takes a 30c herself
from her kit when the `stinging' is bad.
Sorry this is so long - but it is still incomplete I know. Defining what needs to be
`cured' in this case is hampered by my lack of objectivity and her talking
`wandering' somewhat!
Happy to answer any further questions.
TIA, Barbara
