This is the case I asked briefly about recently, I will try to avoid analysing into rubrics or mentioning my own repertorisation as I would value some fresh ideas.

S is a 40 year old male, 6’2" tall, overweight but not obese. Celtic complexion, i.e. freckled, hint of redness in brown hair. Some very small polyp like growths on sides of base of neck.
A very closed person, after 2 x 2 hour sessions I knew practically nothing about him, always changing the subject away from himself. I did get a few physicals, he has a lipoma on his back (central, upper sacral area, walnut sized); has a weak back (same region) gets occasional sciatica (right side) with numbness of the foot; weak left shoulder which is prone to ‘dislocation like pains’ and a left elbow which cracks when he extends the arm. Had the usual UK vaccinations (see below.)Had measles and chicken pox as a child, and shingles in his 30s which was suppressed with zovirax.

In desparation I asked him to go away and write about what he thought and felt about himself, and surprisingly was presented with 6 sheets of very detailed and intimate thoughts!

He knows he is closed, feels physically unable to talk about himself, he fears he will break down if he starts to talk about himself at all. He has been bulimic since his teens, is ashamed of this as none of friends nor family are aware of it. He often has suicidal thoughts. He has a desire to be invisible, is ashamed of his body, says he would like to die in a way that prevents anyone having to look at his body. He links this back to being told that "kids should be seen and not heard" when a child, also "mustn’t show off". Has dreams where he is lecturing to people, walking into rooms to applause, daydreams sometimes when awake.
He is a socialist. Abhors money and wealth and the wealthy, yet he has had well paid jobs in the past and now feels frequent worries over not having enough money, he feels guilty for caring about money.
He has a great fear of medical things. In particular he has fainted several times in hospitals and when being told medical stories, e.g. details of surgery. First occasion was as a teenager when given the ring test prior to TB vaccination, is now terrified of injections (except dental). His childhood was not happy, father died (lung cancer age mid 50s) when he was 6; mother constantly threatened to leave and told him she tried to abort him when pregnant; badly scalded aged 4 spent 3 months in hospital; in hospital aged 11 but won’t say why as it is embarrassing. He feels he is still emotionally a child/ teenager.
Family history, mother died lymphoma in 70s, maternal GF died bowel cancer 60s, maternal GM died stroke 80s, paternal side history of lung cancer among uncles.
He has never had the lipoma investigated although he is sometimes terrified it may be malignant, other periods of time he ignores it completely.

I would really appreciate any thoughts you may have, there seem to be so many polarities in the case and I can see so many remedies reflected that I don’t quite know where to try and unravel it from.
Thanks
Dave


[This message has been edited by davegreen (edited 14 March 2001).]

[This message has been edited by davegreen (edited 14 March 2001).]

[This message has been edited by davegreen (edited 14 March 2001).]

Dear Dave,

As you mentioned there is so much going on in this case.

Too many layers
Need to try layer approach.
I suggest you draw up a time line starting from the last to the beginning. The presenting symptoms being the last. And then try and let me know what you come up with.

Few observations:

Lot of cancer history in the family.
Lot of growth factor(sycotic miasm)i.e. why probably he was not opening up.
Childhood point out to lot of suppressed emotions (ask about suppressed anger)

Hi Dave,
I do sense the possibility of totally buried childhood memories, perhaps even child abuse and/or sexual abuse in this case, as his body bothers him so much and he has shame. If you find a remedy that opens him, he should have a set up of counsellors that he can fall back on if things get rough, when emotions/memories surface - unless you are able to help him yourself that is.
Claudia

dear dave
this is case of mixed miasms including tubercular. but the mental -suicidaltendency
dominates with glandular history we can think of Aurum met. please go through more close observations

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Dr.P.K.Sinha

Dave, what makes the patient feel better - a bit happier, more relaxed?

Ther is a new remedy Buddleia that might fit this case. Unoftunately I don't have it in a format where I could easily post it on this BB. It has abuse , fear of hospitals in it and is called "arnica for the soul"

I have to think of carcinosin in a case like this. First the family history practically screams Carsinosin, then there's the ailments from abuse, the growths on the skin, and the peculiar symptom of bulimia, which is listed in Murphy's repertory and carc. is there as a "2". Under Mind, shame-
Carc. is there as a "2". In ailments from being abused it's a "3"; aliments from violence-it's a "3"; ailments from humiliation-"3"; sexual abuse-"3".

I guess what I'm saying is, it's kind of hard to ignore carc.

Whatever remedy you choose, I would recommend a low potency, like a 12C once a day. You wouldn't want a case like this, of childhood abuse, to aggravate; it's only common sense.

Snoopy

[This message has been edited by Snoopy (edited 16 March 2001).]

dave, I get an impression of Lycopodium from your description. Sounds like this guy has been dominated and battered emotionally since childhood, leaving a sense of inadequacy in whatever he does. His body image, so he thinks, is lacking. His earning capacity (even though good) is unsuitable. Lycopodiums have a tendency to sabotage their relationships. It's like anything that invites reprimand from peers, family or whomever, increases self-doubt and embarrassment. In his dreams he has an outlet at least, he receives applause. But in waking life most things seem reduced to a fear of ridicule and a fear of responsibility. Hence, he just really closes off in self-protection. Would love to hear some modalities from your case-taking.

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Chris Gillen
Member AHA (Australia)

Just to add yet another idea

Thuja

Closed yet well-mannered and polite.
Presents a manufactured image to the world.
Low self-esteem.
Feel unloveable.
Message they received as a child is one of neglect or abuse.
Feel they can never be good enough.
Feels worthless, unattractive, ugly.
Hides unpleasant things about themselves
Fears revealing himself (desire to remain invisible).
Secretive, lies about his life.
Must keep things about himself secret, or people will not like him.
Do not like to have their privacy imposed upon.
Case-history comes out confused, takes hours and you still are not clear on what is going on.
Holds information back
Like sqeezing blood out of a stone (my observation).

Also, as a rubric for the dream, which sounds like it is very close to his central disturbance

Longing for the good opinion of others - Palladium is the only remedy.


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David Kempson
Dip.Homoeopathic Medicine
Member A.H.A(Australia)

[This message has been edited by DavidJK (edited 17 March 2001).]

David,

Yes, Thuja. I was back and forth between thuja and carc., but the family history of cancer was so breath-taking, to say the least, I found it hard to ignore.

Snoopy