bad head cold five days ago, leg cramps four days ago, vomiting and diarrhea three days ago - stomach cramps/spasms currently bad enough to be doubled over - stitch on left side above hip bone - pressure not helpful - bending over helpful. Continued diarrhea. Pain extends often through to middle/lower back as spasms - intense enough to not lay on back. Headache like hot poker through left eye socket. Eating and/or drinking aggravates stomach. Thirst for cool drinks, if at all. Spasmodic cramping worse early evening into night. Gaseous after ingestion of slightest amount substance - food or drink. No fever. Apathetic, dull thinking ("hard to think"), disinterested, occasional fearful spells, some clinginess - likes company. Pale and dusky complexion, but not blue. I'm having some concerns about keeping her hydrated because of continued diarrhea. I started with Arsenicum 30c - 7-8 doses over 36 hours - thinking at first it might have been food poisoning - but as I gained more info, I believe it is either a continuation of the cold/flu or perhaps a parasitic thing. Any suggestions appreciated. thanks.

Have you thought of coloc or bry?

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Hi,

Maybe you could start with giving us a history of the flu. IT would help confirm the remedy-
- How did the fever start: possible causative factor, weather conditions.
- What was the state of mind then
- Chilly or hot
- Tongue coating
- Thirst

Also if you could elaborate what you mean by disinterested, cannot think, and fearful spells.

For the moment however, Gels, Colocynth and Cuprum seem indicated, and I'd go for Gels.
But it would help to get furthur confirmatory symptoms.

Regards,
Doctorleela

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Arsenicum was a good choice. Did you get any reaction from it at all? I notice you repeated it many times--is that because it was working and then stopped? If so, it may just be a matter of putting your ars. pellets into water and repeating it. Water raises the potency. Stir vigorously before each dose if you need to repeat it.

Snoopy

On second thoughts, if Ars Alb was indicated at all, it would have made a difference in the first couple of doses, significant enough to be appreciated. IF it did, this is a severe homeopathic aggravation. Stopping the Ars Alb will be enough.

IF it did not, I would be concerned about an Arsenic Medicnal aggravation with so much repetition. And it may be a bit tough deciding the next remedy. But Gels seems it.

Regards,
doctorleela

[ 11 March 2002, 06:29: Message edited by: doctorleela ]

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Very interesting, Dr. Leela, I didn't think of that! In other words, you're saying so many repetitions of ars. may have caused a proving, which may be what we're seeing now. The one way to find out would be to ask: Did Ars. affect the patient at all and in what way?

But at any rate, Gelsemium is a great flu remedy and certainly worth trying.

Snoopy

Righto Snoopy!

Doctorleela

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I would use one dose once only of Pulsatilla 200c dissolved in water. If you don't have that remedy, you can try one dose once only of Puls 30c.

Reasons:

bending affected part amel

boring in the eye

digestive upset

clinginess

dehydration

back pain in the kidney area

If the single dose of Puls does not work within a maximum of 3 hours, I advise having the patient be seen without further delay by a professional healthcarer, whether homoepathic or allopathic, because of the possible involvement of the kidneys here.

I understand the concern for dehydration here. But I don't think clinically there is a chance of kidney involvement.

This is a food poisoning, probably E. Coli. But it can get pretty severe.

It would help anyway to do a stool test and a urine test - both to check for infection and the type of infection you are dealing with.
Regards,
doctorleela

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Thank you all. I also was concerned about Arsenicum proving - but have used it to such a degree in the past with food poisoning to good success. Have stopped arsenicum - some improvement but nowhere near recovery - so I think it was close, but not it. Went to colocynth next - with the spasms being so strongly indicated - only had 12c - but tried 3 or 4 doses without much success. Have considered just today Gelsemium because primary complaint is very tired ( "I just want to sleep"), sore stomach muscles when standing, apathetic - in hard to focus or think when speaking - too much effort. She says food "rolls around" in her stomach. Also considered pulsatilla because of the clinginess (especially in an adult person) and some weepiness and depression. Flu onset was likely due to weather - we were hiking and got wet and cold (rain and sleet conditions before we could get off the mountains - while beautiful, she got wetter than I). I haven't gotten sick. Hers was slow onset though, two days later had nasal and head drainage, next day raspy, sort of sensitive throat, then next day was feeling pretty sick, with perhap mild fever. That's gelsemium, no? I thank you - I am staying with friends temporarily and most of my books are packed in storage and unaccessible. I do have my remedies (a substantial number by now), but I have to work by memory. She doesn't have much extra income and will not likely go to see a doctor/naturopath easily - although I see a very gifted one who is about a hour from me. She will do as I suggest,though, so I though I'd try to give it a go as I have the remedies. Unfortunately also, she's a coffee drinker. Once or twice a day - every day. Coffee antidotes most everything for me personally - so treating her may be of no avail. I may try gelsemium if I decide to treat anymore, but will consider the pulsatilla - though I only have 7c (low) or 1m (high).

PS. I usually dissolve my remedies in water if I have time to. Past the cost savings, I like the response better.

Thanks again - I appreciate your time and effort. I love the bulletin board...it is where I found enough info for Nat Mur to work magic for me a couple years ago.