Hi everyone,

I am having an acute problem with hives and can't really get any help for at least another three days due to the holiday. It is something that theoretically has the potential to spin out of control, so it would be great if I could get it under control homeopathically. I will still want to find out what caused it if possible, but the main thing right now is to slap a lid on it.

I figured this was as good a time as any to do Snoopy's questionnaire, so here it is. I will have to do it in several parts, as this BB rejects the full questionnaire as too long. I hope someone can help. I would be interested in recommendations both for the acute problem and a constitutional (which of course may be one and the same).



First Name: Avalon
Age: 51
Height: 5’2”
Weight: 139

CHIEF COMPLAINT:

1. What is your chief complaint (CC)? Tell as much about it as you can, including what is the worst part of it and why it's the worst: the sensations, the kind of pain, the location, how your energy has been affected (for example, has the complaint made you restless, weak, nervous, anxious, irritable, hypersensitive, effected your thirst and appetite, your body temperature, and so on).

Acute problem (2 weeks)—hives.

First ones appeared on left leg, thought they were insect bites. Subsequently they appeared on opposite sides of my back near armpits (under bra), on left breast near armpit (also under bra), upper abdomen (near bra), butt cheek (left), front and back of thigh (left), hip (left). Solid, smooth, very itchy red bumps. They die out after a few days as new ones come up.

In addition, I have had spells of feeling “prickly” at random sites, usually extremities and head. As if someone stuck me with a porcupine quill.

The itching is tolerable but I'm very worried because it's yet another wacky thing my body is doing--I have had a long streak of assorted weird symptoms during my perimenopausal period--and I'm very scared of allergies that can progress to anaphylaxis, of which hives can be a sign.

2. When did this problem begin? What happened in
your life around that time? What do you think
caused it?

Began 1-1/2 to 2 weeks ago. Started within a week of having a benign mole removed from my face (right cheek) on 8/18, which was stressful as I had to wear a bandage next to my mouth for about a week and was self-conscious about the “wound” after removing bandage. (By now it’s just a small red spot.) Also during this period, have been anticipating a week’s vacation (this coming week) in which I planned to do major overhaul of my apartment involving many difficult decisions about throwing things out.

My list of suspects, in no particular order really, is:

--Recent change of laundry detergent (merely from powder to liquid form of the same brand, but there are differences)
--Worsening nut allergy (I have been eating a lot of pumpkin seeds lately and the last two days I have eaten cashews, which I hadn't for a while--and both times I did so, new hives seemed to appear within an hour); however, about 18 months ago I had blood tests for nut allergy that were negative
--Developing allergy or sensitization to various essential oils I use in personal hygiene

3. What aggravates the CC and what brings it on?(for example, certain types of food or weather, movement, light, noise, company, talking,
heat/cold, or anything else that you can think
of; please be specific) and what makes the CC better (for example hot or cold, massage, eating, lying still, music, company...)? What does it make you do to try to feel better?

I would say itching is worst with mental effort and with the sitting position.

4. At what time of the day or night is the CC the
worst? Specify an hour if you can.

Probably between 11 am-2 pm.

5. What symptoms can you identify that accompany
the CC (whether directly related or not; for example, headache with nausea; or menstrual cramps with diarrhea; a cold with irritability and anger)?

Prickly feeling sometimes, as noted. Was preceded by several days of severe drowsiness, which I was tempted to blame on local anesthetic used for mole removal.

GENERAL QUESTIONS
6. Environment: With regard to the seasons, weather, outdoor temperature, indoor temperature, drafts, air quality, airconditioning, ocean air, mountain air, humidity, the sun/rain/thunderstorms/clouds/fog, etc.: what environmental factors give you comfort and relief, and which ones cause discomfort and distress? Try to give examples.

Can’t stand heat, especially with humidity. If the mercury never went over 80 again I’d be thrilled. I’m a lunatic for fresh air, apartment & car windows always open, A/C running at the same time if necessary. Absolutely loathe poorly ventilated environments and especially sealed buildings (i.e. with windows that can’t be opened).

Very barometric—I feel groggy as heck when a storm is coming.

I enjoy the cheering effect of sunshine but too much is tiring, and I always got skin rashes after 3 days when I vacationed at the seashore. Am most comfortable on a cool, cloudy day as long as barometric pressure is steady.


7. What position is most uncomfortable for you?

Standing still.

8. a)Do you tend to be chilly or warm? Are there parts of your body that are colder or warmer than the rest of you? Is there a special time of day or night when they are colder or warmer? b) Do you perspire a great deal? If so, when? And where on the body? (feet, head, hair, chest, armpits, etc) Does it leave a stain of a particular color? Is there a particular odor?

Chilly when waking from sleep; otherwise, I run hot all over (exception: cold hands occasionally when anxious). In any group indoors, I’m usually the one wearing a short sleeved or sleeveless top. Note however: as I write this, I notice my feet are cooler than the rest of me, though my hands are not. I don’t know if that’s unusual, never focused on it.

9. Describe what your tongue looks like.

Like a hunk of raw beef . First thing in the morning, there is the faint appearance of a white coating toward the back.

MENTAL/EMOTIONAL
10. What do you worry about? How do you deal with
worries?
Cancer, chronic illness in old age, not having any money or enough money to pay bills. I used to drink, quit that 3-1/2 years ago. Now I just worry.

11. How do you keep your house/your desk/your room/your study/your bathroom?
My cubicle at work and my car are very neat and reasonably clean. My apartment (which, basically, is seen by no one but me) tends to be cluttered and not as clean as I’d like. I hate throwing things away if they have any financial, practical or emotional value at all. I’m always battling a creeping mess due to a combination of packrat-itis, small quarters and a habit of rushing around and not putting stuff back in its proper place. I am very lazy about filing, so I have piles of papers in bags and boxes. My bedroom looks like a laundry room.

12. How easily do you cry? In what situations?

I guess I would say I am moved to tears fairly easily, but I almost never have a good sobbing session. A range of things can provoke tears—frustration, anger, regret, injustice, suffering of innocents (including and especially animals), anything to do with loss (mine or other people’s). For example I started to tear up when I first read about the size of Hurricane Frances and how hard it might hit Florida when people there were still trying to recover from the last one.

13. When you are upset, what do you do to help yourself feel better?

1) eat, 2) get out and move around either on foot or in my car, 3) aromatherapy, 4) lie down/nap

14. What makes you angry? What do you do when you're angry?
Feeling powerless. Feeling trapped. Feeling like a loser. Feeling that people have dissed me. Sarcasm and cruelty in general.

When I get angry I tend to rant-and-rave, which is probably a major reason why I lead a pretty solitary existence. Besides ranting and raving, see #13.

15. Do you have an emotion that predominates; such as anger, depression, irritability, anxiety, jealousy, joy...or possibly two emotions that tend to alternate predictably?

I guess I would have to say predominantly depression, with frequent interludes of irritability and anxiety. Not so much anger now as in 2001-2003 when I was in the thick of perimenopause. In general the past 5 years have been tough.

(continued next post)

16. What fears do you have?

See #10. Also, moderate fear of heights. Fear of slipping and falling. Claustrophobic.

17. What have been the most difficult circumstances in your life? How did you cope?

Romantic relationships going south/ending. I coped by drinking which of course is not the way to do it.

Sudden death of mother 12 years ago. I dealt with that by (a) quitting smoking, (b) having panic attacks for months until I gave up caffeine.

Being fired by uber-witch boss in 1998. Coped by (a) drinking, again and (b) taking the first job that came along, which I shouldn’t have (still paying for that).

9/11 (I live in NYC, fortunately uptown). That was 6 months after I quit drinking. I went to a therapist (social worker and ranted and raved at him once a week for about 6 months.

Fights with my father, which have gotten uglier since (a) 9/11 (b) I quit drinking (c) he’s gotten elderly. I don’t cope with these well at all, tend to take them out on others and my health.

18. What are the greatest joys you have had in
your life?

Seashore vacations as a kid/teenager, at the end of summer were probably my happiest times ever. Full of the joy of anticipation (of the new school year) and sensual gratification (beach, exercise, good food).

Sense of accomplishment and of “winning”: at school (where I excelled at most things), at work (very little these days) and from things like mastering the computer/Internet, taking up driving a car again after 20+ years, and feeling some sense of control and mastery in caring for my purebred cats with homeopathy and homemade diet.

“Honeymoon periods” in romantic relationships.

Choosing, purchasing, renovating, and decorating my co-op apartment after 20 years of living in a rental studio.

19. What was your childhood like?

Difficult socially, okay otherwise, although parents' poor relationship, father's belligerent tendencies and mother's drinking caused a lot of friction and sorrow at times. I don’t remember all that much, but I will always remember the death of innocence. I think I was 7 or 8 years old, and I came home from an unhappy day at school, sat on my mom’s lap and lamented, “Nobody likes me.” I have always had the feeling about that memory, that “the party was over” at that point. End of all the delusional merriment of early childhood…

I was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome in 1992 largely based on my recollection of many childhood occasions of running to the john with diarrhea whenever my parents fought (yes, I did also have a colonoscopy and a barium enema).

20. What bothers you most in other people? How,
if at all, do you express it?

Cruelty, #1. And arrogance, or lack of humility, as reflected in inconsiderate treatment of others. And yes, stupidity, especially when combined with the previous traits. Mostly, I express my unhappiness with such people by being sullen in their presence if I can’t avoid them altogether.

21. What causes the most problems in your relationships?

In the past, probably drinking. Now, my tendency to be full of complaints, always annoyed about something, not easygoing.

22. Do you have any recurring dreams? What are they about?

I hardly remember any dreams, probably because I rarely get more than 5 hours of sleep.

23. What would you need to feel happy?

A job that was fun and a LOT more money.

24. What do you do for work? Ideally, what would
you like to do?

I’m a medical editor. I like editing/writing, but would rather be doing it for an alt. med. or general-interest vehicle or a news organization. Ideally, I'd like to do something where I didn't have to work in an office. Most ideally, I'd like to do NOTHING for six months to a year and figure out what I want to do It would probably be something related to human health, academics, general news, or animal health/welfare, but I also have a lot of interest in real estate, antiques and Martha Stewart-type stuff (poor Martha...).

25. If you were made President for a day, what would you change?

Domestically: Universal health care, regardless of employment status. Internationally: Completely overhaul our approach to the terror threat (beginning with abolition of the phrase "war on terror").

26. When people have criticized you, what were they complaining about? Similarly, when people have praised you, what did you receive praise for?

Criticized for complaining too much, mostly, and/or being irritable/cranky/unpleasant. Praised for doing outstanding work at school/on the job.

27. What would you like to change most about yourself?

Besides things in the past that I can't change, I'd like to (a) be more gracious and dignified--in a completely uncompromising way, (2) lose 20 lb.

FOOD
28. How do you feel before, during and after
meals? How do you feel if you go without a
meal?

I feel anxious and restless as much as I do hungry before meals. Those are my cues to eat, as much as hunger itself, or more. I don't think my sense of hunger is as pronounced as it used to be. In the classic sense of a pang in the gut. Usually while eating I feel good, though lately sometimes a little MORE anxious than before eating but I think that's because I've been recovering from severe gastroenteritis in July. After eating, I usually feel good, alert, clear-headed and relaxed for a while, then oftentimes I get sleepy.

29. What would you most like to eat (if you did
not have to consider calories, fat, anything
you've read about the right way to eat)?

My own cooking, which of course I can't eat at work, or food from a great Italian restaurant. That means pasta dishes of all kinds (whole wheat or white pasta, ravioli, lasagna, with/without meat/fish/vegetables, all kinds of sauces and fillings are good). And chocolate ice cream. And bowls of berries with cream. And great coffee.

30. What foods do you dislike and refuse to eat?
What foods do you react badly to, and in what
way?

To me, all foods are good as Nature made them, it's in the processing/marketing/preparation/cooking they get ruined. Except lamb (I hate the smell, not to mention the idea, ditto veal for the latter), I can't think of anything I won't eat if it's fresh and well prepared and not too far removed from its original whole form. I won't eat horrendous junk food such as commercial birthday cakes--but I do have a weakness for good cookies.

The last few years while on the menopausal roller coaster I have had some trouble with nuts and eggs. Not sure about nuts, I'm sure about eggs. I have had a perimenopausal problem with nocturnal panic-attack-type episodes (while falling asleep) and most of these seem to have occurred after eating nuts or something containing nuts. After eggs (especially fried eggs), I feel peculiar and sluggish and have cravings all day. So I hardly eat them any more.

Not exactly a "food," but I also seem unable to handle caffeine, even traces of it now. I get nervous problems or GI problems or both.


(continued next post)

31. How much do you drink in a day? Include
sodas, juice, coffee, tea, milk, and
alcoholic beverages as well as water. How
thirsty do you tend to get? What temperature would you like your drinks to be?

Not enough, I'd say less than a liter now that I've given up all forms of coffee. I don't like sodas or fruit juices as they're too sweet. Occasionally on a weekend I will make my own soda with cherry concentrate, vanilla extract, things like that. I don't get thirsty much at all--only after I eat something with a lot of garlic or a ton of salt in it.

SLEEP
32. How is your sleep?

I have a demanding job and commute and I fuss a lot at home, so I almost never get to bed before 2, and have to get up around 7 Mon-Fri. So I average 5 hours sleep at best. I don't seem able to sleep for really more than 4 hours any more--if I am asleep by 2, I will usually be awake before the alarm goes off. Usually I fall asleep very fast, but sometimes I have trouble. I use lavender on those occasions. If I go back to sleep on a weekend, so that I am horizontal for closer to 7 hours, I always have pelvic and lower back pain when I wake up the second time.

33. Do you do anything during sleep? (speak,
laugh, shriek, toss about, grind your teeth, drool, snore, walk, talk, etc.)

Hard to say, no one's around I was once told that I talked in my sleep, though.

34. Do you have trouble falling asleep? What keeps you awake? Do you wake always at a certain time? What causes you to wake up? What position do you sleep in?

I usually sleep on my stomach, with my head turned to the left. See #32 re other questions.

WOMEN
35. Number of pregnancies, number of children,
number of miscarriages, number of abortions

No pregnancies

36. At what age did your menses begin? If you
have gone through menopause, at what age?

It's been 14 months since my last period and they were erratic for a couple of years up to that last one, so I guess I'm in early menopause now.


37. How frequently do they (or did they) come?

28 day cycle when I was young, shortened to 26 days in my late 40s.

38. What about their duration, abundance, colour,
time of day when flow is greatest; any odour
or clots?

5 days when I was young, shortened to 3 days in my late 40s. Overall volume was moderate I think; peaks of flow were first thing in the morning and at other unpredictable times. It wasn't smelly at first, but got a little ripe toward the end of each period. I often had clots.

39. How do you (did you) feel before, during and
after menses?

I had a premenstrual syndrome including: fatigue, brain fog, irritability, emotional lability, itchy skin, scratchy throat and probably other stuff I'm eager to forget . Usually there would be one day about 10 days prior to the flow when I was a complete basket case emotionally, would cry over anything and had no perspective. Right before it started my head would clear very noticeably and I would be much better mentally/emotionally, but physically uncomfortable. Around the beginning of menses I almost always had diarrhea. I had cramps always the first 24 hours, sometimes up to 3 days, sometimes very bad cramps.

HEALTH HISTORY
40. What medications are you taking at present?

None

41. How frequently do you get colds and flus?

Once a year at most since I quit smoking in '92, but I do have a little more trouble with gastrointestinal infections--I've had 3 of them this year (assuming that's what they were--the third one definitely was, ended up in the ER on IV levofloxacin)

42. Have you had any childhood illnesses twice,
or in a very severe form, or after puberty?

I think I may have had "German measles" twice, can't swear to that. Also had a retropharyngeal abscess around age 7 that had to be surgically drained. Otherwise, the usual.

43. Have you had any vaccinations since the
standard childhood ones? Have you ever had an
adverse or unusual reaction to a vaccination?

no

44. Have you had any surgery? What and when?

Childhood as noted (#42); laparotomy in 1993 to remove 7 fibroid tumors from uterus/tubes

45. Have you had at any time (mention year):
warts, cysts, Polyps, or tumors? Where were they located? How were they treated?

See above. Also had a genital wart once in college (1972 or so) that was "burned off" chemically.

46. Do you tend to have any discharges (nasal,
vaginal, etc.)? What is the color, consistency?

I usually have a very small amount of yellowish discharge each day, I frankly can't tell if it's from the vagina or the urethra. Also sometimes have clear vaginal discharge with that notorious "fishy" smell.

SENSITIVITY
47. a) Do you tend to need a smaller dose of
medications than most other people?

don't believe so

b) Do you need less anaesthesia than others,
or have a hard time coming out of it?

don't believe so

c) Do you tend to react to vitamins and herbs
and/or need hypoallergenic vitamins?

maybe, I probably underestimate the digestive distress they cause... My primary doc (an experienced geezer) has described me as "the sensitive type" physically.

d) Are you sensitive to paint fumes, exhuast,
dry cleaning fluid, fragrances etc.?

EXTREMELY, these things are a big problem for me, they make me very irritable.

48. Family history: Mention diseases, causes
and ages of deaths of father, mother,
sisters, brothers and grandparents on both
sides.

Grandfather 1--alcoholic, accidental death in 20s or 30s
Grandfather 2--died of severe bronchial asthma attack age 63
Grandmother 1--severe arthritis, otherwise OK, died of pneumonia age 91
Grandmother 2--cerebrovascular disease, completely demented for last 5-10 years of life, died in institution of uncertain cause age 89
(1=paternal, 2=maternal)
Mother--alcoholism, ulcerative colitis, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease including aneurysms, chronic bronchitis, died of stroke age 66
Father--periodic tendency to cardiac arrhythmias, possible history of undiagnosed heart attack, moderate-severe congenital spinal problem causing sciatica, localized prostate cancer currently under treatment, otherwise good health for age 78
No siblings.
Father's sister is in terminal stage of metastatic melanoma.

49. Construct a time line: Mention from birth
on to the present day, all IMPORTANT events
(emotional and physical traumas,
heartbreaks, divorces, work-related events,
diseases or traumas your mother had while
being pregnant with you, family stress,
death in the family or of friends,
disappointment, etc.) Mention the symptoms
experienced at those moments or which you
can date to those traumas.

1952, fraternal twin stillborn
1957, hospitalized for retropharyngeal abscess after month-long illness (fever, bad headaches)
1959, early death of grandfather
1968-1998, assortment of romantic disasters (no way I'm going to catalog those)
1992, sudden death of mother (followed by smoking cessation and first panic attacks)
1993, surgery to remove fibroids
1998, lost job after promotion and big raise, changed from urban to suburban job location, resumed driving car after 20+ years
1999, boyfriend of 4 years relocated to Europe (I went through a mild hoarding phase after this, seems to be over now... was collecting all kinds of things)
2000, transferred to unsatisfactory position after magazine I worked on was folded
2001 (early), job change and alcohol cessation
2001 (late), terror attacks on home town

50. When you stand in line at the bank or supermarket, how do you feel?

Pissed off. Restless, anxious.

51. When your family member was last sick, what did you do?

Tried to persuade him to allow me to accompany him to the doctor and was told not to "play medicine."

52. How is your sexual energy?

Used to be high (too high), but very low now in the year since last period.

53. How do you react to consolation

I get irritated

54. What part of your life do you have the most difficulty coping with.

There is just too damn much to do, all the time, it's unrelenting.

55. What are your hobbies?

My cats, the Internet, aromatherapy/alt.med., messing around with candles, and I'd list cooking if I had more time to do it but most of the cooking around here is for the cats nowadays.

[end]
Thanks for reading!

-Avalon

what form of birth control used in past?

any antibiotic use in health history?when?reason(s)

what condition of fingernails and around fingernails?any white spots on/under fingernails?

what medicine prescribed/used after mole removal (besides anestesia)?

ever treated for any veneral diseases?when?

any sexual abuse in case history?when?

Predominantly diaphragm w/spermicide. Only used birth control pills for 6 months in college. Thought they were causing some leg pains so I quit them and never looked back. Even then I was pretty drug-phobic.

In mid-July I had IV levofloxacin followed by a four-day course of ciprofloxacin (both quinolones, first time I ever had them). This was for a really bad gastroenteritis--anorexia, severe diarrhea, pain, fevers of 101-102 F (high for someone in their 50s). The illness had persisted on a remitting/relapsing course for two weeks, and I had a very high white blood cell count. I estimate that was the first time I'd had antibiotics since postoperative prophylaxis in 1993. Whenever possible, I avoid them. Prior to '93, I had occasionally needed antibiotics for a respiratory infection, but that never happened again after I quit smoking in '92.

Good condition, no distinct white spots.

No oral meds. Topically I think I used one application of hypericum/calendula, one of dilute calendula extract and a couple of dilute lavender EO.

Only the genital wart in college.

No.

please explain skin ailments/complaints in health history..when? how treated?

--3 moles removed, 2 from the back in 1975 and 1 from the face 2-1/2 weeks ago

--Hives from eating strawberries as a child, according to my mother. (I still feel weird after eating them--forgot to mention that under food)

--Invariably got "sun poisoning" (an itchy rash) after two or three days of sustained sun exposure at the shore, from early childhood on. These rashes were never treated by a physician.

--Severe contact dermatitis of the wrist from a cheap bracelet watch in late 1970s. (I let it progress because I was unfamiliar with contact dermatitis and had no idea that people had that problem with costume jewelry.) It was treated with several injections and some proprietary creams.

--Dermatitis of unknown cause on two middle fingers of right hand in 1996. Treated with proprietary cream.

I should have mentioned originally that in retrospect, I suspect this is not the first time I have had hives in recent years. It's just a lot worse and more persistent. I have had series of itchy wheals from time to time, including one earlier this year, and assumed they were mosquito bites.

start treatmnet single dose "ONLY!" nux-vomica 200c --in evening befor ebed--at least 1 hour after last 'eating'


MUST AVOID--milk;condiments;spices;all acidic foods and drinks (.i.e..coffee;tea;vinegar;alcoholic beverages;fruits and juices;coca-cola,pepsi and the like;..etc)...

NO! other medicines-remedies-skin cremes/ointments-painkillers-...etc

post back response or lack of response to nux-vomica 200c..

Thank you very much for your recommendation John. I have seriously considered Nux v. many times in the past but I'm 95% sure I've never actually taken it. Much of it does fit me, as described in Boericke. Of course, it fits many of us.

FYI, the remedies I have ever used (all 30C or less) are:

Puls (on 2 occasions; the last about 2 months ago, I don't recall why I decided to try it on that occasion). It has never had much effect if any. That was my most recent use of a remedy.

Rhus tox., a few doses for plantar fasciitis a couple of years ago, not much effect

Ruta, ditto

Arnica for injuries a few times

Gels. one dose a while back for general malaise, i.e. experimenting with it as a constitutional

Hypericum, couple of doses on 2 occasions for what I thought was "nerve pain"

Arsenicum for gastroenteritis in Feb. of this year

Bryonia, later in that same Feb. illness

For myself, the only remedy that has really impressed me so far is (no surprise here) Arnica. But the above represents almost entirely amateur practice. I have a skilled homeopathic vet who works with my cats and hits the bull's eye almost every time. In fact, she just this week helped me cure an anal sac abscess using Hepar sulph.

She once recommended Nux v. for my eldest cat so I have some 30C. I may be able to get 200C locally, or may have to order it. Do you feel sure that I need the 200C, or would it be safe to try a 30C first?

Can you explain the need for these restrictions?

For how long should they be observed?

My specific concerns are (1) milk--if you literally mean just milk, that's fine, but eliminating cheese is a problem; (2) fruits, because I have just bought some fruit in anticipation of spending a week off at home, and hate to waste it.

Thanks in advance for clarification.