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Case report
Client: J. W., male, 32 years
Main complaint: chest pains, migraine and chronic fatigue
February 2006:
"It started in October last year; before that I was fine; I never had to go to the doctor. I was driving at 11 pm to pick up my wife. I had a really strange feeling in my head that wouldn't go away. It lasted about a quarter of an hour. I had this tingling in my sinuses and in my nose. My heart was beating faster and my breathing too. It felt as if all the blood were draining from my head. I pulled over and checked my pulse; it was 120. Then I drove on and told my wife what was happening. I was still able to drive home. I decided to sleep on it. But then it started again. I couldn't sleep because my temples were pounding. The next morning my wife, who was eight months pregnant, took me to hospital. There they thought I had had an allergic reaction. They gave me a sedative and sent me home."
"A week later I had to work all day without eating. In the evening I had a big meal and went to bed. The next morning I woke with heartburn and palpitations. I went back to sleep and when I woke up, my head was swimming. The next day I went to the doctor because the burning was so bad. She did all the heart tests. I felt unwell for weeks with the burning and fever. I could only take the antacids you get over the counter at the pharmacy. They did many tests on my heart, but everything was fine. At that time I could feel the heartburn and the pains directly under the breastbone. I also had dizziness. And a heaviness on the chest. I can feel the bloating in there; it feels like a heart attack. I have to twist myself to get them out again. Then there was the migraine, which started at the back of the head and then spread to the temples."
"The symptoms never really went away. The difference is that I don't get palpitations as often. Recently I had one again. I woke up with it, sat up and after 20 minutes it was over. It felt as if I had splinters in my arm. Before I went through all that stress last autumn, I used to exercise regularly. Since then that hasn't been possible. I just had too much to do at work."
"I work in R&D; we research new technologies. I'm below the management level, but technically quite high up. The organisation is quite tightly run; it's almost military-like. At the moment you have to do what the boss wants or leave. With this new managing director there is a lot of stress, everyone is very tense, he behaves as if he's in the military. But I want to have my peace, to be able to work as I see fit, and that's no longer possible."
"Last year I worked on this new project. We run tests in Arizona. I was often on site to set the whole thing up and there were many problems. It was a lot of work and a lot of pressure. Sometimes I had to go there at very short notice. Being outside and working at 48°C. In September I got the phone call that it wasn't working properly. It was my project and it wasn't working. I was under great pressure; I had to get it running again. In October I could hardly eat because I had to solve this problem. There were constant emergencies. It's better now. I was able to solve the problems, but there was a lot of trouble."
"My parents are now living with us. My father is a real patriarch. At first that was very stressful… I grew up in a society where the parents are always with you and tell you what to do. When such situations arise I become quiet. What really makes me angry, though, is when I can't do what I want to do… ."
Rx: Samarium carbonicum, C200.
Analysis:
Lou Klein writes about Samarium: "A place where one can be autonomous and withdraw from constant pressure."
I chose the carbonate salt because the constriction came from the father and the patient was therefore unable to be autonomous.
Follow-up in May 2006:
"I feel a lot better. I felt better immediately after the appointment with you. I only took the remedy once. After that it steadily improved… I no longer have palpitations. I have started exercising again and it is going very well. I have much more endurance. I'm not tired any more and can stay up later."
"Things at work have also improved a lot. I had an open and honest conversation with my boss. I expressed my concerns and he was very understanding. He said he had good contacts in the industry and could arrange to have me transferred."
"Things with my parents are also better. I told them that it stresses me out when they are here and they have withdrawn. My son is doing very well. I also feel better because I can look after the baby and take him for walks. I had worried about that because I didn't know if I would be a good father."
"Before I had lost all hope because I always felt so physically awful. Now I feel as if a cloud has lifted and my self-confidence has grown stronger. Previously I could hardly climb the stairs. I'm pretty sure that won't happen again. I know I would do everything differently if the first signs appeared again. I would not put myself in such a situation again."
Phone call in July 2006
"I continue to feel well. I feel generally stronger."
Sally Williams
RSHom (Na) CCH 07/06/2006
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Source: http://www.interhomeopathy.org/samarium_carbonicum_chest_pains_migraines_chronic_fatigue_syndrom
Photo: 1395298514 by fizkes
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