How will I survive this month?
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1999 May / Jun VOL VIII NO 3.
Dr Vishpala Parthasarthy
'Phos

On 4-9-95, a handsome man, whom I knew from my publishing house, came in with an ugly, enormous and obviously pregnant female of 36. I remember being invited for their wedding just a few yrs back, but had been unable to go. I wondered how this man had married this woman. They seemed quite unmatched. Then I pulled myself together. This was no way for a doctor to be thinking.

This is one of the problems when a person known socially becomes a patient - your view tends to get tainted by information already possessed. One has to then work harder to be the unprejudiced observer.

Mrs MM was 36 and a second para. She already had a 12 yr old son from an earlier marriage. Her husband was 33, with no previous marriage or child.

She had been vomiting for 15 days, approx 14-15per day. LMP was 30-6-95 and she was 8 wks pregnant. She had been on Inj Stemetil, was hospitalized from 25th-29th, given drips, yet her vomiting continued unabated. She looked completely drained out; had to be held and brought to clinic; on coming in, she immediately lay down on the examination couch, turned on her side and drew her legs up.

Now the details of her Complaints

Pt As A Person
Stocky. Wt loss 6kg in 4weeks Wt52.5
Skin: NAD
Nail: NAD
Eyes: Sunken
Teeth: N
Perspiration: Less.
Appetite: Less. Acidity with nausea. Flatulence
Craving: Spices
Aversion: Sweets
Thirst: Increased
Stools: piles, non-bleeding
Micturition: Decreased frequency 2pm/ 10 pm
Thermal: Chilly2 C4H
Menstrual History: Menarche - 14yrs LMP 30-6-95
Cycles- Regular 4/30
MD-3d - Dysmenorrhoea. Dull Backache, legs, cramps
> Hard pressure, Bandaging
Preg I: Vomiting 10-12/d. Saline 3/d for 3days. Then better. 
Physical Factors: Likes medium weather, clear skies, open air, covers at night, bath warm.

Life Story: 
Pt born in 1959. She was the 3rd daughter and the 4th child. Mother lost her male child in 1951 of Nephritis. All the sisters were bright. One has a gas agency. Si 2 works at hotel reservations. Si 4 at a Travel Agency.
1980: Arranged marriage. He used to torture her.
1983: Son born, but things did not improve. Finally separated in 1986.
1986: Came back to her mother's house. Started to learn computer. At those classes only she met and fell in love with her teacher, now her Husband.
1990: Divorce came through.
1991: Completed her management course and started working with her sister who had a FERA company, but Husband-to-be felt that company will fold up. So he made her start her own company. Also studying equity Research Programme.
92: Married.
95: Now pregnant and sick. So her work is in doldrums. Right now her only thought is: how can I survive this month? When she came to me, looked sick and petulant. Husband also looked haggard with pouches under the eyes. Was it stress related?
They all live with patient's mother, who runs the house. Pt not a good housekeeper.

Mentals: Irritable. Very outgoing. Loves dressing, reading, meeting people, going out with close friends. Likes music 3 and has done her visharadh in music. Has always been a good student.
She is a nervous sort with lot of anticipatory anxiety. Poor memory - forgets where she put her keys and her diamonds!

Rubrics

Remedies
ACUTE: Ars-Alb 200
CHRONIC: Phos 200
INTERCURRENT: Medh 1M

Discussion: The only keynotes to the remedy were:

1. The way this patient came in and lay down: knee-chest position, folding the knees up.
2. The craving for ice. So the case was begun with Medh 1M one dose, and then followed with Phos as required.

Follow Up: