Miscarriages
The patient is a woman born in 1969 (36 y.o.). She behaves very polite. She is a teacher of physical education. In addition, she completed a nursing school.
The main problem was that she could not have a child due to miscarriages.
Her case as given on July 5, 2006:
“We want to have second child, but unfortunately can't already for 5 years. The elder son was born in 2000, now he is 6 years old. Delivery was complicated. I had premature amniorrhea and I had no labor pains, no contractions. Then they use an obstetrical forceps to make baby come out. The anesthesia was insufficient and I felt the pain during the surgery. The whole operation was done roughly and I had severe perineal rupture. I feel that all current problems appear because of this terrible first labour.
In 2002 I first became pregnant after the delivery, but at the time of 3 months miscarried.
In 2003 I became pregnant again, and again I had a miscarriage in my early pregnancy. Medical examination identified toxoplasmosis. I have taken a lot of antibiotics.
In 2004 I had left side tubal pregnancy and I had a surgery. After the surgery I recovered quickly.
In 2005 I had non-developing pregnancy and then the miscarriage at time of 3 months. I was fully investigated but all analyses and testes were normal. Doctors cannot determine why miscarriages occur and why I had ectopic. Generally I get sick rarely, I am quite healthy. I am a master of sports and physically always active. Menstrual cycle is regular, and I actually was absolutely healthy before the first delivery.
By nature I am calm and always forgive those who've offended me. I can feel irritation and anger if something goes wrong, but do not demonstrate this. If conflicts happen at work or with my husband, most often I yield. If the husband has the trouble or lots of work, he becomes rude to me, scolding me. With his boss he is polite, but he throws everything at me. I try to go out at this time somewhere to spend it anywhere. He then said you please do not feel offended. But such situations occur regularly. I then behave as usual and he believed that it is okay, so he can do it again. Now I stopped to express tenderness, do not hug him – and he was asking if I do not love him?
I have sorrow feeling after such episodes for a long time, when husband humiliates me. I feel, it kills love and kills something inside me”. (She reiterated this several times and I asked, what do you think that is it inside you killed by the rudeness of your husband? She was thinking for some time, and then surprisingly said: our child!)
“I really diligent and careful and have a strong sense of duty. I try to perform everything as it should be, even in small things at work and at home. To me it is important that everywhere I have order. I love to plan in advance purchase costs. I am low landlady.
I easily get cold feeling. When we lived in the South, in Azerbaijan, I felt myself perfectly. I love the heat, but in Moscow I always feel cold, even in summer.
I love to take hot shower.
Drink no more than a liter per day. I feel thirsty not so often. We cannot say that I am a water-drinker.
Between food and beverage I can say that I like milk. For the rest, I eat all the food. I am not picky”.
Initial assessment:
I immediately drew attention to the two distinctive features of the case. First, the patient clearly feels that all problems began after the first delivery when the operation of application of obstetrical forceps was made. Based on her description, it was done quite rudely. In general as former obstetrician I know that this is a very traumatic invasion, for both: the mother and the child and in the modern midwifery not recommend at all (instead c-section is usually applied).
The second feature of the case is how patiently she takes abuse from her husband, while inside she felt offended, has sorrow feelings for a long time and even says "this kills love, kills something inside me". She made no attempts to talk with her husband to change his behavior.
The patient is fair and diligent, loves the order.
Chilly, thirstless. Food: desire for milk.
The remedies seriously considered based on this repertorization were Pulsatilla, Silicea and Staphysagria.
Pulsatilla is our very popular women's remedy, especially when there is a tendency to miscarriages. By the nature Pulsatilla type women are yielding, soft, obedient, same as my patient. However behind the softness of Pulsatilla there is a desire to be comforted. Tears of Pulsatila can easily achieve what she wants. Coulter writes "sometimes Pulsatilla selfishly waits for others takes care of her constantly, thinking that she is not appreciated if it not happening ("greedy and wants to get all for herself" Samuel Hahnemann). We do not find these characteristics in this case. On the contrary, the impression is that patient cannot protect her interests and allows her husband to behave as he wishes, although suffering from this.
In addition, Pulsatilla is not presented under “Clinical; Surgery, General, ailments, from”. But patient indicates the surgery at the first childbirth as the causative specific factor.
This patient is extremely chilly that is not the case for Pulsatilla.
Pulsatilla is similar to the case at the pathological level, but not similar to the totality of all symptoms including causative factor.
Silicea covers all rubrics of the case, except “the Mind; Ailments from; rudeness of others ". Kent writes that this medicine is chronic analogue and complement remedy to Pulsatilla. Silicea is chilly same as my patient. For Silicea the characteristics of accuracy and consciousness are also typical same as in this case. Softness, obedience, yielding disposition, desire to avoid conflict - all these features of Silicea expressed in this case.
Silicea is a deeply acting medicine, pathology of Silicea type develops slowly. Typically, these patients suffer from low endurance (Morrison), frequent infections or consequences of vaccination; have eating disorders and metabolism problems. My patient rarely had sickness before the first childbirth, and now, besides women's problems, she is healthy. She is physically active, master of sports. After she taken many courses of antibiotics to treat toxoplasmosis, the infection is no longer identified in the investigation and doctors were not able to identify what causes miscarriages. I suppose that if it was the case of Silicea, there would be found an organic cause of pathology.
I also drew attention to the words of the patient: "I can feel irritation and anger, if something goes wrong, but I do not demonstrate this”. This is a rubric "Ailments from; Anger, vexation, suppressed” and it does not include Silicea, but it has Staphysagria in a bold type.
Silicea has many similarities to the case, but it was not my first choice remedy. I think of Silicea as the reserve remedy may be needed in the future.
Staphysagria covers all the rubrics. It is in a bold type in the rubric "Clinical; Surgery, ailments from” (Murphy’s Repertory). Staphysagria has the tropism to the urogenital system. Allen H.C. writes in Keynotes: “ailments after difficult labor”, exactly as it is in this case. Patient fell ill after the operation on her genitals due to labor, which was done not very professionally and she had very tough feeling after it. She felt that it was the reason for her miscarriages. However after operated ectopic pregnancy performed well and with high quality anesthesia, patient recovered very quickly and easily. It should be noted also that during ectopic pregnancy operation surgical approach was through her abdomen. But all manipulations during the difficult labor were done through her vagina that is connected with the emotional trauma and a sense of humiliation, especially considering that she was conscious.
Mental pattern of the case corresponds well to Staphysagria - soft patients who cannot protect themselves. Morrison writes that "Staphysagria is suitable for wives whose husbands abuse them". In the abuse event she suppresses indignation and anger, and this is very true for Staphysagria.
Patient is chilly, without thirst, diligent in small things, loves order and has desire for milk - all these symptoms correspond to Staphysagria.
Based on my evaluation Staphysagria was selected.
I gave it in 200C potency. This is medium potency, case is chronic and I needed on the one hand potency sufficient to work deeply and on the other hand - to reserve the possibility to increase the potency if necessary.
Patient takes Staphysagria 200C on July 8, 2006.
Follow up-August 10, 2006
“I was thinking a lot of what we discussed last time. I never anticipated that my relationship with husband can greatly affect my pregnancy. I made a discovery that suppressed emotions and anger destroys a human inside. I talked about this with my husband; he was very surprised how everything is linked. He also thought that I just have a disease. But I described how I myself said you during the interview the words "his rudeness and swearing kills something inside me". Why I did not understand that I spoke about our child! We want to go with my husband to a psychologist. I have already bought one book about how to cope with anger and resentment. I see that husband starts treating me more carefully. Earlier he believed his behavior is normal and even did not understand why I was getting resentful.
I hope that maybe I can carry of a pregnancy. I had so many investigations, went to doctors many times, I already felt that everything is hopeless. I was very disappointed that they could not find the cause: no infection, hormones are all fine, ovulation occurs. And now I think that if we can harmonize relations with my husband everything will be fine.
Physically I feel good. In general I had no physical problems except my pregnancy problem. Sleep, appetite – everything is okay”.
My assessment based on this information was that the Staphysagria was acting.
During the first consultation she did not consider that homeopathic treatment can somehow affect her relationship with her husband. She continued with this state of things and even did not try to do anything. Now she gives completely different impression. She has inspired spirit, speaks with her husband about her feelings and he accepts her words seriously. Now she is planning further work to improve and harmonize their relations. She looks very inspired.
The remedy is not prescribed. Next consultation scheduled for after a month.
Follow up – September 12, 2006
“I suspect that I am pregnant! We did not use contraception, and period did not come in time, the delay is 10 days! And a positive pregnancy test! I really want to have everything with this pregnancy different. I'm going to a consultation with a gynecologist.
My husband and me went to a psychologist. The husband also works on a tries to change. I became much warmer toward him, because he does it for me. I now say more about my emotions to him and he understands me more. If I feel harass and irritation I say that your words harm me and we have talk about the situation, so that we both feel better. It is not easy, we are both not used to behave this way, but these are very good changes. The husband is also very happy with my pregnancy. We both very hope that this child I can finally make”.
I asked whether now she has a feeling that husband kills something inside her. She answered no.
“Good physical condition. I have morning sickness a bit, but after breakfast it gone. Besides it, everything is okay”.
My assessment was that her condition improved further.
The feeling that husband kills something inside her with his rude words is not bothering her anymore. Relations with her husband continue to improve. She began to express her feelings in words, which previously did not happen (formerly all was pushed inside and suppressed).
She became pregnant.
My tactic was to wait and watch. If she has any problems, recommended to contact me.
Follow up – October 20, 2006
“I have visited a gynecologist. I'm pregnant already for 2 months. Morning sickness became stronger; sometimes I feel pain at the bottom of my abdomen. I really worry how the pregnancy will go. I am very afraid lest a miscarriage occurs again. With my husband in general everything is better. He supports me very much, but also is worried. Now he softer with me and has not shown such abuse as it was before. Although, of course, he is quick-tempered in nature, may yell and be rude. I doubt whether he ever changes completely. I have to live with it.
I was at the ultrasound test. The child develops normally.
I was having bad sleep, because of this increased nervousness. My all miscarriages occurred in 3 months. Gynecologist recommends taking dufaston (hormonal remedy) to prevent miscarriage”.
I assessed the situation as requiring the repetition of homeopathic remedy.
She is close to the term of pregnancy where previous miscarriages occurred. Patient is heavily nervous; pain began at the bottom of her abdomen, she has sleep disorder. In addition, there was previous tone in her descriptions of relations with her husband "I have to live with it, he is such quick-tempered". If I do not assign homeopathic remedy to improve her mental state and prevent miscarriage, she would take hormonal medication.
I decided to repeat the same remedy in the same potency.
She has taken Staphisagria 200C on October 20, 2006.
Follow up – November 21, 2006
“Pain at the bottom of my abdomen is not there. After taking homeopathic pills pain went away after several days. I feel more confident psychologically, although the fear of losing a child is there, but it is less than before. Sometimes I have morning sickness, but not very strong.
I sleep well, my nervousness is reduced”.
I asked about the relations with her husband. She said:”Sometimes he may yell, but now I don't walk away, and say to him that I am frustrated when he offends me. He now apologies, tries to amend his guilt”. (When she told it, she had no hopelessness as last visit, when she spoke of the need to accept her husband’s temper).
I assessed the dynamics of the case as positive.
Pain at the bottom of the abdomen is gone and her psychological state improved. She again became discussing her feelings, resentment and irritation with her husband. She started to express suppressed emotions.
Her sleep improved. Her nervousness and fear of losing her child decreased.
In this situation better wait and watch. Next appointment was scheduled.
Follow up-December 19, 2006
“I have already 4 month of pregnancy! The most dangerous time for me has passed!
I was at the ultrasound test, child develops normally. I am very pleased that everything is fine. Morning sickness is now doesn’t bother me. Sleep is good. Appetite is good too. Even too good! I eat everything. My weight is increased by 4 kg.
With my husband everything is stable. We both understand what our problem is and try to prevent situations which happened earlier. Now I have no sense that he kills something inside me. I rather see him simply as a human with his advantages and disadvantages and if he starts to behave as before I immediately react. I try not to create a conflict, I do not like it at all, but now I let him know that I am offended and I don't like this attitude to me. You can say the situation is under control. I do not feel that everything is as hopeless in our relations as it was when I came to you at the first time”.
I asked what she feels to the forthcoming childbirth. Whether negative memories of first childbirth were eliminated or not? She answered that would never wanted to go through this again, and that due to complicated first delivery now the caesarean section is planned, but she does not have fear for this surgery.
I decided that her condition continues to improve.
Pregnancy is progressing, ultrasound is fine, no threatened miscarriage. The overall condition of the patient, sleep, appetite is good. She has fully realized what the problem of relations with her husband is, what consequences of the suppressing emotions are and now she tries to express them. Despite the negative experience of the first delivery, she is optimistic for the future and have already been discussed the future delivery with the gynecologist.
The medicine is not prescribed. Next consultation is scheduled after one month.
Follow up – January 23, 2007
“I feel good. Doctors found low hemoglobin, anemia. Hemoglobin is 10g/dl. Although I have a good nutrition, eat vegetables, fruits and meat. Gynecologist prescribed iron therapy, but I am not tolerating it well, have stomachache after taking these pills.
The child grows; I already feel very well how he is moving inside.
Relations with my husband are the same as were a month ago. He is waiting for the birth of the child. In fact he is a caring father. Of course he is not ideal, but there are no ideal people. There is no such problem, as was before.
I don't know whether I need to take these pills of iron, or not.
In 2 weeks I will go to mother to another city, I hope I will be okay during the trip”.
My evaluation of follow-up: in General, the condition of the patient is good. However, in spite of balanced meals and good appetite, the anemia is detected. I looked "Anemia; iron deficiency, from chlorosis” in repertorium Complete. Staphysagria is in this rubric in regular type. The psychological condition of the patient and the relationship with husband are stable.
I decided to repeat Staphysagria in the same potency. I recommended not to take iron pills, there are many products containing a lot of iron.
She has taken Staphysagria 200C on January 23, 2006.
Follow up – March 15, 2007
“My trip to mother was very good. I had no pain or other problems.
Hemoglobin is slightly increased. Now it is 10.2 g/dl. Gynecologist said it is well that it does not drop; usually without receiving iron the hemoglobin is decreasing. I got extra 2 kg. I am trying to eat less sweet.
There is a little edema in my feet”. (I asked whether blood pressure is normal and whether protein in the urine is detected. She said that the pressure is normal, there is no protein in the urine, and all the other analyses also normal).
“I feel very well now how the child is kicking. Gynecologist said that he will be large. I try to be active and to walk more.
My mood is good and physical condition is in general good. With my husband everything is stable. He is now very caring about me, waiting for the second son. Ultrasound shows that this will be a boy.
I think I don't need to take iron pills. I tolerate it really bad.
I prepare myself physically and morally to the delivery. I hope I will be breast-feeding, does not want child to grow on milk substitutes. I am reading books how to have lasting breastfeed”.
My assessment was that her condition improved further.
Pregnancy is developing well, hemoglobin has been increased, and psychological state of the patient is good, no resentments, no problems with the husband, no suppressed anger. She is set to childbirth and natural breastfeeding.
A small edema in legs is possible on the later stages of pregnancy because inferior vein cava is compressed by uterus. But since blood pressure is fine and no protein in the urine, there is no reason for concern.
No medicine is prescribed. Next consultation is scheduled in a month.
Follow up – April 17, 2007
“In general everything is fine. I walk a lot now; weight is not increasing too much. The mood is good, the child is developing normally.
Hemoglobin is at the same level. I still have a little edema of feet.
Husband takes care of me a lot now. He wants me to have only positive emotions before the birth. I hope delivery will be smooth. This will be the caesarean; to have a natural childbirth is dangerous because of the complicated first delivery. We decided that the husband will be present at birth.
(I asked patient about blood pressure and whether protein is in the urine. Blood pressure remains normal, no protein in the urine, other analyses, except the hemoglobin are good).
My assessment was that she has continued well over the past few months.
Relations with her husband became better, she is no longer feels as a victim, which "must accept and tolerate because nothing can be changed” as it was in the beginning of our treatment. Pregnancy coming to an end, virtually the entire pregnancy was normal. There was the threat of miscarriage in 2.5 months, which was gone after one dose of Staphysagria 200C. Now the patient feels good, she is optimistic and feels that the husband is ready to support her during delivery.
The drug is not prescribed. Recommended call in case of need.
Follow up - May 23, 2007
Husband called and reported that yesterday healthy boy was born with weight of 4 kg 200g, delivered through c-section. Wife is in a post-surgery unit, they both are very happy and thankful.
Conclusion:
Such cases let one feel the beauty and strength of homeopathy, when a woman with 3 miscarriages and ectopic pregnancy and in fact already discouraged to give birth to a second child, when allopathic medicine fails, gets this possibility and gives birth to healthy son. The positive impact of the homeopathy in this case was to relations with her husband, who, as patient believed, was impossible to change, and she just should tolerate him. As a result of homeopathic treatment patient started to express her feelings more openly what caused changes in relationships between spouses. It turned out that they can build such relationships that satisfy both of them more.