case history

Patient ID:teachertalk
Sex:F Age:38 years
Nature of work:teaching Habits:reading, creative writing, like to be alone generally, though also socialise.


Please answer the following questions in a descriptive manner after careful analysis and recollection of previous experiences and happenings.

1. Describe your main suffering?
Asthma (with severe cough often). This has been there since childhood on and off. Since the past 4 years acidity and stomach upset are an add on. The problems are TERRIBLE - I've had to quit working twice because I simply couldn't work.

2. What other physical sufferings do you have in your body?
Acidity is the secondary problem, and some times skin erruptions too. There is a burning feeling too - right now all over the body. Especially at the folds - arms, thighs, hip folds. Piles like itching - but no piles.

Migrane - now and then in extreme heat and acidity.

3. What mental sufferings / feelings do you have associated with your physical sufferings?

I'm restless, irritated, since medication has not really helped in the past I feel scared it will not heal.
Generally I'm hopeful and never give up but keep trying - in this and everything else.

4. What exactly do you feel when you are at your worst? Describe the sensation in your own words.

I feel very angry sometimes ...grrr... not at anything or anyone in particular but when all experiments don't work.


5. When did it all start? Can you connect it to any past event or disease?

I've had this since childhood on and off. The winters and cloudy weather affected me then as now. Severe, barking cough - not so much breathlessness had always been there.

I had severe colitis 15 years ago (at 23 years of age) and also went through a
difficult emotional phase - I remember distinctly that's breathlessness started significanly - earlier it had been cough and mild breathlessness.

Had another stomach infection 5 years ago - also was an emotionally difficult time, that's when my stomach problems showed - acidity, gas - i'd never had these earlier. Migrane has also raised its head along with this - it happens now and then during extreme heat, acidity.


6. Which time of the day you are worst?
Usually at night. But can be in morning or after lunch too.

7. What are the things which aggravate your suffering and which are those which ameliorate the same? Example- time, temperature, pressure, rubbing, washing, eating, tight clothing etc.

CLOUDY weather (not really rain), extreme heat or cold (especially cold), change of weather.

Hot water provides some relief during coughing fit.
Talking aggravates asthma, as does the slightest exertion. The later leads me exasperated and frustrated.

Too much talking/teaching, running around worsens the situation. I can't teach without a cup of hot water in the class.

8. Do your think your sufferings have relation to any external stimuli (like, change of place) or any internal biological changes in the body, like, menses (in females)?

I feel the external environment controls my body like a remote control. If I'm in temperate weather with not too much work I'm likely to be fine. I'm troubled by CLOUDY weather (not really rain), extreme heat or cold (especially cold), change of weather.

I have found that during periods/menstruation the acidity and stomach condition is more delicate.

9. When do you feel better, during hot weather or cold weather, humid or dry weather?

Cold wet weather is enough to kill me I feel. I can't take extreme heat or cold. Temperate, dry weather is idea (looking for heaven on earth!)

10. Describe your general mental set up? Are you Moody, Arrogant, Mild, Agreeable Changeable, Nervous, Suspicious, Easily offended, Quiet, Arguing, Irritating, Lazy etc.

I'm intellectually inclined, enjoy solitude, though also socialise. I'm restless, I often move when talking on the mobile, instead of sitting. Impatient and get irritated though am controlled and diplomatic while dealing with people - generally.

I have an analytical mind.


- How do you feel before or during a thunderstorm?

Very sick - asthmatic. Symptoms aggravate.

- Do you like being consoled during your tough times?
Not particularly, I'm emotionally strong I feel.

- Are you sensitive to external stimuli like smell, noise, light etc?

I don't like noisy, crowded places. I prefer nature, quiet and beauty. Crowded noisy cities don't appeal, though are tolerable.
I can't take too much noise - it makes me dizzy.

- Do you have any typical habit or gesture like nail biting, causeless
Weeping, talking to one self etc?

No.

- How do you feel about your friends, family, your children and especially your husband / wife?

I have a very supportive family and good friends. I'm grateful to God for them. I'm not married and can't say anything about a spouse!


11. What are your fears and do you dream of any situation repeatedly?

I don't have great fears or cares - except for this irritating asthma. I fear I'll have to quit a third time. I will sincere bless and prayer for anyone who can rid me of this or at least bring it under control. It lasts for MONTHS!!

12. What do you crave for in food items and what are your aversions?

Nothing in particular, but I avoid aggravating foods like cold drinks, ice cream, curd, certain difficult to digest vegetables, normal tea or coffee. Certainly no alcohol or smoking.

13. How is your thirst: Less, Normal or Excessive?

Generally normal. Sometimes escessive.

14. How is your hunger: Less, Normal or Excessive?

Less to normal.

15. Is there any kind of food which your body can’t stand?
I avoid aggravating foods like cold drinks, ice cream, curd, certain difficult to digest vegetables, normal tea or coffee - LEADS TO ACIDITY. Certainly no alcohol or smoking.



16. Is your sweat normal or less or more? Where does it sweat more: Head, Trunk or Limbs?

less to normal. Arm pits.

17. How is your bowel movement and stool type?

Loose. Yellow or blackish. Tendency to pass stool often 3-4 times a day when unwell.

18. How well do you sle
ep? Do you have a particular posture of sleeping?

Interrupted and uneasy during asthma. Otherwise normally fine - unless I'm very worried about something.


19. Do you think you are able to satisfy your sexual desires in general?

No.

20. Do you have any strange, peculiar or unusual symptom or feelings? How are you different from others?

Physically, I have to pass urine very often.

Psychologically I'm strong but strangely emotional situations make want to cry - never used to happen ten years ago.

I'm independent minded, and don't really worry about things a lot of other people do. I'm creative and ENJOY solitude and nature. I'm interested in the spiritual and the occult.

21. What medications have been taken earlier by you to treat the diseases and do you have any particular symptom surfacing after the medication?

Ayurvedic medicine. The throat, loss of voice, cough have improved. But the burning acidity and asthma tendency are as it is. My ayurvedic practioner has I think exhausted his list, and doesn't quite know what else he can do to help.

I had taken homeopathic medicines earlier and have been on and off all my life. I have responded well to Gelsemium, carbo veg, arsenic album. Biochemic remedies and combination have also been taken from time to time.

22. What major diseases are running in your family?

Allergies.

23. Describe, how do you look like? Describe your overall appearance.
(For Females)
Average height, fair (by Indian standards), wear specs, generally pleasant.

24. If your menstrual cycles are not normal, please describe the irregularities, like pains, moods, flow type, clots etc.

Sometimes with period - gastric trouble, acidity,colic and vomiting. Other times normal.

25. What major diseases have you had in your life and when. Please write them in a chronological manner.

I've had this since childhood on and off. The winters and cloudy weather affected me then as now. Severe, barking cough - not so much breathlessness had always been there.

Had whooping cought at 1-2 years.

Had tonsils at 7-8 years

Had (hyper)thyroid problem at 13 - was healed and has never recurred. There is still a goitre nodule in my throat which we decided not to disturb and remove surgically.

I had severe colitis 15 years ago (at 23 years of age) and also went through a
difficult emotional phase - I remember distinctly that's breathlessness started significanly - earlier it had been cough and mild breathlessness.

Had another stomach infection 5 years ago - also was an emotionally difficult time, that's when my stomach problems showed - acidity, gas - i'd never had these earlier. Migrane has also raised its head along with this - it happens now and then during extreme heat, acidity.