COVID-19 Case Journal 2020

If you saw my last post, you read how I believed Lycopodium would be the GE for COVID-19. But I will tell you why I was wrong. If homeopathy has taught me anything, it is the importance of being able to admit you are wrong and reassess. That applies to all facets of my life. Prior to homeopathy, it was very important to me that I was right. Now, I do not hesitate to say when I am wrong, consider all sides of any situation, and remain humble so the truth will show itself.

My 14.7 yo daughter, E, was diagnosed with COVID-19 last Thursday, March 26^th. We believe she contracted it at the airport when we flew home from TN as there were five cases in the town we were in, three of which had been at the airport the same day we were. We stayed in after returning home. She began to show symptoms on Day 13. (Which coincidentally was the day I postulated about the GE. Little did I know my own child would become sick that night.)

I am posting these notes in the hopes it helps other homeopaths to see how the case unfolds. According to the WHO & CDC information, this would be classified as a severe case. It is still ongoing – she is not yet recovered.

— THIS IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. IT IS ONLY A CASE REVIEW. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR HOMEOPATH AND/OR DOCTOR AT THE FIRST SIGN OF ILLNESS. —

Remedies that have helped so far:

• Eupatorium
• Lycopodium
• Phosphorous
• Tuberculinum
• Sulphur
• Bacillinum

Remedies that have not helped:

• Arsenicum Album
• Phosphoric Acid

Each day I am supporting with Cell Salts, 6x. Nat Mur, Ferrum Phos, Kali Mur, Kali Sulph. Two pellets every 15 minutes for 4 doses. Twice per day. She indicates they help a great deal and I can see her perk up after. We are also doing Vit D, Vit C, Zinc, and multivitamin.

Background: E is a 14.7 year old girl. Attractive, sprightly, blond hair, petite, green eyes, freckles over nose. ADD and learning disabilities. Has been given homeopathy since birth (born VBAC blue and not breathing due to 4 nuchal cord wraps, revived and resuscitated). Born with unfinished sinus cavity in right upper ear. Vision impaired in one eye (would be considered a strabismus but does not turn out or in, however does not work to focus). Does not bother her, does not wear her prescribed glasses, no headaches.

Had repeat croup episodes ages 5-7 while living in a house which was later discovered to have toxic chinese drywall. With one episode was hospitalized for three days with croup/epiglottis managed with Lachesis (which they let me dose at the hospital!).

Allergy to peanuts and all other nuts and seeds. Has only had two allopathic medications her whole life – racemic epi (for croup) and novocaine for filling- had allergic reactions to both. High allergies and sensitivities in her family.

Age 6 – one incident of strep (scarlet fever) which the MD refused to diagnose as such after a strep test came back negative. Developed symptoms of rheumatic fever 10 days later.  Addressed homeopathically (Lachesis, strep nosode, Rhus Tox) and with cell salts. No lasting issues.

Despite being in a family dedicated to organic, healthy, whole foods who cook everything from scratch, she refuses to eat vegetables. Not one in 10 years. This is frustrating given she ate all foods up until age 4. She eats mainly chicken, red meat, and mac & cheese. She recently started eating sauteed mushrooms and fried pickles. Will eat some fruits. Enjoys animal fat. Averse potatoes, all vegetables. Desires sweets and CHOCOLATE. She takes whole food, organic supplements daily. Healthy activity level but tends to be lazy. Hides her emotions. Vacillates between loving, open, and affectionate vs. closed, angry, averse affection. Very contrary (will sometimes contradict just to do so). Will *never* admit she is wrong even with evidence. Very defensive (youngest of three). Typical teenager.

Loves music, painting, drawing, writing, comedians, soccer, and skateboarding. Very mature for her age. Music ameliorates her and she loves to sing (in private) and even wrote song lyrics at a young age. Mother (me) is Carcinosin for 15 years and E has also responded well to it in the past.

Has not required allopathic medical care since age 8 except for once when she flipped over the handle bars of her bike and put her top two teeth through her front lip. Healed very well thanks to homeopathy!

Remedies:

Up to age 5 appeared as Phosphorous – we called her our “bright light” – very sparkly personality, people naturally drawn to her in the supermarket, always smiling.
Ages 5-10 – Still some Phos, some Nat Mur, but a lot of Sulphur – refused to bathe, didn’t want to brush teeth, kept garbage and wrappers (too pretty to throw away), very strong headed, “know it all”
Ages 10 – 14 – Very strong picture of Nat Mur, although beginning age 14, Winchelsea Sea Salt worked much better (some Lycopodium)
Also responds well to Psorinum, (lots of itchy skin symptoms and crusts on scalp), Medhorrinum, and Carcinosin as intercurrents
Remedies that work well for her during acute illness: Mercurius, Bryonia, Pulsatilla, Silicea, Rhus Tox, Lachesis  and others already mentioned

 

Day 1, Monday, March 23, 2020

Symptoms really began the night before (Sunday) but she did not tell me she was sick until Monday morning. So symptoms had already had a chance to take hold.

• High fever with severe chills, so much so her teeth were chattering
• Severe pains in legs
• Mild, dry cough
• Pain in temples, throat with coughing
• Heaviness in chest
• Skin sensitive
• Noise agg
• Head pain (“like a wave”) but also throbbing at temples

Her legs were restless from the pain so she wanted to move them which did not ameliorate. She desired to be covered. I gave her Lycopodium, 30c, then 1M because I thought it covered the symptoms and because of my suspicion it was the GE. I ruled out Camphor as the Camphor patient desires to be uncovered (Kent, James Tyler). The Lyco only mildly ameliorated. The pain in her legs seemed to be the chief complaint so I tried Eupatorium, 30c. It definitely ameliorated so I stuck with that. 

Day 2, Tuesday, March 24, 2020

The Eupatorium, even a 1M, was no longer ameliorating today so I switched her back to Lycopodium 1M for three reasons: her nostrils were flaring, she seems to be worse in the late afternoon/evening (4-8pm), and she wanted to remain in the room adjacent to both her father and I while we worked (instead of alone in her room where she usually likes to be). She is quite ill, staying mostly asleep. She is requiring a dose every hour.

I called the state dept of health and they elevated my call three times before telling me they would not test her unless she was hospitalized but she had all of the symptoms for COVID-19.

 

Day 3, Wednesday, March 25, 2020

She continued to worsen. She now complains of burning in her eyes, and that her skin is chilled on the outside, but she is burning with heat on the inside.

Rubric: Chill, chillness, skin external, with internal heat: (2 remedies) Arsenicum and Ipecachuana. She has no nausea, cough does not make her gag, so I gave Arsenicum, 30c. This was a mistake. She quickly declined and then complained of vertigo, “I feel like I’m sinking.”

 Rubric: vertigo, sinking, as if: Includes Arsenicum(1), but also Lycopodium (3), [and note: Phosphorous (1)]

I determine this to be a dissimilar aggravation and looked for a remedy which includes that symptom as well as the others. Lycopodium and Phosphorous are the top two in the rep. However, Lycopodium has head, pain, temples, coughing agg, as well as head, pain, wavelike while Phosphorous does not. (I should have noted Phos has, head, pain, coughing.) I go back to Lycopodium, 1M which is ameliorating slightly with each dose while the virus continues on its course. Fever seems much reduced.

 

Day 4, Thursday, March 26, 2020

E is in very bad shape when she awakes. She has spent most of the past three days sleeping. She has not eaten since Monday although denies nausea. She says she is hungry but does not want to eat. However, this morning, she was able to produce a tiny bit of expectoration – slightly yellowish/green with a small streak of blood. Since the Lycopodium does not seem to be doing much, I use this indication for Phosphorous to change the remedy to Phosphorous, 30c. There is visible improvement. She remains awake.

Neighbor leaves a thermometer on our front door. She is at 99.6 F.

I got her an appointment with a video/teleconference MD, specializing in diagnosing COVID-19. She was visibly surprised (and commented) to see how poorly E was doing (and that was after she had perked up a bit). She said she fits the diagnosis for COVID-19 and has all of the symptoms for the coronavirus. She gave her a prescription to get tested but said results are taking 5-7 days (now up to 10 days) to get back. Since it would be very taxing to put her in the car and since there is no (allopathic) treatment, we agreed together to not put her through the testing unless her condition worsened.

In the afternoon, I gave Phosphorous, 200c and she improved again. She sat up and is talking a bit. She has still not eaten since Monday but I am definitely relieved.

Evening: 99.8F – dosed Phos, 200c at 7:15p, 10:15p, 12:15 a

—— Later in the evening I begin to experience symptoms – it hits hard and fast. Not to be dramatic, but I can only describe it as when the death-eaters are coming for you – this overwhelming coldness and a dreadful weight/ache over my whole body. When pain began in my limbs, I realize what it is. I take Eupatorium, 30c which I am astonished ameliorates completely. I require a dose at 11:00pm, 2:00am, and 6:30am. Each time it works immediately. (I do not require another remedy until Saturday).

 

Day 5, Friday, March 27, 2020

The Phosphorous was exactly what E needed. She woke up better. No fever. Said she sweat a great deal during the night. She was craving fruit and juice, her hair started falling out in clumps, and she had sunken eyes with dark circles. Plus Phos Acid is indicated in those worn out from severe illness and dehydration. Seemed a logical move. It was a mistake. Never change a remedy that is working! Note: Phosphorous still covers those symptoms! And COVID patients have relapsing symptoms.

10:15 Phos Acid, 30c She said it helped. Repeated at 1:00p, 8:00p, 2 a, 6a. It was becoming clear this was not the right remedy.

 

Day 6, Saturday, March 28, 2020

She coughed throughout the night. I dosed her three times in the night with Phos Acid, 30c. This morning she has pain in her left lower lung and right flank on coughing. She looks very unwell. Nostrils are flaring again but no fever. Tongue severely coated white, except the edges.

12:00 noon, Phos, 200c
2:45p Phos, 200c – this aggravated cough. Fever returned 99.6F.

We talked to the COVID-19 doctor and she said we could go to a walk-in clinic to get an x-ray as it sounded like she might have developed pneumonia. But their x-ray tech was not in. The other walk-in would not see her because of the COVID-19 diagnosis. We did not want to go to the ER because they are not letting parents stay with children and if she was admitted, we wouldn’t be able to give her homeopathy. (However, we would do so if it became necessary.) Since it’s Saturday evening and she is slightly improved, we decide to wait until Sunday.

I put her back on Phosphorous, 200c after reading in the MM that Phos also desires fruit and juicy things and confirmed it covers all of her symptoms. Thankfully her vital force responded to it again very well. Dosed at 8:00p and 10:30p.

—— I started to feel unwell again, but this time, instead of fever symptoms, I had a mild headache and overall fatigue. I took Phos, 30c, once in the morning, and once again at night. It worked well and completely both times.

 

Day 7, Sunday, March 29, 2020

Last night was long. This morning before she woke up, I stood by and watched her breathing. It seemed to be too rapid and too shallow. But she slept soundly. She hadn’t coughed in hours which was not reassuring to me like one would think it would be.

Then I startled her and she jumped awake. And we had a laugh. She was improved. Very much so. No more pain in her lungs, no fever. She was sitting up, talking and laughing. Still very sick, but seems to have turned a corner. We are cautiously optimistic because this is the second time she looked like she was improved but backslid. It appears to go in waves.

Her cough is much looser now and a bit more productive. Still having some blood streaks. Her tongue is thickly coated white, mostly in the center. The edges are perhaps a bit red, maybe just not as white. I consider this as Phosphorous covers the center white, but Ant-T is listed for white center with red edges. Ant-T does not cover the symptoms nearly as well.

Water dosed 4 doses with 12 succussions throughout the day of Phos, 200c.

Despite a good day of being awake all day, tonight her fever returned – 99.7F. (The doctor said to expect her symptoms to worsen at night.) She feels worse again. But she ate her first real food in 7 days. One dry pancake. She is craving strawberries (Phos, desires fruit) like crazy – perhaps the need for Vitamin C. She is also craving red meat (Phos). I stick with Phosphorous, 200c dry as she continues to respond to it.

 

Day 8, Monday, March 30, 2020

She required a dose in the night but woke up feeling improved. She needed a dose about an hour after waking. She is playing on her Nintendo today while still lying down. She is very fatigued. She ate a small lunch. She looks visibly better. Her ear wax has really increased but she’s not been showering. Eyes still a bit sunken but the color is returning to her face. Her cough is loose and productive (greenish with some blood). She also had one that was slightly frothy/foamy with blood (still Phos). Top symptoms today:

• Throat, pain, coughing, during
• Abdomen, pain, cough, during

Both still covered well by Phosphorous.

—– Today I feel very fatigued, slight heaviness in the chest, and slight headache. Ameliorated by a single dose of Phos, 30c.

 

Day 9, Tuesday, March 31, 2020

She seemed much improved this morning. No fever, no pain. She coughed a little bit about mid day and asked for a dose. We decided to do Phos, 30c as she seemed improved and the 200c seemed a bit much. This was a mistake. She began going down hill later in the afternoon. It’s hard to tell if it was just because it was getting close to evening when it has typically been worse or if it was because she didn’t get the 200c. So we redosed the Phos, 200c. She needed another dose in the night. I am trying to minimize dosing going by how she feels. I do not want to overwhelm the vital force.

 

Day 10, Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Woke up worse. Clearly not doing well. Phos not helping. Decided to dose Tuberculinum, 30c to either clear the miasm or help with symptoms. Dosed at 10am – was clearly better by 11 am. Ate a good lunch. Fell asleep. Woke up at 5:30p worse. Said pain was back in her left lower lung.  Redosed Phosphorous 200c at 5:45pm in the hopes the Tub cleared the way for it to work again. No improvement.

Re-rep’d the case. Looked at pneumonia remedies. I see she is looking disheveled. Her lips are red, dry, and cracked. Her hair is greasy. Doesn’t want to shower (although can’t really get up.) Fever is back at 99. I decide to give her Sulphur, 200c at 6:45p. It minimally helps.

—– I was also worse last night. Fatigued, feeling like I was breathing through a mattress. It’s hard to describe. Just a heavy weight on the sternum. Minor cough with no expectoration. Still taking Phos, 200c. Redose this morning and I have felt fine all day.

 

Day 11, Thursday, April 2, 2020

Things have improved slightly. But she is always worse in the morning when she wakes up. Woke up coughing at 8 am. Redosed Sulphur 200c.

She is improved. She’s talking and awake, however, she is again complaining of pain in her left lower lung and now in her right flank.

We decide to take her in for an Xray. I had to call 4 urgent care centers and an ER before I could find one that would take her – not because they were busy but because they did not want to see a COVID patient that had worsened!

Anyhow, she has pneumonia in the middle of her right lung. By the time we arrived at the urgent care though she had perked up. No fever. Mild fatigue. She was having some expectoration which was now only slightly green but more white or even clear. This is the first day out of bed in 11 days. She is definitely better outside (we had to go to a COVID tent in a parking lot). Doctor prescribes Zythromax and inhaler.

At first they refused to test us again! She said the results are taking 10 days and she believes are highly inaccurate. They have tested over 100 patients and not a single one is positive despite several having all the symptoms and known exposure. She said even though we have all of the symptoms, we don’t meet the CDC criteria for testing because “we haven’t traveled out of the country.” Seriously! But after seeing E’s x-ray, they change their minds and test us both. She said no matter what the results are, we have all of the symptoms for clinical diagnosis.

When I got home, I read the excellent article by Dr. Ajit Kulkarni .  It let me know I was on the right track in terms of addressing the Tubercular miasm. However, I did not go high enough earlier. So I went to Tub, 1M.

Tuberculinum, 1M every 3 hours. This definitely helped! She was the most talkative and animated she has been in 11 days. She was sitting up, ate a good dinner, laughing, and seemed in good spirits. We are very relieved and cautiously optimistic. Cough is very loose but still not overly productive.

—– I require one dose of Phos, 200c for mild headache and heaviness in chest with dry cough and a bit of wheezing.

 

Day 12, Friday, April 3, 2020

This morning had its usual aggravation. Dosed Tub 1M again. She went back to sleep. Woke up at noon, dosed Tub again. These past two doses, no improvement. Dosed Phos, 1M at 1:30pm. She slept until 5:00p. It’s hard to say if that is good or bad. She looks very unwell. However, she says no pain in her right side when coughing. She asks for a redose. Redose Phos, 1M at 5:00pm.

COVID-19 can advance so quickly, I do not want to underdose. Nor do I want to overdose. But I can see a clear distinction when she is improving versus not. I can see it in her face and in her eyes. When not improving, they are sunken and dull. When improved, they look normal with a sparkle. It is very evident.

—– I have not had to dose yet today. I am feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, frightened. But all normal given the circumstances. I am managing with Siddha Stress Relief spray. So grateful for this.

 

Day 14, Saturday, April, 4, 2020

Last evening she said slight improvement in pain in right lung. But she repeated twice she was better lying on her left side and that it was impossible to lie on the right. She required a dose of Phos 1M at 7:00p and 1:15a. She slept through the night without waking. She is still sleeping this morning.

Looking at this new symptom I need to seriously consider changing the remedy. I will be reviewing the MM for the top 4 and consulting with other homeopaths today.

12:30pm

I decided to give Bacillinum, 1M at 10:00am when she woke up. (Still slept into aggravation.) She has responded better to it than Tub in the past. She immediately was productive – thick, whitish, slightly green. Barely noticeable blood. She is now able to lie on her right side. Reports pain in right lung is slight better on coughing. Refused repeat dose at 12:30p. Fingers crossed.

 

 

9:20pm

I dare say we have made a bit of progress today. She was awake for the entire day for the first time in 14 days. She ate two meals. She is now expectorating somewhat. We have continued with the Bacillinum, 1M. She has had a dose at:

10:00a
1:00p
6:15p

Each time she had a small aggravation followed by noticeable improvement. We will continue with the Bacillinum until we see no improvements or return of symptoms. She notes the strongest symptom now is she coughs when breathing deep or talking or laughing. I noticed for the past two mornings she has wanted to be uncovered despite having goosebumps. She has also woken up perspiring. I think she uncovers because of being sweaty despite the goosebumps.  I re-rep’d and looks like I will be staying with Phos unless we see a change (when the Bacillinum is finished). Considered Kali Carb, Kali Iodatum, and even Arnica because she has responded well to Arnica (and required it a lot because she is clumsy). She also required it once during a croup episode when she was younger. But the MM for Phos still fits overwhelmingly.

—- I had to redose my Cortisone, 30c remedy because I had adrenal insufficiency which resolved late last year. However, with all the stress and worry, I could feel symptoms increase this morning. All last night I had fear in my gut and woke up this morning with pain in my stomach. It worked very well but by this afternoon, I could feel the COVID symptoms return. Felt like I was getting a fever, overwhelming fatigue like a weight holding me down, headache. Redosed Phos 200c which took some time to kick in. It is remarkable to me how well Phosphorous is working as a preventative. (Knock on wood.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

11:15p Bacillinum, 1M

New symptom tonight after this last dose. She has begun bending forward when she coughs. I asked her why and she said it helps her cough. This new symptom brings Kali Carb back to the top. I find this of particular note because she not only had blood drawn for the first time this week but also was having her period (poor kid!) so anemia is a possibility, another indicator for Kali Carb. When I look at the MM for Kali Carb, I am more than pleased to see:

• Leaning forward relieves chest symptoms
• Follows well: after, Phos. in loose, rattling cough
• Pains Stitching, Darting, worse during rest and Lying On Affected Side
• After loss of fluids or vitality
• Cutting pain in chest; worse lying on right side.
• Expectoration scanty and tenacious, but increasing in morning and after eating; aggravated right lower chest and lying on painful side!
• Indifferent (2) with bodily exhaustion (3); when questioned does not know what to answer
• Early morning aggravation is very characteristic
• There is somewhat of a complementary relation between Kali carb. and Phosphorus.(Farrington)
• The patient is peevish and easily startled (I have now startled her twice)
• The condition borders somewhat on that of Phosphoric acid, but still the apathy of the two remedies is not exactly the same. Kali carb. has not a sensorial apathy, but it has exhaustion too great to frame the answers to your questions (I’m getting lots of shrugs and “I don’t knows.”)
• The most characteristic symptom of all, and one which runs through the symptomatology of the drug, is stitching pains which are prominently located in the walls of the chest. They are made worse by any motion but also otherwise. They occur characteristically in the lower third of the right lung, going through the chest to the back. BINGO!
• There are some cases of pneumonia that need Kali carb in the stage of hepatization.

I will hold with the Bacillinum for now, but signs for Kali Carb are now making themselves very clear. My biggest concern is that Kali Carb cannot be repeated often. But I do not know if that still applies in COVID cases.

One thing is clear – cases qualified as severe – there is no time to watch and wait. You must stay on top of dosing. One wrong remedy and the patient can worsen dramatically and quickly. And sometimes take you by surprise. If you think they are doing well and wait, they can relapse. In normal acutes, I give 30c or 200c and then watch and wait and repeat when symptoms start to return. With this, we have made much better progress (later on after the pneumonia set in) when dosing a 1M every 3 hours. When symptoms were so severe in the first three days, it was a 1M every hour. The virus burns through the remedy.

Perhaps if I had stuck with more frequent dosing, she would not have progressed as poorly as she has. Also, it may have not progressed as much if I had stuck with 1M remedies instead of going to 30 and 200c. And the mistakes of Arsenicum and Phos Acid certainly set us back and maybe even allowed the pneumonia to set in. The exception has been Bacillinum which with a small aggravation after every dose has been better at every 4-5 hours. I hope it is also indicative of improvement.

— Come to think of it, all I have felt for the past 24 hours is fear in my stomach (kali carb).

Day 15, Sunday, April 5, 2020

What a difference a day makes. The 11:15p dose of Bacillinum last night did not ameliorate. The pain in her right lung returned. So we ended up dosing Kali Carb, 1M at 1:15 am. From the moment she dosed, she did not cough again. She slept the entire night through until noon today! She did not cough once during the night, she also did not wake up with the morning coughing aggravation! She did not cough until about an hour after waking. She reports this is the most improved she has felt so far. Cautiously optimistic!

The importance of seeing the patient can mean the difference between a right or wrong remedy. She did this with every cough. I asked why and she said, “It helps my cough.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 16, Monday, April 6, 2020

Another good night with continued Kali Carb, 1M. Did not cough through the night. Did not cough on waking. Has only coughed a few times throughout the day and has been productive with white mucus.

Talked with the Urgent Care center. The blood work came back. The X-ray confirmed pneumonia. CBC was normal, liver and kidney function normal. However, her C-Reactive Protein was drastically elevated. A measure of 8 is considered high. She was at 56! Given this, they said even if her COVID-19 test comes back negative, they consider her diagnosed as COVID-19 with NCIP (Novel Coronavirus Infectuous Pneumonia).

She is in good spirits today. Still bed ridden but progress is holding. Will continue with Kali Carb.

Day 23, Monday, April 13, 2020

E has continued to improve over the past week. Has had no to minimal cough, no fever, no symptoms other than fatigue. Has only required one dose of Kali Carb, 1M yesterday after experiencing a bit of wheezing and mild cough. Today is her first day out of bed, no cough, and doing well.