Hyperhidrosis Case study
Presenting condition: Excessive sweating with offensive odour in armpits
Brief history: Excessive sweating started only 2-3yrs ago and smells like vinegar. Client is very self-conscious and worries if other people thinks she smells bad.
Relevant timeline incidents:
16yrs Living and working with her Godfather in London, but he was bipolar. Lots of shouting and arguments.
16yrs Took contraceptive pill as had painful periods
17yrs First boyfriend but he was quite selfish
19yrs First UTI and then had lots after this. Multiple antibiotics for this.
20yrs New boyfriend but this was a destructive relationship. They were working and living together. (Her hands were sweating as she was writing this information down to tell me!)
22yrs He became manipulative and toxic. She ended the relationship but he reacted angrily and threatened to lock her out of the shared flat and break her things. She gave him another chance but he moved into a flat that she had wanted originally to move in together. This ‘broke’ her. She felt betrayed by him. By this point she had moved 7 times in 7 years. She felt she was ‘hidden’ from his family and in 4yrs she’d not met his 2 children from a previous relationship.
Main remedy given: Staphasagria
After 1st prescription:
No change for 3 weeks then was able to wear the same T-shirt for 2 days in a row. Previously was unable to due to bad smell. Moving from her current flat so things have been a little stressful. Stopped her contraceptive pill.
After 2nd prescription:
Smell of perspiration still the same. Small fluid filled blister rash on forefinger. Moved to new flat. No period since stopping the pill. Losing quite a lot of hair.
After 3rd prescription:
Smell of perspiration slightly better. 4/10 for odour and 6/10 for volume. Has had piles last 6 weeks. Recommended witch hazel liquid and separate cream for discomfort. Still no period since stopping the pill.
After 4th prescription:
Now wearing T-shirts 2 days in a row for 2 days of the week. 2/10 for odour and still 6/10 for volume. Her pyjamas used to smell bad but now they don’t. Did the seed cycling properly and her periods re-started on the full moon! No longer losing a lot of hair.
After 5th prescription:
Perspiration and odour much improved. 0/10 for odour and 6/10 for volume. There is no vinegary smell! She is no longer self-conscious about sitting next to someone on public transport. Period came closer to the new moon and even had slight ovulation pain. Remedy for blisters on the hand worked well but skin still slightly hard and dry. Frequently getting ill recently with colds.
After 6th prescription:
Perspiration and odour still the same! Started a new job which is more physical, working with children. Really enjoying it. Periods still in line with the new moon. Sleeping better now as is more physically tired during the day. Frequency of colds less now as taking Vit D as recommended. She’s also recovering quicker from the colds. Echinacea and Vit C helping too.
Summary:
This lady was feeling self-conscious about her body odour for about 2-3yrs before coming to see me. She is now much happier as the smell is non-existent! The cause for this was clearly the bad relationship breakup which left her feeling ‘betrayed’ and filled with self-doubt.
