When the Issue is Metabolic and Not Cognitive: A Case of Hypothyroid in a Boy of 10

In January of 2013 I received a call from a mother whose eldest son was struggling in school. Recently he had been referred to an after-school speech and learning program located two hours from their home. Attendance three times a week posed a hardship on the family. A month ago, her son was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid. TSH levels were just under 4.0

She was familiar with homeopathy in her home country of Bangladesh, and found my services on the internet.

A.’s mother, his maternal grandmother, and his mother’s two sisters were all diagnosed with hypoactive thyroids in their youth. There was no further information about his family’s medical history.

My small office suddenly felt crowded. A. was accompanied by his father, his younger brother by two years, and his pretty mother, her smiling round face outlined by a pastel hijab. I observed that A. took after his mother’s roundness and his father’s serious, unsmiling demeanor.

[OBS. I observed that A. seemed to be looking out from under his brows, as if his forehead was leaning on his eyes. Compared to his brother, his movements were slow and awkward.]

While her husband took the two boys down to the street to get a drink, their mother and I had some time to speak alone.

Mother: A. said he was itchy in his throat. The doctor gave us something for congestion. Before he was 5 years-old he often had sore throats in the winter. After 5 years old, he didn’t have so many. He suffered a lot when he was 2 or 3. Earaches too. Now he is just itchy in his throat. In six months he gained 5 pounds.

What was your pregnancy like?

He was born prematurely by Caesarian at 8 months 7 days. I had morning sickness for the first 3 months. Before married life, I was a thyroid patient. I took lots of medicine. During the pregnancy my thyroid was not controlled. I was taking thyroid and hormone medicines. At 3 months, I started to swell up. My feet got large. If they kept the pregnancy to the end, it could have been dangerous. On the third day after he was born, I gave him my breast for the first time.

I was breastfeeding him for 2 years. At 13 months he was walking. Everything was slow. But in my country he was already talking at 9 months. Then when he was 15 months we moved here to the United States, and he stopped talking.

What was it like?

We are immigrants. We are very alone. A. and I were alone all day. My husband is working a lot. An American doctor sent him to a specialist for speech therapy. He was trying to talk to me. In Bangladesh I have a big family. That is why he started talking early. Then he stopped when we arrived. At around 2 ½ years he started talking again.

His stool is dry and hard when he has no vegetables. From newborn to 2 ½ years he suffered badly from constipation. Sometimes even now.

Three or four months ago he started to complain, “Mom I feel tired”. One day I got crazy with him. I asked him , “Why do you say you are tired all the time?” This past November I made a doctor’s appointment for A. We had just returned from our annual trip to Bangladesh. The doctor sent us to an endocrinologist. I have a prescription, but I am waiting to fill it. I would prefer that my son not be dependent on medicine the rest of his life like I am.

The last month and a half I see that he is sweating from his head when he is playing with his brother. Being so tired and sweating is something new. He is sweating before he goes to school in the morning and whenever he feels tired.

A. enters the consultation room with his father and brother. He sits in a chair between his father and mother. His younger brother sits on a small stool towards the back of the room where he amuses himself with a video game.

I ask A., “What do you enjoy?”

He hesitates and looks at his mother before answering, “Watching TV.”

What is your favorite show?

Pokemon.

Is that a television show or a game?

PAUSE. Game.

Do you have a favorite subject in school?

Math!!! Because everything is easy!

“What about Language Arts?” I ask. (His mother told me when she made the appointment that he is having difficulty with reading and composition.)

However, he quite enjoyed describing the violence of the scenes, how he killed the zombies and ‘stepmother and stepfather’. The big strong bullies punched him in the face, yet he asserts that he isn’t afraid of them or of anything. When his parents die in the dream, he takes care of his brother.

mind; dreams; dead; people, of (170)

In a similar heroic vein, but less dramatic, A. tells us that some nights he doesn’t tell his parents about his itchy throat and bears his suffering alone. Sitting between his parents in my consulting room, feeling their generous support, A. demonstrates a childish bravado.

mind; boaster, braggart (33)

MATERIA MEDICA

I am sure all who read this have guessed the remedy. It was a clear choice of Calcarea carbonicum, the mineral substance prepared from the protective shell of the oyster, a soft stationary animal anchored to its bed for all its life. Shell formation equals calcification, a concept symbolic of stagnation and in its extreme, death. As the main element present in bones and teeth, it is essential to early development. Presence in the blood stream regulates hormonal activity, muscular contraction including smooth muscle, blood pressure, and so much more.

The immaturity of Calcium salts is best expressed by Massimo Mangialavori in an Essential Elements lecture: “As long as they have a clear idea that they are supported, they can move. They can do a lot.” Indeed they have strong egos. They want to shine. They want to achieve. They want to be independent. In the extreme expression of their vulnerability, they are fearful for themselves, thinking ‘I cannot protect myself. I cannot defend myself.’ This is the dance they do with themselves at different junctures of their lives.

Developmental slowness is an arena of this polychrest’s action especially where there is a nutritional component as often seen in premature infants. Those needing this remedy perversely choose non-foods in their desire to be strong.

Typical of the sea creature remedies is a strategy of shutting down and withdrawal producing non-reaction and indifference in all spheres of being.

CLINICAL RESULTS

A took Calc-c 30C two times a day for 5 days. Two weeks later his mother reported that he had not complained of fatigue since taking the remedy. Also, his headaches were less frequent.

A few weeks later, we repeated in a 30C. Within 10 days, A. was perspiring less. His throat was less itchy. However, his mother was very anxious about a call she received from A.’s teacher who was doubtful about his promotion to the next grade in June. This was early March 2013. We repeated the remedy in a 200C.

His mother checked in to say his stool was very hard. She said that he was uncharacteristically emotional. By the end of March 2013 his blood work had greatly improved. His thyroid had reduced to its normal size. His mother reported that he has been reading and writing with more ease. We repeated the remedy two more times, and I am happy to say that in June he was promoted with honors to the next grade.

In January of 2014 A. experienced symptoms of constipation. One dose resolved it. In October, the family returned from their annual trip. A. had contracted TB and was taking a 9 month course of medication. In late December 2014, his mother called to say he was tired and sweating. This time I gave Thyroidinum, keeping its characteristic car sickness in mind and his mother’s morning sickness. Could it be a better fit? When there was no change I prescribed Calc-c. Once again his symptoms resolved quickly.

We repeated Calc-c in various potencies in November 2016, September 2017, February 2019, and September 2020. Symptoms clear up nicely in an average of a few days. Yet, each time I hear from his mother I review my thinking. I ask myself, can this be a good case if the symptom picture returns at intervals? Can I do better? Or could this be a success, in view of A.’s family medical history? Academically, A. continues to exceed expectations.

Generally I don’t repeat a remedy until the symptom picture or partial symptom picture returns. However, in keeping with his particularly strong need for support, I am suggesting he take Calc-c at regular intervals for the next 6 months along with Tissue Salts #21,26, and 15 for additional thyroid support.