swollen lymph nodes and methadone treatment

[Guest guest]

Hello-

I have a female patient, 28 years old, who has been in

recovery from heroin addiction and has been using

methadone for 5 years. She originally came in because

of injuries obtained in a car accident (left shoulder

pain...MRI/Xrays showed nothing in

particular...acupuncture and massage have helped her

symptoms))

She smokes a pack a day of cigarettes and has cut back

on alcohol to 2 glasses of wine a week. She says her

digestion/BM are all normal (daily, formed). She does

occasionally take ativan to help her sleep but uses

Tylenol pm nightly to knock her out. she wakes easily

and cannot get back to sleep. Her menstrual cycle is

irregular and is around 45 days. She will bleed for

4-5 days, cramping the first 2 days, some clotting in

the blood. She gets swollen breasts one week before

her period. She says her energy level is good. no

headaches, dizziness. she does have pain in her right

hand at night and the lymph glands in her neck

(usually the left side) will swell once a week,

lasting for 4-8 hours. She is taking a multi vitamin

and a fish oil supplement. Her tongue is dusky,

center crack, dry yellow fur that is thicker on the

sides, red tip. Her pulse is very weak in all

positions. cannot feel her lung pulse at all, both chi

positions are very weak. Her liver pulse is the most

palpable but it is not strong and is slightly

slippery. She does not have hepatitis or HIV. I do

not know if the fact that her veins have been

compromised in the past from heroin use and this

contributes to the feeling (or lack of)in her pulse.

She has a strong voice and a strong composition. She

is willing to take herbs. The focus of the treatment

has been on her sleep difficulties, menstrual cycle

irregularities, and the swollen glands. My sense is

that she has dry, thick blood that is not moving and

is creating heat and stagnation. Her most recent

treatment I used NADA points, Sp10, LI 11, Liv 3, Sp6,

k3, LI 4, yin tang nothing too earth shattering! I am

looking for herbal suggestions and help with a clear

diagnosis.

 

 

Firebird Acupuncture

Rebecca Rizzetta CMT, L.Ac

 

T: 415-948-8360

F: 415-543-3605

 

 

 

______________________________\

___

You snooze, you lose. Get messages ASAP with AutoCheck

in the all-new Mail Beta.

http://advision.webevents./mailbeta/newmail_html.html