Case: 23-year-old woman with a headache
Alex Leupen
The intake took place in november 997. It concerns a 23 year old woman with headaches.
Has had a lot of headaches for a year now. The headache lasts 2 days, then take a lot of painkillers (sometimes 4 tablets of Ibuprofen per day) to be able to function. Should lie down in bed, it usually continues. Always has two packets of Ibuprofen in her bag when she leaves the house.
- The headache is accompanied by a blurred field of vision (before and during the headache). The description shows that there is a lateral hemianopsy. She then sees flashes of light, like fireflies.
- The pain starts at the root of the nose, then radiates around the eyes and above the eyebrows. It is a pounding pain.
- A lot of eye trouble, pressure on the eyes. Sometimes burning eyes. Eye sockets and side nose sensitive.
- Feels "like a kind of anaesthetic". As if it closes. With the painkillers there is a blurred feeling, with walking it seems as if she is floating.
- Worse by moving the eyes (3); getting up in bed (3); turning the head (3). Worse light and sound. Cannot follow a conversation, difficulty concentrating.
- The headache is not accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Sometimes dizzy (2). Medical history
- HAVO-3: Pfeiffer's disease. "I first resisted it". Wanted to go out and participate with peers. Sore throat, could barely talk. Fatigue lasted 2,5 years, especially fatigue in the legs. During that period her parents divorced.
- Summer '97: 4 weeks through India. Became ill: three days of high fever (over 40 degrees Celsius) with vomiting and diarrhoea. Much sweating and very tired. All the way away from the world: "hallucinating with all kinds of colours", lots of sleeping and dreaming.
- Sometimes stabbing in the heart (3). She also had it as a child (also a noise in the heart).
- Besides the above mentioned headache sometimes another kind of headache. This is a stabbing pain above the left eye (3). Temperature and weather
Cold. Cold hands and feet and a warm head. Can't stand the sun.
Does not sweat much.
Eating and Drinking
Desires: fish, rice dishes, savoury, nuts, sour herring, fruit. Rather savoury than sweet. Versions: Dutch pot, kale, meat, candy, egg, carbonated drinks, milk. Very thirsty: tea rather than coffee. Also juice and beer. Likes buttermilk, no milk. Intolerances: fat, meat.
Relief: daily, normal consistency. Sleep
Sleeps well. Sleeps lightly: when she lies awake because of sound, she lies awake for a long time. Sleep position: right side.
Dreams
Sometimes Fearful Dreams: Is haunted by people with knives. Hides in burrows, no one can trust. Reflection on dream: mistrust of people. "I always stand out". Long woman, all dressed in black with long red hair. "Always the idea that people want something from her". Wants to be able to determine the situation: "I can't stand being curtailed".
Dreams about friends from the past (primary and secondary school). Dreams about mother.
Dreams about people with whom she no longer has contact (contact diluted). Plant seminar, Part 2, 24-25 May 2002, © HAU, Stichting Alonnissos
40
Reflection on dream: has moved a lot in her life, meets new people all the time (she doesn't mind). Person and life course
She liked it in elementary school, was eager to learn. Was popular with classmates, was not bullied. Didn't feel out of place.
End of primary school: CITO test. Was very nervous, stomach ache beforehand: "I wanted to do it very well". In spite of the low score I went to HAVO.
In high school it went well, no more nervous for rehearsals or final exams. "I still make high demands on myself". For studying a lot of things have to be done (e.g. social agreements).
Lft. 5 years: parents divorced. Father was a sailor.
In that period very tired (after Pfeiffer's illness). At that time her sister was 3 years old and her brother was 9 years old. Her mother wanted to share the upbringing with her, treated her as an adult. She didn't want this, out of resistance against (dominant) mother at the age of one went on combing.
Art academy done, ceramic design. Since a year and a half graduated, has a studio (vases and bowls). Doesn't walk like a train yet, earns money in the hospitality industry. This makes life very irregular, often late to bed.
Lives together with friend. Having many problems with each other: does not feel supported by him. "We always disagree about everything". Many discussions about opinions, disagreements. Do love each other.
Can't stand still, always wants to learn. Need for new challenges. Wants to go to the University next year, general literature.
Observation
Striking appearance: long slender woman, dressed entirely in black, long red dyed hair. In contact with her on guard (possibly by video camera at intake). Sometimes a "hazy" impression.