Any other options for a Morphine pump?

Has anyone else experienced bad side effects on a Morphine pump? If so, what did you end up successfully using to control the pain? I like the pump concept because you don't have to "ring" a nurse and I think it helps control the pain as I feel it.

Thoughts?

Thanks!


TAH-scheduled June 24th 2010

Dilaudid can be a good choice. Worked for me. Good luck.

In my last 2 surgeries they gave Morphine. It made me so nauseous that they gave me medication to relieve it. This time I will not use morphine, I will ask for dilaudid instead. Good luck.

Yes! There are other options. I too get very nauseous from morphine and codeine products. Because of this, my anthesiologist recommended I use an epidural or an intrathecal injection. He allowed me to choose which method of pain control I wanted to use. I chose the intrathecal injection because it would use only 1/10th the morphine required in an IV, reduce my chances of getting sick and because I would regain the feeling and use of my legs faster with a intrathecal injection than with the epidural. After the injection wore off, the nurses began giving me a pain med. via IV. (I can't remember name.) Soon after though, I was taking 800 mg of ibuprofin and doing fine. I never got sick, and my pain never went above a 3 rating.

I hope this helps.

Would anit-nausea meds help? My anesthesiologist gave me 2 rounds before I was taken into OR, and I had no problem with morphine pump. It was nice to have that first day after surgery! (and they did give me a bit more anti-nausea med after, too)

My mom, in January, told her anesth. that she had problems with nausea, but they didn't do anything about it and she vomited and vomited after her a/p/bladder repairs.

It's hard cause we don't meet the anesth. until just before surgery - talk to your gyn about concern and see if s/he'll get something on record, or make sure anit-nausea med is administered. Of course, there are so many options out there - hope you find a good one

Thanks ladies! Dilaudid it is! My Dr said no problem and I basically live with nausea everyday (endo related) so I have Zofran and Phergran at home. I don't get nauseous with Morphine pump, I literally was up 24 hrs after surgery scratching my skin horribly! Benadryl didn't work and they had to do a special "series" of IV injections every hour for 4 hrs to reverse the effect which it did! :-) (That was only after a really bright nurse came on duty and asked why HAVEN'T they offered you this?) I wanted to hugs her! Someone finally GOT IT! I was miserable! LOL

Thanks again for all the helpful replies!

((HUGS))