pump vs. shots

I agree with Suri, I don't think that I used all that much pain medication when I was on the pca pump. but when they took it away , I really don't remember getting any medication until I was rigid with pain! Then I was scolded for letting it get out of hand,and had to wait until the dr.was called, the order was given and the drug brought to the floor. I spend an entire afternoon in severe discomfort because a simple pill wouldn't have done me any good by that time.

I had the pca pump(dilaudid). It worked great. I would just get to sleep and those darn pressure cuffs would jolt me awake. I know it's a necessary,good thing,but everytime they came on(every 15 minutes or so) it felt like someone was at the foot of my bed squeezing my legs.

Have you and your doctor considered Toradol in your IV? I'm a big fan of Toradol for pain control. Click here for more information: Toradol pain control

I would highly recommend you discuss Toradol with your doctor and find out his experiences with this wonder drug. I had mine administered in the IV.


Aloha

When my anesthesiologist came to talk to me before surgery, he wanted me to have a general with the pca pump and I told him I didn't want the pump because I was afraid I'd be too out of it to use it. I asked for and got (after he spoke with my dr) an intrathecal shot of morphine immediately after surgery before I was taken to the recovery room. I was still out so I didn't feel it. But it lasts for 24 hrs and was wonderful. I had a bad reaction to the general with dizziness and throwing up that evening but absolutely no pain.

I'd definitely go that route again.
Best wishes on your surgery and your decision.
Blessings,

Hi---- I had the pump with dilauded for a few hours-----hated it. It made me very nauseous and the antinausea meds were not working. Switched to demoral shots( which is what I wanted in the first place) worked extremely well for pain with no nausea at all. had demoral shots for 2 c sections in the past and I think its great. Good luck-----kangaa

You guys have given me alot to think of with the pumps vs shot, but as I said before I never had the pump before, only my hubby. His throat was so sore he couldn't swallow even liquid pain meds!

My dr ordered the demerol and phen every four hours but I found that I could sometimes go six-. I would order it when I felt the first twinge and then if they weren't down there soon I would press again. I was lucky though because alot of the nurses at the hospital where I was were familiar with my doctor (he could raise Xell bigtime!) and they got my shots down there timely. He is deceased now and this is the dr that took over his practice so that worries me some. I'll see what he suggest at my pre-op appt.