Morphine or alternatives

I can't help but notice post after post about morphine causing nausea. My friend and SIL both had it in the PCA pump for post-op pain and both said it made them sick until it was removed. I really hate to get sick, almost more than being in pain. Do you think it's crazy to tell my dr. I don't want the morphine pump? I don't want to be overly assertive but I just don't want to wait until I'm one of the ones saying "please unhook me from this".

It's not crazy to tell them that if you don't want it. I didn't use one. I am allergic to so many meds. I was given an epidural for pain and I told them way ahead of time I wanted something for nausea. They can give you something right before you go in. Don't worry about being overly assertive! You're the one having the surgery and you need to have a say in what you want for the pain. Good luck!

I'm another who can't have morphine, so I think that discussing it with your dr ahead of time is a great idea. My dr gave me meds that kept me from being nauseous from the morphine but then it caused me to itch all over. I think that talking about your concerns is a good idea.

I had my pre-admission testing today and told the nurse to note that I am VERY sensitive to a lot of meds and have horrific allergic reactions (itchy palate, throat & tongue swelling). If Morphine makes one itch(it supposedly brings out histamines in the patient) then I think I may have a reaction to it.

The nurse noted Demerol and Diluiad as an alternative by pump. I will make sure I tell the anethesiologist as well before my surgery. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

I also had an epideral before my LAVH. The anethesiologist recommended it because it reduces the amount of pain medication I would need to take once I woke up. I didn't have pain in the hospital, but did have a terrible itch from the epideral. I would make sure and talk to the anethesiologist as well! Best of luck!

Definitely talk with the doctor and the anesthesiologist ... morphine and I don't get along and I made sure they noted it on every page of my pre-op paperwork. Plus I wrote a note to give to the friend who is driving me to give to the staff on Wednesday. Better safe than sorry.

~ M

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Catarina I can't help but notice post after post about morphine causing nausea. . . . . I just don't want to wait until I'm one of the ones saying "please unhook me from this".

It is not crazy Caterina. I actually felt better overall once they took the morphine pump away. It is not fun vomiting with all those fresh stitches. You tell them. If you feel calmer about the pain management, you will handle whatever pain you have much better.

Jx

I seem to be the exception. I had the Morphine pump and didn't feel even slightly nauseous. They also gave me morphine pills once the pump was removed and there were no side effects that I noticed.

Point is, morphine does not automatically equal nausea.

I told my Nursing staff (on admission to the hospital) that I was very sensitive to meds, that I was fearful of nausea, etc..... and I got anti nausea and reflux pills prior to surgery along with an anti-nausea patch that went behind my ear. I was told that would last for 72 hours.

When I got to my room with the pain pump, it was Morphine. I did ok with the one dose that dumped every hour, but I could not use the pump where you press the button when you need it because that was just too much for me. It was a constant state of dizziness for me.

I finally stopped using the pain pump by evening BUT I did keep the one dose going into the IV per hour. I seemed ok with that and it took the edge off.

Best of luck to you!

When I ended up in the ER a couple yrs ago for a burst ovarian cyst, they administered morphine via IV. I remember the nurse telling me that he was going to push the med VERY slowly because if it goes in too fast, it causes a drunk, woozy feeling which is what makes people sick. The way he did it, I had no problem. I'm betting that is what causes so many problems with the PCA pump. Both my friend and SIL said that they literally pushed the button and then a minute or so later, they threw up.