Guest guest Posted June 18, 2002 Report Share Posted June 18, 2002 Hi, When I was working home care I took care of a lady who had terminal cancer. She had a pump that gave a steady dose of meds but it also had a button she could push for breakthrough pain, like a PCA. Unfortunately though I think it is only for terminal patients. > In a message dated 06/18/2002 12:58:53 AM Eastern Daylight Time, > shadoseer@c... writes: > > > > Geeze, I wish we could all have a PCA......wouldn't that just make it so > > much easier? > > > You've got that right. Research has proven that patients with PCAs actually > use less medication than those who take pills or injections while in the > hospital. Now, they really need to work on something for those of us not in > the hospital. [Well, maybe they have. Several people have talked about the > spinal implant that delivers meds on a steady basis. Not sure that I want to > try that right now.] > > {{{And Pain-free Wishes}}} > Carol > > " In the little decisions of life, use your mind; in the big decisions, use > your heart " [author unknown] > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2002 Report Share Posted June 18, 2002 Hi, ! When I was being treated for my RSD with intravenous morphine, I had a portable pump that connected through a needle in my tummy (which was changed every 48-72 hours). The pump was set by the visiting nurse to a specific level (as per the prescribing doctor), and it had a " bolus " button on it for times when I needed extra help. The pump was in a covered bag, which I carried with me via the shoulder strap. It was my best friend for about two years, before a new doctor decided to pull the needle from my stomach and send me home. (That was one of my cold-turkey withdrawals.) Just wanted to let you know that the pump IS available for non-terminal patients. But it needs to be prescribed by a doctor who knows of its existence. HTH... Gentle Hugs, Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2002 Report Share Posted June 18, 2002 Hi , When I was volunteering in Hospice I remember most of our patients had morphine suppositories since they couldn't take anything by mouth. I didn't realize why that was neccessary until I thought of it years later. I met a girl recently a year older than me (32) who is not terminal but has a pump like you describe only it was for dilaudid. She fell off a cliff while hiking among other injuries over her lifetime and she has had 7 surgeries on her spine basically like humpty dumpty they had to put her back together but the pain remained. I lost touch with her when she was run over by a car they sent her somewhere I can't find her. Anyway they do use these pumps for non terminal patients, atleast that one that I know of. Her pain management doctor is local, he only uses pumps of different types because he doesn't like to write scripts, at all. He's far too aggressive with them, I don't go to him for that and other reasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2002 Report Share Posted June 18, 2002 In a message dated 06/18/2002 11:25:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time, abushrn@... writes: > She had a pump that gave a steady dose of meds but it also had a button she > could push for breakthrough pain, like a PCA. Unfortunately though I think > it is only for terminal patients. : Diabetic patients have something like this now. There is an indwelling catheter [i believe in the stomach or abdominal area] and that hooks up to a " pager " type device that alerts the patient when medication is needed. Only reason I know this is our realtor in NC had one. Surely they could devise something like that for pain patients. Or, is that what the spinal thing does? Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 19, 2002 Report Share Posted June 19, 2002 Hi, I figured it was available for non-terminal patients. But as we know you often can't get this kind of great pain control unless you are terminal. I have only seen this pump used once. The lady who was using it became a good friend of mine and it worked well for her. One weekend though when I was off duty the pump malfunctioned and somehow infused way too much morphine. Luckily the nurse working that day figured it out in time. She was given narcan (a med that reverses the affects of narcotics) and was ok. Just a scary incident for her family. They thought she was dying from her cancer. I wish they had given this to my mom when she was dying. She died at the age of 48 of liver and bone cancer. Bone cancer is very painful. On the night she passed away she had aweful pain. We tried to reach her doctors to ask them to prescribe but they were too busy having fun at a Christmas party in NYC. They refused to give her any IV meds even though she had a port because they said it would kill her. They told us that the only way she would get this is if we brought her into the hospital. Her two requests were that she be able to die at home and that she be kept comfortable. We finally convinced them to give her morphine shots. They only gave her 1 mg. though ever hour. I gave them to her. That was my first experience giving a shot. She ended up passing away at 2:15AM. > Hi, ! > When I was being treated for my RSD with intravenous morphine, I had a > portable pump that connected through a needle in my tummy (which was changed > every 48-72 hours). The pump was set by the visiting nurse to a specific > level (as per the prescribing doctor), and it had a " bolus " button on it for > times when I needed extra help. The pump was in a covered bag, which I > carried with me via the shoulder strap. It was my best friend for about two > years, before a new doctor decided to pull the needle from my stomach and > send me home. (That was one of my cold-turkey withdrawals.) > Just wanted to let you know that the pump IS available for non-terminal > patients. But it needs to be prescribed by a doctor who knows of its > existence. > HTH... > Gentle Hugs, > Fran > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 19, 2002 Report Share Posted June 19, 2002 Hi, I figured it was available for non-terminal patients. But as we know you often can't get this kind of great pain control unless you are terminal. I have only seen this pump used once. The lady who was using it became a good friend of mine and it worked well for her. One weekend though when I was off duty the pump malfunctioned and somehow infused way too much morphine. Luckily the nurse working that day figured it out in time. She was given narcan (a med that reverses the affects of narcotics) and was ok. Just a scary incident for her family. They thought she was dying from her cancer. I wish they had given this to my mom when she was dying. She died at the age of 48 of liver and bone cancer. Bone cancer is very painful. On the night she passed away she had aweful pain. We tried to reach her doctors to ask them to prescribe but they were too busy having fun at a Christmas party in NYC. They refused to give her any IV meds even though she had a port because they said it would kill her. They told us that the only way she would get this is if we brought her into the hospital. Her two requests were that she be able to die at home and that she be kept comfortable. We finally convinced them to give her morphine shots. They only gave her 1 mg. though ever hour. I gave them to her. That was my first experience giving a shot. She ended up passing away at 2:15AM. > Hi, ! > When I was being treated for my RSD with intravenous morphine, I had a > portable pump that connected through a needle in my tummy (which was changed > every 48-72 hours). The pump was set by the visiting nurse to a specific > level (as per the prescribing doctor), and it had a " bolus " button on it for > times when I needed extra help. The pump was in a covered bag, which I > carried with me via the shoulder strap. It was my best friend for about two > years, before a new doctor decided to pull the needle from my stomach and > send me home. (That was one of my cold-turkey withdrawals.) > Just wanted to let you know that the pump IS available for non-terminal > patients. But it needs to be prescribed by a doctor who knows of its > existence. > HTH... > Gentle Hugs, > Fran > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 19, 2002 Report Share Posted June 19, 2002 Hi, I know they have this for diabetics. When my husband was teaching in the middle school he had a girl who had the pump. She was one of those kids that you just can't help but like. She had it really rought as she was a brittle diabetic and just lost her mom to cancer. We still keep in close contact with her as she is in college studing to become a doctor. They do have pumps for pain control. Some are IV and some are actually implanted into the spine. I am hoping to get one implanted into my spine one day. We are still considering having one more child so if we do I will have it placed after the baby is born. I honestly don't know a whole lot about the pumps placed in your spine. I don't know if they are just for back pain or if they help with other types of pain. > In a message dated 06/18/2002 11:25:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time, > abushrn@y... writes: > > > > She had a pump that gave a steady dose of meds but it also had a button she > > could push for breakthrough pain, like a PCA. Unfortunately though I think > > it is only for terminal patients. > > : > > Diabetic patients have something like this now. There is an indwelling > catheter [i believe in the stomach or abdominal area] and that hooks up to a > " pager " type device that alerts the patient when medication is needed. Only > reason I know this is our realtor in NC had one. Surely they could devise > something like that for pain patients. Or, is that what the spinal thing > does? > > Carol > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2002 Report Share Posted June 23, 2002 Hi, I'm checking out the pump as well because I have many different types of pain. I will explain that later in the " my story " email. My understanding about them is that they insert a catheter into your spine which delivers a much more concentrated and pure morphine than you get in the pill form. I goes straight to the narcotic receptors in your brain and blocks the pain-any pain. While there is some risk from them, I'm taking so much morphine right now and now have developed liver problems, this seems like a viable answer for me. Oh, it is delivered in the same way as the insulin pump, I just don't know how often it has to be changed, etc. What I understand is that it does not have to be changed as often as the other pumps because of the amount of med, etc. that is being delivered. I'm going to find out more on Thursday and I'll let you all know. I'm all for it if I don't have to take so many pills and with a house with kids that are growing into their teens, I would rather not have any morphine in the house that anyone can get to. I know that my oldest son knows better, but that doesn't mean that his friends don't. I've decided that being in pain like we are is a catch 22 situation. You get one thing figured out and two other problems (or possible problems) crop up. Will write more soon. Love, Kathy abushrn wrote: Hi, I know they have this for diabetics. When my husband was teaching in the middle school he had a girl who had the pump. She was one of those kids that you just can't help but like. She had it really rought as she was a brittle diabetic and just lost her mom to cancer. We still keep in close contact with her as she is in college studing to become a doctor. They do have pumps for pain control. Some are IV and some are actually implanted into the spine. I am hoping to get one implanted into my spine one day. We are still considering having one more child so if we do I will have it placed after the baby is born. I honestly don't know a whole lot about the pumps placed in your spine. I don't know if they are just for back pain or if they help with other types of pain. > In a message dated 06/18/2002 11:25:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time, > abushrn@y... writes: > > > > She had a pump that gave a steady dose of meds but it also had a button she > > could push for breakthrough pain, like a PCA. Unfortunately though I think > > it is only for terminal patients. > > : > > Diabetic patients have something like this now. There is an indwelling > catheter [i believe in the stomach or abdominal area] and that hooks up to a > " pager " type device that alerts the patient when medication is needed. Only > reason I know this is our realtor in NC had one. Surely they could devise > something like that for pain patients. Or, is that what the spinal thing > does? > > Carol > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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