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Making a change on the BT med
I just got off the phone with the nurse practitioner. I told her about the long-lasting hot flashes and the patch not lasting the 72 hours. So she is going to have me change the patch every 2 days instead of every 3 and is changing the breakthrough medication from 1 to 2, 10 mg. oxycodone to 1 to 2, 15 mg. morphine.
I've never tried the morphine before. For those of you who have, how have you found it? The oxycodone never makes me feel "high" or drowsy. Will the morphine, even initially? (I'm wondering because I have two days of parent orientation at my daughter's college on Thursday and Friday. DON"T want to be nodding out while I'm there ... that would not make a very good impression!)
Thanks again to all of you!
I've never tried the morphine before. For those of you who have, how have you found it? The oxycodone never makes me feel "high" or drowsy. Will the morphine, even initially? (I'm wondering because I have two days of parent orientation at my daughter's college on Thursday and Friday. DON"T want to be nodding out while I'm there ... that would not make a very good impression!)
Thanks again to all of you!
I could scream ... had a big long post and it "disappeared!"
Short version now. I don't get sick from morphine; I seem to get violently ill after the surgery, llike a day or two after and then I vomit for days.
I switched from the oxycodone as a BT med when I started the Fentanyl patch. I was getting really long hot flashes (which I didn't get when I was on the oxycontin and oxycodone as BT pain.) I feel like the pain clinic is going to get pissed. The morphine makes me REALLY tired. Way more tired than I normally am. And if I had to choose, I think I'd rather deal with hot flashes than being so tired.
I was wondering if the meds were helping at all, but yesterday I didn't take any morphine and only had the Fentanyl patch since I had to drive home from Rhode Island after bringing my daughter to orientation at college. I was in agony by the time I got home. I even took an extra pill since when I took the two like I was supposed to, it didn't help enough. I had let the pain get too far ahead of me.
I'm going to call the pain clinic and make an appointment to talk to the NP face-to-face. I'll give the morphine another week or so and see if being so tired goes away.
Dilaudid doesn't work at all for me. They gave it to me after my last surgery and it was like having nothing. Advil would have been better. So strange because I've heard Dilaudid works great for a lot of people. And I thought it was stronger than oxycodone.
Jamie, how did your hip replacement go? I need to have that done but I'm afraid after having such a bad time with the joint replacement in my hand. (I need to have the right hand done too but too scared.)
They did give me some lidocaine patches a few weeks ago and I forgot about them. But they help a bit. They're supposed to help desensitize the scars but they help a bit overall. Last night I put the whole thing (they're pretty big and I cut them for my hand) on my hip, took the morphine and the Advil and it helped the hip a lot.
Hope everyone has a good weekend!
Short version now. I don't get sick from morphine; I seem to get violently ill after the surgery, llike a day or two after and then I vomit for days.
I switched from the oxycodone as a BT med when I started the Fentanyl patch. I was getting really long hot flashes (which I didn't get when I was on the oxycontin and oxycodone as BT pain.) I feel like the pain clinic is going to get pissed. The morphine makes me REALLY tired. Way more tired than I normally am. And if I had to choose, I think I'd rather deal with hot flashes than being so tired.
I was wondering if the meds were helping at all, but yesterday I didn't take any morphine and only had the Fentanyl patch since I had to drive home from Rhode Island after bringing my daughter to orientation at college. I was in agony by the time I got home. I even took an extra pill since when I took the two like I was supposed to, it didn't help enough. I had let the pain get too far ahead of me.
I'm going to call the pain clinic and make an appointment to talk to the NP face-to-face. I'll give the morphine another week or so and see if being so tired goes away.
Dilaudid doesn't work at all for me. They gave it to me after my last surgery and it was like having nothing. Advil would have been better. So strange because I've heard Dilaudid works great for a lot of people. And I thought it was stronger than oxycodone.
Jamie, how did your hip replacement go? I need to have that done but I'm afraid after having such a bad time with the joint replacement in my hand. (I need to have the right hand done too but too scared.)
They did give me some lidocaine patches a few weeks ago and I forgot about them. But they help a bit. They're supposed to help desensitize the scars but they help a bit overall. Last night I put the whole thing (they're pretty big and I cut them for my hand) on my hip, took the morphine and the Advil and it helped the hip a lot.
Hope everyone has a good weekend!
Hydromorphone = Dilaudid (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydromorphone)
Like I said, I use(d) it for BT pain associated with the passage of kidney-stones, and it works like a charm.
In pill form, from the onset of a stone and me taking one 8mg, it'd take about 6 minutes to hit my system, integrate, and take care of the pain.
In IV form (when administered at the hospital), you're looking at about 5 seconds from the time they inject to the time the pain is taken care of.
All of this being said, if you can't handle that "heady", "euphoric" feeling associated with the heavier narcotics, then I'd suggest staying away from Dilaudid. It's the heaviest of the heavy narcotics, and will leave you feeling giddy (although it works wonderfully for the pain).
Like I said, I use(d) it for BT pain associated with the passage of kidney-stones, and it works like a charm.
In pill form, from the onset of a stone and me taking one 8mg, it'd take about 6 minutes to hit my system, integrate, and take care of the pain.
In IV form (when administered at the hospital), you're looking at about 5 seconds from the time they inject to the time the pain is taken care of.
All of this being said, if you can't handle that "heady", "euphoric" feeling associated with the heavier narcotics, then I'd suggest staying away from Dilaudid. It's the heaviest of the heavy narcotics, and will leave you feeling giddy (although it works wonderfully for the pain).
Well maybe she said this because if it ever comes to that point when you have to get off the meds she will make sure she lowers them or gives you something so you won't with drawl.
The ER gave me some pain meds not as strong as morphine but it did help with my pain and the withdrawls, they wanted to give me morphine but I told them no way in the world would I take them again. That is one drug I refuse to take and I have been looked at badly because of not wanting to take it. the bad thing was I was on a morphine pill that also had something in it so you won't withdrawl when you get off of them, well it didn't work and I thought I was going to die.
I understand how it feels to be right lol my family is always questioning me and I am always always right and I have to always say "I told you so" and my husband just looks at me like well you was right again but I am not going to say that out loud lol My kids are the same way too, but I let them get away with it but not my husband lol.
Jamie
The ER gave me some pain meds not as strong as morphine but it did help with my pain and the withdrawls, they wanted to give me morphine but I told them no way in the world would I take them again. That is one drug I refuse to take and I have been looked at badly because of not wanting to take it. the bad thing was I was on a morphine pill that also had something in it so you won't withdrawl when you get off of them, well it didn't work and I thought I was going to die.
I understand how it feels to be right lol my family is always questioning me and I am always always right and I have to always say "I told you so" and my husband just looks at me like well you was right again but I am not going to say that out loud lol My kids are the same way too, but I let them get away with it but not my husband lol.
Jamie
Good Evening Mary,
I'd be willing to bet that you are allergic to Morphine. The one and only time that I've Morphine (all the other times Ipve had Demerol) was for my ruptured disc's to be removed. They continued with the Morphine intravenously and I ws throwing up. After the 2nd time my Nurse called the Anethetist and this time as the Nurse administered the Morphine before it was even half in I was vomiting. He asked me what I'd had before for my other surgeries (Hip implant) and I told him Demerol and he immediately pulled me off of it and told me to NEVER have it again as I am quite allergic to it. He ordered Demerol for me for the rest of my stay. If I were you I'd be asking for something OTHER than Morphine. Tell your Anesthetist what your reaction has been to the Morphine. The vomiting is the ONLY reaction that I had. That was enough for the Anesthetist.
I'd really let the Doctor know about your reaction to the Morphine before you get yourself into some real trouble.
Good Luck, Mary. Please keep us updated on how it goes...Sherry
I'd be willing to bet that you are allergic to Morphine. The one and only time that I've Morphine (all the other times Ipve had Demerol) was for my ruptured disc's to be removed. They continued with the Morphine intravenously and I ws throwing up. After the 2nd time my Nurse called the Anethetist and this time as the Nurse administered the Morphine before it was even half in I was vomiting. He asked me what I'd had before for my other surgeries (Hip implant) and I told him Demerol and he immediately pulled me off of it and told me to NEVER have it again as I am quite allergic to it. He ordered Demerol for me for the rest of my stay. If I were you I'd be asking for something OTHER than Morphine. Tell your Anesthetist what your reaction has been to the Morphine. The vomiting is the ONLY reaction that I had. That was enough for the Anesthetist.
I'd really let the Doctor know about your reaction to the Morphine before you get yourself into some real trouble.
Good Luck, Mary. Please keep us updated on how it goes...Sherry
El, I didn't see your comment before. What is hydromorphone? (You know, I really thought I was up on all the meds and I definitely am not!!)
Jamie, it feels good to be right, doesn't it??? Never happens around here since I am ONLY THE MOM and KNOW NOTHING!!!! :) How did you end up with withdrawals from the morphine? I tell you, withdrawals are my worst nightmare having just experienced them a little bit. But my NP PROMISES me there will be no withdrawals. I wonder how that is? I mean Fentanyl is pretty strong and so is morphine. I hope she is not just placating me.
I don't know how people go through withdrawals with nothing to help them through it. The little I experienced was pretty bad.
Jamie, it feels good to be right, doesn't it??? Never happens around here since I am ONLY THE MOM and KNOW NOTHING!!!! :) How did you end up with withdrawals from the morphine? I tell you, withdrawals are my worst nightmare having just experienced them a little bit. But my NP PROMISES me there will be no withdrawals. I wonder how that is? I mean Fentanyl is pretty strong and so is morphine. I hope she is not just placating me.
I don't know how people go through withdrawals with nothing to help them through it. The little I experienced was pretty bad.
I am so glad they changed it from every 3 days to 2 days ( I believe I told you that they would have no problem with this lol sorry but I love when I am right LOL) I am so hoping it will help alot more and I am thinking it will.
As for the morphine I was only on it once for 2 weeks and then stopped. I had bad withdrawls from it. It is different with different people. but I will never touch it again. I hope it works for you but please promise me you won't stop it all at once, it is very bad to do this and I learned the very hard way.
Jamie
As for the morphine I was only on it once for 2 weeks and then stopped. I had bad withdrawls from it. It is different with different people. but I will never touch it again. I hope it works for you but please promise me you won't stop it all at once, it is very bad to do this and I learned the very hard way.
Jamie
Thanks to all! Sara, I'm glad I called. Sometimes I hold off calling because I don't want to be a pain! But all the staff at my pain clinic really are terrific.
Molly, I didn't sweat with just the patch; it's only when I took the oxycodone with it. It's a shame because the oxycodone actually worked well with the pain (at least through 48 hours.) When I brought the prescription in, the pharmacist (never had one do this before) said she ran a check to make sure they were comparable in dosage and said the morphine is just a tiny bit stronger. (Now I got 15 mg. morphine and was told to take 1 to 2 pills three times a day.) I'm not sure why, but I always thought morphine was stronger than oxycodone.
Of course, everyone is different. They gave me Dilaudid once post-op and it was like taking nothing.
Sherry, did you have other reactions to the morphine? That must have been awful. Whenever I have surgery, I have a bad reaction, but I don't know to what. I always end up with severe vomiting for days. Each surgery seems to get worse. Last time it was 8 straight days. I can barely tolerate sips of water. My chest and esophagus get raw and so painful. They've given me compazine and Zofran and it did nothing to help. It's to the point I'm afraid to have my next surgery, though I have a feeling they'll admit me next time.
Tuck, I'd be lost without my coffee. Whenever I have surgery, I end up with a caffeine withdrawal headache. I've become so friendly with the nurses in the operating room and post-op that one of them has a thermos of Dunkin' Donuts coffee waiting for me when I wake up!! And there probably will be people who doze off. Maybe I won't need to take the morphine.
Molly, I didn't sweat with just the patch; it's only when I took the oxycodone with it. It's a shame because the oxycodone actually worked well with the pain (at least through 48 hours.) When I brought the prescription in, the pharmacist (never had one do this before) said she ran a check to make sure they were comparable in dosage and said the morphine is just a tiny bit stronger. (Now I got 15 mg. morphine and was told to take 1 to 2 pills three times a day.) I'm not sure why, but I always thought morphine was stronger than oxycodone.
Of course, everyone is different. They gave me Dilaudid once post-op and it was like taking nothing.
Sherry, did you have other reactions to the morphine? That must have been awful. Whenever I have surgery, I have a bad reaction, but I don't know to what. I always end up with severe vomiting for days. Each surgery seems to get worse. Last time it was 8 straight days. I can barely tolerate sips of water. My chest and esophagus get raw and so painful. They've given me compazine and Zofran and it did nothing to help. It's to the point I'm afraid to have my next surgery, though I have a feeling they'll admit me next time.
Tuck, I'd be lost without my coffee. Whenever I have surgery, I end up with a caffeine withdrawal headache. I've become so friendly with the nurses in the operating room and post-op that one of them has a thermos of Dunkin' Donuts coffee waiting for me when I wake up!! And there probably will be people who doze off. Maybe I won't need to take the morphine.
Just a suggestion, but have you tried Hyrdomorphone for BT pain? I've found that it works very well for BT pain associated with kidney-stones (and my kidney-stone pain is pretty horrible).
In my experience, Oxymorphone made me drowsy (as everyone else has indicated), but Hydromorphone didn't make me drowsy at all. You'll have to find the right dose (2mg, 4mg or 8mg) but in my limited experience, it works very well for BT's.
In my experience, Oxymorphone made me drowsy (as everyone else has indicated), but Hydromorphone didn't make me drowsy at all. You'll have to find the right dose (2mg, 4mg or 8mg) but in my limited experience, it works very well for BT's.
Hi Mary,
I am so glad to hear that the NP is willing to work you with and adjust your medications. Some times that is not the case.
I too found that Morphine tended to make me more sleepy. I didn't get a euphoria from it, just a bit sleepy. I had greater releif with the oxycodone. Remember all our systems are different. I think you will just have to try it before you know what if any side effects you notice from it.
I would not be overly concerned about attending parent orientation. Just do your best. Take all the literature offered. Hopefully someone will also be attending with you. Try to dress in cool attire it will help with the sleepiness. Even those that are not taking medications may be dozing off. I think we have all seen that happen. Hopefully the material and presentation will be interesting. If you are able to consume caffeine that can be helpful. Personally I would be lost without my coffee!
The main thing is your comfort. Being as pain free as possible will help make the orientation a more pleasant experience. Another step forward in your child's growth and education, how exciting.
I will be wishing you the very best. I will also look forward to hearing how effective the medication change is for you. We're tough together.
Take Care,
~Tuck
I am so glad to hear that the NP is willing to work you with and adjust your medications. Some times that is not the case.
I too found that Morphine tended to make me more sleepy. I didn't get a euphoria from it, just a bit sleepy. I had greater releif with the oxycodone. Remember all our systems are different. I think you will just have to try it before you know what if any side effects you notice from it.
I would not be overly concerned about attending parent orientation. Just do your best. Take all the literature offered. Hopefully someone will also be attending with you. Try to dress in cool attire it will help with the sleepiness. Even those that are not taking medications may be dozing off. I think we have all seen that happen. Hopefully the material and presentation will be interesting. If you are able to consume caffeine that can be helpful. Personally I would be lost without my coffee!
The main thing is your comfort. Being as pain free as possible will help make the orientation a more pleasant experience. Another step forward in your child's growth and education, how exciting.
I will be wishing you the very best. I will also look forward to hearing how effective the medication change is for you. We're tough together.
Take Care,
~Tuck
Hi Mary,
I'm so glad that you went ahead and called and got the script changed. I'm sure that you will be able to tell a difference. I know that I did.
I'm sorry can't help you on the Morphine though as I am VERY allergic to it. Can't keep ANYTHING down when I take it.
I'm anxious to see how it works for you.I'm HOPING for the best. Can't wait for your update....Sherry
I'm so glad that you went ahead and called and got the script changed. I'm sure that you will be able to tell a difference. I know that I did.
I'm sorry can't help you on the Morphine though as I am VERY allergic to it. Can't keep ANYTHING down when I take it.
I'm anxious to see how it works for you.I'm HOPING for the best. Can't wait for your update....Sherry
Hello Mary:
I too get the sweats from the Patch, especially when I am doing something that is very physical. Sometimes I sweat along the hairline just trying to blow dry my hair.
I have had the 15mg Morphine and with my experience, it made me more drowsy as opposed to the Oxycodone. I eventually had the Doctor switch me back to the Oxycodone. 15mg Morphine is equivalent to 5mg of Oxycodone, so you might need to take both tabs of the Morphine to get the same relief.
I hope this helps.
My best,
Mollyrae
I too get the sweats from the Patch, especially when I am doing something that is very physical. Sometimes I sweat along the hairline just trying to blow dry my hair.
I have had the 15mg Morphine and with my experience, it made me more drowsy as opposed to the Oxycodone. I eventually had the Doctor switch me back to the Oxycodone. 15mg Morphine is equivalent to 5mg of Oxycodone, so you might need to take both tabs of the Morphine to get the same relief.
I hope this helps.
My best,
Mollyrae
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