It Hurts

[Nicolette]

I wish this pain would stop. Just over 2 weeks until round 2 surgery - I hope this fixes the pain. Even morphine isn't stopping the pain & I can only take a half dose otherwise I get nauseous & I'm allergic to anti-nausea medication.

I have so much to do & have spent the day in agony. I'm so sick of this.

 

[purple butterfly]

(((Oh Nicolette)))
I am thinking of you. Your frustrations is totally understandable! Do you expect any improvement in the level of pain before the next surgery?

 

[cherryblossom]

Hi Hon,

So sorry to hear that you are still in pain.

You may well have tried all this but just some information for you. Morphine is a strong pain relief, it is centrally acting (acting on pain receptors in the Central nervous system), and the effect of such opioid drug varies from patient to patient, and also varies, depending on the site/ cause of 'injury'. Aspirin, paracetamol and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), act peripherally (i.e. at the site of the pain), and can be just as affective, and sometimes more effective than morphine (again depends on the patient and the nature of the pain). Paracetamol is being used more and more in UK hospitals, as it is a very effective pain relieving drug. The anti-inflamatory actions of NSAIDS (such as ibuprofen) could make all the difference to you, since you may fell have some swelling and inflammation following surgery, which could be the main cause of your pain (but please check with your Doc, or pharmacist first).

There are also other anti-emetics (anti-sickness) medications available other than metoclopramide (which I believe is the drug you had an allergic reaction to?). Some of which act completely differently and are in no way related to meoclopramide, so it may be worth asking if there is another anti-sickness drug you could take instead. Also morphine, and other opioid drugs are available in 'rectal' form. I agree this might not be your first choice in methods to administer medication, but if it works - hell, why not?! I believe it's a bit hit and miss (location-wise), as to whether rectal opioids are available, but that would completely eliminate any nausea /sickness issues, and a need for an anti-emetic drug, and allow you to have full doses of pain relief.

Morphine is also available in patches (like nicotine patches), which, while generally used for more chronic / long standing conditions may (don't know?) benefit you in the short term.

It goes without saying, that you should take professional advice before changing your medication, but perhaps there are other meds you haven't tried or a different administration of drugs that could help you in the next few weeks, and after your next surgery.

I don't like to think of you (or anybody) in pain. We are all individuals, you especially;), and sometimes we have to go outside the box to find a solution. My personal opinion, in this day and age is that no-one should suffer pain unnecessarily.

CB x x x x​

 

[Nighthawk]

Constant pain is awful allyou want is to feel better is that so much to ask. I really wish that the pain would taper so you could get some relief.

NH

 

[Srain]

((((((((((Nicolette)))))))))))

I'm very sorry. Chronic is extremely wearing and takes everything out of person. I am allergic to compazine so I resort to nibbling on good old saltines and ginger. I don't know if this will help but I know I try everything.

peace and comfort,
Rain

 

[amethist]

Nicolette I remember a few years back a friend having pain issues, and his GP issuing some high dose, slow release patches, replaced once a day when he could not take oral pain relief. He was waiting for 2 hip replacement opp's.

So the info CB has given is good, and having seen it work, maybe it is a path to look at yourself. As they dont enter your body via your stomach, they would possibly have less on an impact with nausea, but a heck of a lot more on the pain it's self.

Being in pain is very draining mentally to, so please don't over do anything. It's not worth it, if it can wait a few hours or even a day longer.

​

 

[Sammy]

(((((Nicolette)))))
As Rain says, chronic pain is the worst! It can feel like it will never end. Don't give up and rest as you need! Nothing is more important than your health! I also agree with CB - check with your doc. There are just so many options out there, there should be a way to keep the pain manageable.
Sending healing vibes and hugs to you!
S

 

[Ladyhope Somerset]

Suffering in silence wont do you any good sweetie. There must an alternative that'll work for you.

Oh and by the way, I've got my Baci chocs ready when you are. I bought them in an Italian cafe (reduced price because of a short sell by date), the barista asked me if I knew what Baci meant. Yes I said, full of confidence and his eyes widened as I blew him a kiss. We flirted, he told me the chocs were individually wrapped so that I could give one to my friend, one to my husband and one to my favourite barista if I wanted to!! Such fun :D;) I love Italian men.

((Nicolette))

Take care
LH x

 

[cherryblossom]

Hahaha - That pink butterfly is getting around a bit :D :roflmao:

There must be something about pink, and a beautiful butterfly, that makes us think of you, Nicolette!!

 

[sea]

When you do feel nauseated, lie down on your side for a while. The nausea will subside as long as you're lying on your side. Mobile patients on opiates experience much more nausea than immobile patients on opiates. Lying down on your side is the quickest and most effective method of relieving any nausea on any opiate.

Eat a full meal before taking the morphine, the contents of your stomach will slow the absorption rate (but not the absorption itself), making you less likely to get nauseated. Taking it on an empty stomach is what creates that big "hit" and subsequent nausea. If you have tums, take a couple before taking the morphine. Once again it will increase absorption rate and reduce nausea. If you have grapefruit juice or orange juice, take it with a glass. Citrus is a very good potentiator and reliever of nausea.

These are all ways to increase the potency while decreasing the effects on your stomach.

I know a lot of people on here, I'm not sure if you are included, take anti-anxiety medication. If you're on anti-anxiety medication (and your doctor has allowed you to remain on it while taking morphine) take a half or a quarter of one at the same time as you take the morphine. This only applies if your anti-anxiety medication is a benzodiazepine. But, it should almost immediately decrease the nausea. I used to take clonazepam when I took morphine, and it eliminated the nausea completely.

If your pills aren't working for you by taking the tablets in tact, you can crush them up and swallow the powder with a pepsi or coke. I say this because you are already taking "only half" a dose, meaning you break the pills, and therefore it is not MS Contin. If it is MS Contin there should be no decrease in safety with crushing it up, as it is almost identical to taking it in tact with a regular morphine tablet only it absorbs faster.

I suggest most of this with the idea that you will use common sense and stay safe, and only because you say that the morphine isn't doing the job in relieving your pain, therefore increasing the potency is the best way to get pain relief now. The best method would be to ask your doctor for something more potent or something with less effects. I would only follow any of the potency increasing advice (orange juice, crushing it up, tums, pepsi, etc) if you followed my advice regarding the nausea. Increasing the potency of the morphine will increase your nausea, unless you lie on your side, take some tums or dimenhydrinate, etc.

Metaclopromide is a shitty drug anyway, dimenhydrinate is much more effective. Chlorpheniramine is also fairly effective and does not cause as much drowsiness. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is the exact same chemical as dimenhydrinate, but it has a 2:1 ratio of distribution. Meaning, both diphenhydramine and dimenhydrinate will give you the same results, (IE, Dramamine and Benadryl are identical to one another, so either/or will substitute). Any anti-histamine should do, try to find one that doesn't increase drowsiness.

Taking ginger root, ginger ale, ginger tea, peppermint tea etc, will also help. Drinking hot water or tea will help. If you have lemonade, or lemon-flavored drinks/food, eat/drink them. Milk will also help. Keep in mind that any anti-emetic you take (diphenhydramine, dimenhydrinate, chlorpheniramine, etc) should be taken around 45 mins before you take the morphine.

Those are all ways that you can get the most out of the pills you have, right now. My best advice to you would be to find an alternative method of administration or to find an alternative drug. Like CB says, NSAIDs are helpful. Naproxen, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, etc. (Avoid aspirin, aspirin blows in every situation). There are such things as morphine pumps, morphine patches, and there are rectal morphine solutions that are designed to be inserted that you can get from your doctor if it's necessary. There are, like she said, also different anti-emetics out there that work and function differently than metaclopromide. Talk with your doctor.

Hope that helps. Stay safe. I'm sorry you're in so much pain. Know what it's like to be at the edge of desperation.

 

[Nicolette]

Thanks everyone. Morphine was a last result - I have been on paracetamol & ibrophene like CB suggested. The doctor said it's best to take it all 4 hourly religiously than to let the pain get out of control. I have been doing this as best I can.

I have other anti-nausea medication to try but I scared Anthony so much with my reaction that he doesn't want me to try it.

I spent the majority of the day lying down but being on my side hurts my kidneys more.

I'm at the point in my cycle where my kidney blows up & while the stent must be working I am wanting to rip it out as it hurts more.

 

[sea]

Another good anti-nausea position is sitting with your knees apart, elbows on your thighs, and head leaning forward or down, with your chin resting on your hands. Basically a milder version of the drunk "head between the knees". There's a reason they do that, it does help, though it is less effective than lying on your side. Sorry if I am just repeating things you have probably already heard. Either way I hope that you feel better soon, and it is good that it is working, anyhow.