RE: Morphine Pump / Bruce F.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/25/2002 6:52:16 PM US Eastern Standard Time,

hbfinley@... writes:

> >>> I had a pump implanted in February and at 12 mgs a day still have

> breakthrough pain. I would be interested in your experience with the pump,

> if you have one, or anyone else's. ...Bruce Finley <<<

Hi Bruce,

I don't have a Morphine Pump right now, but when I did I was set at 10 mg/hr

with a bolus lock out of 10 mg every 10 minutes for breakthrough pain. I also

required additional pain management as that was ineffective. I went and

reviewed the archives and couldn't quite tell if you are talking about a

spinal pump or a PICC or subclavian pain pump? What are the other medications

in your pain management protocol?

Karyn

Karyn E. , RN

Founder / Executive Director

Pancreatitis Association International

Corp. Office: Indps, IN, USA 1-

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/25/2002 6:52:16 PM US Eastern Standard Time,

hbfinley@... writes:

> >>> I had a pump implanted in February and at 12 mgs a day still have

> breakthrough pain. I would be interested in your experience with the pump,

> if you have one, or anyone else's. ...Bruce Finley <<<

Hi Bruce,

I don't have a Morphine Pump right now, but when I did I was set at 10 mg/hr

with a bolus lock out of 10 mg every 10 minutes for breakthrough pain. I also

required additional pain management as that was ineffective. I went and

reviewed the archives and couldn't quite tell if you are talking about a

spinal pump or a PICC or subclavian pain pump? What are the other medications

in your pain management protocol?

Karyn

Karyn E. , RN

Founder / Executive Director

Pancreatitis Association International

Corp. Office: Indps, IN, USA 1-

[Guest guest]

Karyn,

Thank you for responding. The pump is an epidural with a catheter leading

from the pump to the spinal column. Mine can only be increased by the

doctor,refilling or adding to the amount of morphine currently at 12 mg/hr.

He had tried a bolus but it didn't have the desired effect and I actually

had a weird sensation in my tailbone instead of my brain. I'm taking Tylox

for breakthrough pain and had gotten down to three a day at 10 mg/hr on

liquids. I have been drinking Boost Plus since early October but tried real

food yesterday for Thanksgiving. The pain was the same as with the Boost

requiring 3 Tylox for breakthrough. At 12 mg/hr I seem to have the same

amount of breakthrough as I had at 10. Is that unusual? (nothing else

changed - drinking Bost only)

I would like to have the pump increased to the point that I don't have

breakthrough but I guess that is just a matter of adjusting the dosage to

that point. What is the point at which the pump can not be increased

anymore?

For some of you I can offer some hope. My pancreatitis was caused by the

pancreas being ruptured by the steering wheel forcing it against the spine.

I was undiagnosed for over a month and by that time I was too infected to

operate on immediately. Too make a long story short I had a cyst removed in

1965 and another drained in 1966. I would be hospitalized once a year or

every 6 months for pain, put on IV fluids and pain meds. In between times I

was normal and could eat pretty much anything as long as I took my enzymes.

That went on for about 15 years and then I became symptom free although the

pancreas was calcified and the duct blocked. The next 15 years were pain

free. Even stopped taking the enzymes. I could eat anything I wanted with a

few exceptions. It wasn't until 1999 that I began experiencing pancreatic

pain again. In 2000 I had a distal pancreatecomy, but it did not resolve

the pain. I don't have the nausea that most people have but have been unable

to work since May 2001 because of the pain, fatigue and muscle weakness.

So, maybe it's not so bleak for some of you and you will be as fortunate as

I have been. I was only 21 when I had the auto accident but have been able

to enjoy a great many pain free years and hope all of you can too.

Bruce

Re: Morphine Pump / Bruce F.

In a message dated 11/25/2002 6:52:16 PM US Eastern Standard Time,

hbfinley@... writes:

> >>> I had a pump implanted in February and at 12 mgs a day still have

> breakthrough pain. I would be interested in your experience with the

pump,

> if you have one, or anyone else's. ...Bruce Finley <<<

Hi Bruce,

I don't have a Morphine Pump right now, but when I did I was set at 10

mg/hr

with a bolus lock out of 10 mg every 10 minutes for breakthrough pain. I

also

required additional pain management as that was ineffective. I went and

reviewed the archives and couldn't quite tell if you are talking about a

spinal pump or a PICC or subclavian pain pump? What are the other

medications

in your pain management protocol?

Karyn

Karyn E. , RN

Founder / Executive Director

Pancreatitis Association International

Corp. Office: Indps, IN, USA 1-

[Guest guest]

Karyn,

Thank you for responding. The pump is an epidural with a catheter leading

from the pump to the spinal column. Mine can only be increased by the

doctor,refilling or adding to the amount of morphine currently at 12 mg/hr.

He had tried a bolus but it didn't have the desired effect and I actually

had a weird sensation in my tailbone instead of my brain. I'm taking Tylox

for breakthrough pain and had gotten down to three a day at 10 mg/hr on

liquids. I have been drinking Boost Plus since early October but tried real

food yesterday for Thanksgiving. The pain was the same as with the Boost

requiring 3 Tylox for breakthrough. At 12 mg/hr I seem to have the same

amount of breakthrough as I had at 10. Is that unusual? (nothing else

changed - drinking Bost only)

I would like to have the pump increased to the point that I don't have

breakthrough but I guess that is just a matter of adjusting the dosage to

that point. What is the point at which the pump can not be increased

anymore?

For some of you I can offer some hope. My pancreatitis was caused by the

pancreas being ruptured by the steering wheel forcing it against the spine.

I was undiagnosed for over a month and by that time I was too infected to

operate on immediately. Too make a long story short I had a cyst removed in

1965 and another drained in 1966. I would be hospitalized once a year or

every 6 months for pain, put on IV fluids and pain meds. In between times I

was normal and could eat pretty much anything as long as I took my enzymes.

That went on for about 15 years and then I became symptom free although the

pancreas was calcified and the duct blocked. The next 15 years were pain

free. Even stopped taking the enzymes. I could eat anything I wanted with a

few exceptions. It wasn't until 1999 that I began experiencing pancreatic

pain again. In 2000 I had a distal pancreatecomy, but it did not resolve

the pain. I don't have the nausea that most people have but have been unable

to work since May 2001 because of the pain, fatigue and muscle weakness.

So, maybe it's not so bleak for some of you and you will be as fortunate as

I have been. I was only 21 when I had the auto accident but have been able

to enjoy a great many pain free years and hope all of you can too.

Bruce

Re: Morphine Pump / Bruce F.

In a message dated 11/25/2002 6:52:16 PM US Eastern Standard Time,

hbfinley@... writes:

> >>> I had a pump implanted in February and at 12 mgs a day still have

> breakthrough pain. I would be interested in your experience with the

pump,

> if you have one, or anyone else's. ...Bruce Finley <<<

Hi Bruce,

I don't have a Morphine Pump right now, but when I did I was set at 10

mg/hr

with a bolus lock out of 10 mg every 10 minutes for breakthrough pain. I

also

required additional pain management as that was ineffective. I went and

reviewed the archives and couldn't quite tell if you are talking about a

spinal pump or a PICC or subclavian pain pump? What are the other

medications

in your pain management protocol?

Karyn

Karyn E. , RN

Founder / Executive Director

Pancreatitis Association International

Corp. Office: Indps, IN, USA 1-

[Guest guest]

are you one topamx for pain? My husband was on it for cluster migraine

headaches. His nurologist told him it was for seizures but has beneifts for

migrain control? Do you have seizures? If not I'm confused

Patty in Bangor me