Have any questions about how to use the community? Check out the Help Discussion.

Morphine

Anonymousjpl123
Anonymousjpl123 Member Posts: 947
250 Likes 250 Care Reactions 500 Comments Third Anniversary
Member
in Caring for a Parent

I got a call from my mom’s hospice nurse on Friday night that they wanted to start her on a very low dose of morphine. Apparently she had a bad week, and said she wasn’t feeling well/was in pain. She couldn’t say where, they thought maybe her hip, x rays showed nothing.

Shes been eating less (we already knew that) and now sometimes needs someone to feed her to get her started.

Why does this feel like she’s nearing the end? She still recognizes me, she still can smile, she ate a yogurt and at least some of her dinner.

I have NO idea why she’s on morphine. I guess I figure Tylenol with codeine. She seems so much more tired. I don’t know what to ask them (her MC and hospice) or what to do. Any advice appreciated!

Comments

  • SDianeL
    SDianeL Member Posts: 3,421
    1,500 Insightfuls Reactions 1,500 Likes 2500 Comments 1,000 Care Reactions
    Member
    https://alzconnected.org/discussion/75307/morphine

    I would ask the hospice nurse why morphine rather than something else. Is she having trouble taking pills? They can give her morphine in liquid form and it works quickly. I would trust them but ask.

  • psg712
    psg712 Member Posts: 787
    250 Care Reactions 250 Likes 500 Comments Third Anniversary
    Member

    Morphine works on pain, anxiety, the psychological suffering for folks with shortness of breath. It doesn't have to be reserved for the very end of life.

    It can be given in tablet, liquid or inhaled form, whatever the person can manage. It doesn't have as much risk to the liver as Tylenol does.

    It sounds scary, but I'd probably let them try it and see how she does. If it's not effective or she has any trouble with it, she can stop using it.

  • Anonymousjpl123
    Anonymousjpl123 Member Posts: 947
    250 Likes 250 Care Reactions 500 Comments Third Anniversary
    Member

    @SDianeL thank you that’s helpful - at least a concrete question (why morphine and not something else.)

    @psg712 yeah I just don’t know. She is deteriorating (forgetting how to eat, losing weight, fewer words) but it changes from day to day. Yesterday she seemed really out of it, today she’s much better. She walked around with her walker, went downstairs for coffee, etc. I’ll ask them and wait and see.

    She does have shortness of breath, maybe that’s why. It’s such a weird disease.

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
Read more

Community Guidelines


Click here to review the ALZConnected Community Guidelines

Categories