The Tender Truth About Morphine
Imagine for a moment someone you love is in great pain…
The 56 year old husband and father of three with pancreatic cancer who learns about hospice only 2 weeks before his passing….
The 76 year old spouse with End Stage COPD who can no longer finish a sentence without laboured breathing…
The 86 year old grandmother of 7 with progressive Alzheimer’s who is terribly agitated because she can no longer find the words to express her pain…
Progressive, terminal, advanced illnesses come in all forms for any age, gender, or race. Unfortunately, these patients who are going through one of the most difficult times of their life know little about the care available when there is no cure. These irreversible illnesses can cause continuous damage to the body, producing pain, laboured breathing, and anxiety. Often these symptoms cluster together; someone becomes short of breath because they start to panic due to their untreated discomfort.
The hospice nurse and physician, who are specialized in all symptom management, sit with the family and patient and utter the word MORPHINE……the room grows quiet, faces appear grim. Fear begins to fill the room. The hospice team works closely with the family to explain…
MORPHINE MYTH – Morphine will kill me/my loved one.
MORPHINE MEDICAL FACT
The advanced irreversible diseases that cause a body to shut down cause unwanted symptoms like severe pain, labored breathing, and anxiety/agitation. The disease is the cause, not the medication. Morphine does not kill. It decreases pain levels, eases breathing and decreases anxiety, improving quality of life.
MORPHINE MYTH – If I take this I will become an addict.
MORPHINE MEDICAL FACT
Patients who are in need of properly managed pain, who are in need of comfort are evaluated, prescribed, and monitored closely by nurses and physicians who specialise in this and have no risk of addiction.
MORPHINE MYTH – If I start it now when the pain is low, then it won’t help when the pain is very bad.
MORPHINE MEDICAL FACT
Morphine has a short half life and no ceiling effect, meaning it can be increased as pain levels grow. It comes in long acting and short acting forms. It can be scheduled and used as needed for breakthrough pain, which terminal patients frequently experience. The goal is to keep the pain level as mild as possible.
Magical Management of Morphine
Manages mild to severe pain. Manages breathing difficulties. These can be managed together or one at a time and even can be used in conjunction with Lorazepam to ease anxiety. When these symptoms are under control the ability for the patient to regain any quality of life back is the goal. There can be an increase in mobility, appetite, wanting to participate in visiting with friends and family, enjoying their favourite music, or perhaps just adding a smile to their faces
Well managed symptoms that are provided by hospice specialists early on will only bring comfort and quality care to the ones we love.
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