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serious crayons:
Or is she in pain? If she is, then the philosophy of hospice is that patients should get whatever pain meds they need without worry that they'll become addicted or suffer other ill effects. That's not an instruction to give morphine no matter what, just permission not to withhold it if it's needed.
Of course, constipation is an ill effect of opioids. But I guess I don't know what your mother's medical condition is -- what she is suffering from and whether it involves pain, or how much, so it's hard to tell whether they're giving it routinely or because it's helpful. I'm definitely glad you're in such good health that you don't need any, Lee, but I don't think there's anything wrong with taking them when they're needed or helpful.
I may have missed something, and if so I apologize, but I've seen you mention your mother being kind of absent minded about things but not a more serious physical condition.
Jeff Wrangler:
Opioids--that's the word I was trying to think of. Thanks, Katherine.
Word-finding difficulty. ... ::)
Front-Ranger:
--- Quote from: serious crayons on September 08, 2017, 10:11:20 pm ---I may have missed something, and if so I apologize, but I've seen you mention your mother being kind of absent minded about things but not a more serious physical condition.
--- End quote ---
Mom has had mild dementia for several years. Her breaking her hip in a fall on July 25 exacerbated her condition (as well as the hospital stay and anesthesia) so now she has advanced dementia. Alzheimers, to be exact.
I did get them to hold off on the morphine today, and Mom was much better. I'm going over there at 6:30 am tomorrow, because that's when the new shift makes their rounds and decides what pills or shots are needed.
Front-Ranger:
--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on September 07, 2017, 08:38:08 pm ---Why is she being given morphine if she's not in pain? ???
--- End quote ---
After observing the interactions this morning, I now think morphine is given to keep the patients docile.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: Front-Ranger on September 09, 2017, 03:27:24 pm ---Mom has had mild dementia for several years. Her breaking her hip in a fall on July 25 exacerbated her condition (as well as the hospital stay and anesthesia) so now she has advanced dementia. Alzheimers, to be exact.
--- End quote ---
But that shouldn't cause pain. ???
--- Quote from: Front-Ranger on September 09, 2017, 03:32:03 pm ---After observing the interactions this morning, I now think morphine is given to keep the patients docile.
--- End quote ---
I don't doubt nursing homes sometimes do that. But that strikes me as an extremely off-label use of the medication. Maybe you could schedule a meeting with her health-care team so they can answer all of your questions about her condition. If she's getting morphine, is it because she's in pain? If yes, from what? If no, then what's the morphine for? Depending on your legal arrangements, you could probably arrange to have all physicians' recommendations be presented to you first (except in an emergency, that is).
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