Question:
How painful is the epidural. Is there an alternative to morphine?
I've had surgeries. Never had an epidural and it scares me. Also, I have a low tolerance for pain..but I am already a 'shallow-breather' and don't want morphine. Do they put demerol on the pumps now? (I've only had the injections.) — Georgianne Faith W. (posted on September 6, 2002)
September 6, 2002
Hi there. I am allergic to Morphine so I won't be having that. Honestly
the type of pain medicine in you PCA pump will depend on your doctor and
anesthesiologist. Talk to them about your concern. I do know I have two
options and the doctor will decide before my surgery...Demerol or Dilaudid
(sp?). Just so it controls the pain I don't care. Hope this helped.
— Rachel W.
September 6, 2002
I too do not respond well to Morphine and I don't the last epidural that I
had hurt worse than anything. I think it is individual preference but I
intend on asking my Dr. for an alternative to Morphine and an epidural. He
says that the epidural seems to work the best but many postops have used
the pump and had great success with it! I hope I do!! Well, just talk to
your surgeon and I'm sure he will be able to give you some alternatives.
Good luck to you.
— denisel
September 6, 2002
I just had both medications this past week. I had Morphine first and
although it handled the pain fine, it made me itch like a mad dog and
benedryl didn't help so...they put me on dilaudid (or however you spell
it). That stuff is stronger than Morphine and was wonderful. I felt
absolutely NO pain at all. Good luck to you. Barb
BPD/DS 1999
Reversal 8/02
— Barbara H.
September 6, 2002
I just had both medications this past week. I had Morphine first and
although it handled the pain fine, it made me itch like a mad dog and
benedryl didn't help so...they put me on dilaudid (or however you spell
it). That stuff is stronger than Morphine and was wonderful. I felt
absolutely NO pain at all. Good luck to you. Barb
BPD/DS 1999
Reversal 8/02
— Barbara H.
September 6, 2002
I am allergic to morpine. I had demerol in my pca pump and it worked fine.
I was also given liquid demerol for at home, although I didnt need it.
Good luck!
— maryburton
September 6, 2002
I strongly suggest you ask your anestheist about TORODOL. Great stuff.
Charlene Mai
— charlene M.
September 6, 2002
Don't be afraid of the epidural. At first I didn't want it either until I
talked to the anesthesia nurse at my pre op appt. She said that morphine
and demerol etc... make you sleepy and out of it and you don't want to get
up and walk and you don't want to do your breathing. So I went with the
epidural and I am so glad that I did. It only pinches and feels a little
weird when they put it in. And then when I woke up from surgery I had NO
PAIN!! It was fantastic. The only downside for me was at the end of the
first day the epidural was too strong and my legs were totally numb. But
they turned it down after that and it controlled the pain very nicely!! It
really is a good thing! Good Luck! (Open RNY 8/5/02 -30lbs so far!!)
— Jean T.
September 6, 2002
I had a morphone pump for day 1 and that wasn't doing much, so, they
switched me to demeraol in the pump, which made me vomit and dry heave,
then, by day 3 I was on morphine shots and by end of day 3 through day 6 I
was on liquid codeine....If you have concernsm address them with everyone
the day of the surgery, you will have a chance to talk to all dtrs
involved. Good Luck!
— heathercross
September 12, 2002
I have no memory of pain with the epidural and after surgery never knew I
had it. I was not able to take morphine or codeine but can handle demerol
with equal amounts of compazine or Mepergan/Meperadine
— Carla H.
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