He said it was to help slow her breathing and help expel carbon monoxide from her lungs and body. She has end stage emphysema - when she had pain in her chest he put her on morphine - is this the only medication to treat it...she is now having trouble finishing sentences and is loopy and wobbly ... I'm afraid it is too high a dose ...she is 75 and quit smoking too late but did quit in her late 50s
Second. how much does she weigh and has she been on morphine for some time. third... you are worried, but why.. is it because its morphine ??? or what its doing to her
I used to do palliative and long term care for a few years.
Morphine is great stuff, and forget the movies where its used to knock folk off, it has many uses
1. it relaxes the breathing muscles including the bronchii, which means instead of needing a steam engine to get the air out, it will fall out with just a tricycle of effort, by opening them.. it relaxes the skeletal muscles used for breathing, hence it will allow her to drop her shoulders, let her straighten up, and get some sleep
2. it will sedate her but usually after a week most patients get used to it and start waking up for longer spells
3 if she has cardiac problems to go along with her COPD then it also relaxes the main branch supply vessels and eases the work of the poor pump.
so yes that is why morphine in a dose that is tolerated is given.
the bad things are constipation as mentioned.. giving too much and going from relaxing to reducing respiratory action.
then the usual nausea, vomiting and confusion.... they are controlled by reduction in amount etc
I was often horrified how relatives would scream what on morphine when we started it.. they thought I was about to knock off their relative there and then.. and so much time was wasted in explaining that it has it uses. as well as its abuses.!!!
so work out what your worry is all about, and go from there
Now 95% of the COPD cases Ive cared for in their final months would all say, relieve my breathing. they have no QOL they have no interests as its a case of them focusing on their breathing both in and out........ not a life at all. So put aside your fears/worries....... and look at your mother, is she better for it.
Were you concerned when she smoked with the 35 chemicals that were all killers??
Morphine wont cure her, but it will make her days better
I , BTW am highly allergic to the stuff, so not selling it as such only the idea that it can help
Grace + Peace,
Bob
I'm not familiar with this condition. Perhaps someone who is will post.
This is end-stage COPD we're talking about. Addiction isn't a worry. Keeping the patient comfortable is all they're doing. BTW, My SIL hallucinates on 200 mgs of IBUPROFEN, so everyone's ability to stand drugs is very, very different.
We hear "morphine" and freak out--it's a terrific drug at doing to do what it's meant. All my daddy "ate" the last week of his life was two cherry popsicles and constant morphine drops. Thank goodness he was out of pain, is all I can say.
See All Answers