Pain pump

camul

I had my appointment with pain management dr. On Friday.  She suggested I see a Neuro Surgeon about getting a pain pump inserted.  I guess the pump will be placed in abdomen, and they will run a catheter in my spinal column and it will give a constant drip of Dilauded down the spine.  She said it would work better than the Fentanyl patches.  I am heading towards upping the dose to 200.  She will make the referal and he will determine if it is time.  The doctor Israele newer here, but is from MD Anderson and she said head is very good.

This was the first mention of a pump.  Then on Saturday, I went to pick up Fentanyl, and the phamacist came out to talk to me.  He asked me if I had considered a pump.  He explained it works like what they give you when you are in labor. He said you probably sleep alot because the patch is systemic that the pump is not as hard on my organs.  I said I have tumors in my ribs, clavical, numorous, bones, scalp, and c and thorasic spine.  He they could manage those areas with a lesser narcotic like tylenal w/codine which would ne easier on my organs and I would probably sleep normal hours.

He even recommended the same neuro surgeon. How wierd to hear nothing about it, then 2 days in a row?  I will get an appointment time tomorrow or Thursday.  Has anyone had any experience with this?  I learned I will be in ICU at least one night, or however long it takes to stabalize the pain, my clotting factor, and blood pressure.  

Would love to hear any experiences anyone gas head with this.  It is for quality of life as I am no longer being treated, other than palliative!

Thanks,

Carol

tufi000

Wish it was 1st hand. but

I do not personally know. My uncle, however. totally preferred this to the morphine he had been getting and wasn't working. Sensible thinking was difficult but he said it helped him to be nice to people, even me!

Sherry