I have a morphine pump - Pain Management Message Board

geifer · 04-14-2004, 05:58 PM

Hi, I am new to this sight and I would like to ask a question. I suffer from Crohns and I suffer from nerve damage from the removal of my large colen. I have an illiostomy and also have a Schatzki's Ring that is a narrow ring of fibrous tissue that constricts the lower esophagus. I have this ring opened with a esophageal dilatation. I just had another one done this past week and my GI doctor thinks there might be a mobilaty problem because of the morphine pump. The morphine might be relaxing the esophigus to the point that food is getting stuck. Is there anyone out there who has had this problem or knows of anyone who has had a problem with this. I am on 7 mg of morphine a day and I am on my second pump, I had the first one put in 1998 and the second in 2001. I dread the thought of lowering my doseage of morphine because of the good results I am getting. Thanks geifer

twisten · 04-15-2004, 12:29 AM

Hi geifer and welcome to the boards. I can't help you with your pump question just wanted to say hi and that I also have crohns disease. This is a very knowledgeable board with lots of great people and I'm sure someone will be along soon that can answer your questions.

carol632 · 04-15-2004, 07:41 PM

Hi, geifer. I have the morphine pump and do not have any problems with it interfering with swallowing. In fact, I don't see how it could. Unless the catheter is in your neck? If you have it in your mid to low back, it should not interfer with your ability to swallow as the morphine does not travel UP the spine. Have you asked the doctor who put in the pump if it is possible that it is causing this problem? I would be very interested in his answer...
I do wish you good luck.

Carol

geifer · 04-16-2004, 06:47 AM

Hi Carol, Do you just have morphine in your pump? I should have said that I also have marcane mixed with the morphine. Do you know if the effects of morphine goes thru the whole body or not? I know morphine can depress your breathing and can relax your body so could it relax your swallowing reflex? I know they are good questions and I go back to Pain Management the end of next week to get my pump refilled and I will have to ask these questions to the doctor. You have a good weekend and take care geifer

Shoreline · 04-16-2004, 09:17 AM

Hi Geifer, Before reducing the morphine and reducing your relief, I would suggest removing the marcaine from your mix. At high doses it's no different than an epidural given to mothers ready to deliver. You need to balance the amount of marcaine with ability to function. Morphine does reduce smooth muscle contractions like your bowels and that's what causes constipation. But with IT meds morphine doesn't run through your entire system systemicly. Meaning the meds stay in the intrathceal space mixed with spinal fluid. IF the marcaine % is too high then it wouldn't certainly expalin loss of function depending on the placement of the cath.

I'm sure your PM doc that manages your pump has a different view of what the pump is capable of doing than your GI doc. Blaming the pump is an easy answer, but removing the pump isn't a realistic cure unless you can prove that the pump is causing the problem. Did you have any esphegeal problems prior to the pump, Obviously you had some other GI problems prior to the pump so blaming the pump doesn't really make sense. It may be worth going through a cycle without the marcaine. If that is the cause,and you miss the relief, He can reintroduce a numbing agent like Bupivicaine at lower doses and see if you still have the same problems.

I would also assume they thay have done a CT or MRI of the esophegeal area to ensure you don't have any growth that may be causing your swallowing problems. Good luck and welcome, Dave