Question about pain
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Hi Rose,
My dad was given Haloperidol as well and that worked for him. He would take it in the evening before going to bed. My dad would get the itching that came with jaundice, but when he was on Haliperidol he never had any issues with skin sensitivity or had any reactions to that.
I know that this is so hard Rose. But you have the strength that is needed here. When I was in your shoes with my dad, it helped me so much in coming here as I knew that I was around people who knew how I felt and what I was going through. And we know what this is like for you. Please keep coming back here.
Best wishes,
Gavin
Hi Rose. Teddy was on 350 mg of Morph 2 X a day. Then he had breakthrough of 175 mg every hour. Eventually he was having hallucinations from the Morph so they put him on haloperidol. It did help the hallucinations and quieted him down but for him the Ativan worked better.
I know first hand how hard this is, Rose. It is the hardest thing you will ever do in your life, but you will find the strength because you have to. No one wants to take this journey and the pain we feel for our loved ones is beyond words. The other day someone told me tht God doesn’t give us more than we can handle. Well, we must be the strongest people on earth! With that said you must take some time for yourself. Taking breaks here and there is the only way to keep yourself on an even keel.
I hope its a better day today and please keep us posted.Lainy – They prescribed Lorazepam for anxiety and we gave it to my dad once – didn’t seem to have any significant effect although the nurse said for most of her patients, the Lorazepam has been the best for sedation — however, the haloperidol seems to do that for him so we’ll be continuing that — the nurse said the morphine and haloperidol together work well.
It’s just hard — today was the worst I’ve ever seen him and all of a sudden, it becomes so real!
Rose, we always say, one day at a time. I had once heard that with dementia you don’t feel pain as you have forgot what it is. Not sure I believe all that but here is a story. My mom fell in the nursing home, she was 93 and had dementia. When I got there she had a golf ball size welt on her forehead and it hurt just to look at it. I asked her if it hurt and she said no not at all. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all block out pain? So perhaps it is true. For the anxiety did she mention Ativan? It is very good for agitation and anxiety. You are a good loving daughter, please just stay strong.
Marion –
Thanks for your response — we met with the nurse case manager this morning and she suspects my dad’s complaints of pain might be due to delirium from the build-up of the toxins in his body.
He was just started on a cholesterol-binder and lactulose (for the constipation caused by the morphine) so he was finally able to move his bowels. Unfortunately, that hasn’t worked as we had hoped as this morning, he’s much weaker and for the first time, was not able to feed himself.
The nurse recommended we continue with the long-acting morphine and haloperidol. She’ll check with us on Friday to see how everything is going and if need be, discuss with the hospice doctor if we should try methadone instead.
So, I guess all you can do is get through the day and see what the next brings.
rose……I believe that any symptoms should be addressed (at this point) whether related to this cancer or not. A physician will order the appropriate medications although, at times, it may have to be changed due to the side effects. I also would like to applaud you for the excellent care you are given your Dad and for your continuous outreach to others in this situation.
Hopefully others will chime in and share some of their knowledge with you.
My heart is with you.
All my best wishes,
MarionMy dad was diagnosed with bile duct cancer a month ago and since then has been receiving in-home hospice care. About two weeks ago, he began complaining intermittently of pain but it’s difficult for us to figure out what is going on. (He has mild dementia and his communication abilities started declining several years ago.)
The palliative care specialist had warned us that as his ammonia levels start increasing, his skin might start itching. However, lately, if you even touch him, he’ll complain of pain.
Does anyone know if the pain medication (he’s gotten a few doses of the long-acting morphine and oxycodone) or haloperidol (hospice said to give this to him if he became agitated) would cause skin sensitivity?
When he had to go into a short-term rehab program after suffering another mini-stroke, I noticed that he began exhibiting the same sensitivity to being touched after they started giving him an anti-psychotic medication to keep him calm.
This is really creating a problem with changing his diaper/clothes or cleaning him. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
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