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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To use oramorph to help with flu symptoms

58 replies

flusuffererhelp · 19/12/2024 23:26

I've got some oramorph (liquid morphine) left over from when I had surgery a few months ago. I am on day 6 of the worse flu of my life, hellish aches and pains all over my body, can to swallow water without agony in my throat, sweating / shivering, splitting headache, fatigue, you name it. I've never ever felt so bad. DH came home from work to me crying in a heap saying I can't cope anymore, the pain is so bad I'm barely able to sip water. He suggested the oramorph on top of the paracetamol and ibuprofen (as the latter is not touching the surface at all). Anyway i reluctantly agreed to take the oramorph and my GOD the improvement!! I've gone from kill me now this pain is unbearable to I can sit up in bed and sip water without sheer agony in my throat and body. The violent coughing which was causing me to wretch and cry from pain in my chest and throat has also stopped since I took the oramorph.

I know this can't be a long term solution but is it ok to use this medication for now if it helps??

OP posts:
DinosaurMunch · 19/12/2024 23:46

flusuffererhelp · 19/12/2024 23:42

I did, they never called me back.

I'm going to try and get some sleep I think and keep everything crossed that I'm back to some form of normal tomorrow 😩

Thanks all for the advice

Show quote history

They still might. Sometimes it takes 48 hours. I've also had them ring back at 3 am after an initial call at 6 pm.

Original poster
flusuffererhelp · 19/12/2024 23:49

@DinosaurMunch he was at work. I was hoping for advice from 111 tbh, just some reassurance I guess that I'm not in fact dying as it has felt like I am for several days. I'm aware that sounds dramatic but honestly, I have never ever felt so unwell.

OP posts:
Birdscratch · 19/12/2024 23:49

It’s amazing how being dehydrated - properly dehydrated not just very thirsty - makes everything so much worse. If you feel bad as you did pre-oramorph in the morning you need to be seen by a medical professional. Hopefully sleep and fluids will help. Sucking ice cubes or sipping hot water might help you keep your fluids up with a very painful throat.

ueberlin2030 · 19/12/2024 23:50

flusuffererhelp · 19/12/2024 23:49

@DinosaurMunch he was at work. I was hoping for advice from 111 tbh, just some reassurance I guess that I'm not in fact dying as it has felt like I am for several days. I'm aware that sounds dramatic but honestly, I have never ever felt so unwell.

Nobody can 100% reassure you, sadly. I do think you need some medical advice though. Hope you feel better soon.

SilviaDaisyPouncer · 19/12/2024 23:56

DinosaurMunch · 19/12/2024 23:44

Flu should be starting getting better after 3 days ish. It's a short lived illness. What do you think 111 can do if you won't get to the GP. They won't send an ambulance for something like this so you will have to go somewhere if you want medical attention. Why couldn't your husband take you to the GP?

They can arrange a call back with a clinician who could send antibiotics to a pharmacy or they could arrange for the OP to attend an OOH service to see a locum. It depends what's available in her area, but it's unlikely to be ambulance or nothing. That's what 999 is for.

MrsSkylerWhite · 20/12/2024 00:01

Oramorph is not for flu. You may feel better but it won’t treat your infection.

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 20/12/2024 00:15

As a former nurse of many years I would do exactly the same as you. Flu has to run its course, you just need to treat the symptoms. We know Oramorph won’t treat your infection but neither will antibiotics as it’s viral. Also, flu can continue for longer than three days. Of course you should seek medical advice if you continue to feel this bad in three or four days time or if your symptoms worsen or you experience shortness of breath, chest pains or a sudden onset severe headache. I’ve tried to cover all bases there. 🙂

Endofyear · 20/12/2024 00:27

Please do get yourself checked for a chest infection. DH was recently in hospital for several weeks because he had an undiagnosed and untreated chest infection - he ended up with pneumonia and pleurisy. Had to have a chest drain and narrowly avoided surgery to remove all the infected matter. It's taken him several months off work to recover.

fivebyfivebuffy · 20/12/2024 00:37

If it helped, it helped
I use it for my periods and pain around ovulation on top of other pain relief

WolfFleece · 20/12/2024 01:29

I’ve just had the same flu and the only thing that helped with the pain was my prescription codeine. Even with that I was still in pain. I also have some leftover oramorph and if it wasn’t for already taking codeine and worrying about overdosing I’d definitely have necked some. I turned a corner on day 7, thank god.

QueenCamilla · 20/12/2024 02:17

Personally, I wouldn't take morphine at home during bad but undiagnosed illness.
If I scalded my hand, I would. But not for systemic illness. It could go wrong in so many ways, that I dread to think about it.

A record of how much and when you took it should be kept and someone should be able to advocate that information at all times. What if you start to get delirious and muddled up? What if you pass out? What if DH is not there?
If medical professionals don't know the above information, they might interpret your readings incorrectly. I was given morphine whilst waiting in A&E. That information was not passed on correctly, so when it came to my heart rate&blood pressure and temp. readings, pain response to touch, pain ratings out of 10, my general demeanour... It contributed to initial signs of sepsis being missed by a doctor.

Another time, whilst in a hospital, I was asked to perform a minor (well, it turned into something major and gruesome) procedure on myself. Will be easier in a warm bath apparently... Locked the door behind me... I had already taken Oramorph that day on the ward. No one was concerned, on I crack... But I hadn't counted on inhumane pain of this "minor" procedure, so I started hyperventilating, whilst my blood pressure was low due to morphine and.. I started to pass out in a full bath! I just about pulled the plug on the bath, managed to sound the alarm and then I very faintly remember being very cold in a couple of inches of draining bloodied water... And the nurses panicking behind the door as I had locked it! Took them a while to get in.

I also think severe pain is a reliable indicator of a down-turn in health. I'd be too scared to miss something that necessitates urgency, whilst I'm dozing away in a warm huggy feeling. I'm a wimp! I hate pain. But I'd rather know what's going on.

Craftymam · 20/12/2024 02:30

Yanbu. It’s a horrible illness! I’m also day 6. Docs have actually prescribed codeine. They are aware how nasty it is as usually can’t get anything out of them. Hang in there! 🤒

2blueyand1bingo · 20/12/2024 02:50

SilviaDaisyPouncer · 19/12/2024 23:56

They can arrange a call back with a clinician who could send antibiotics to a pharmacy or they could arrange for the OP to attend an OOH service to see a locum. It depends what's available in her area, but it's unlikely to be ambulance or nothing. That's what 999 is for.

Show quote history

My DD ( 11 ) is currently in hospital with influenza on day 4 and was taken in by ambulance, flu isn’t short lived and not dangerous to everyone. It can be very nasty.

ScaryGrotbag · 20/12/2024 02:53

The two times I had proper flu it lasted two weeks and yes, I felt like I was dying both times. Couldn't walk and was carried to the loo or I dragged myself there crawling. I'd do exactly the same as you.

WinterCrow · 20/12/2024 03:10

I’ve got the razor blades feeling in my throat whenever I swallow. Day 6 coming up. Even codeine isn’t really touching it and I’m barely eating.

Whatisittomorrow · 20/12/2024 05:51

I do exactly this. I have saved strong meds (oramorph and codeine) After surgery for when I’m feeling very fluey. It really helps. I try not to take them unless I’m dying.

TouchOfSilverShampoo · 20/12/2024 06:00

I listened to a podcast about the death of Brittany Murphy and the use of opiates to help her pain during a bout of flu was a contributor to her death.

As the oramorph suppresses the cough you can't clear your lungs effectively.

I mean for sure she was on a cocktail of a whole lot more that oramorph but I would use with caution.

BreatheAndFocus · 20/12/2024 06:43

I agree with Touch of Silver. The Oramorph could suppress your cough and lead to a chest infection - if you haven’t got one already. Does your GP have an online consult thing? If so, fill that in. I got a reply to mine the same day.

Birdscratch · 20/12/2024 10:07

How are you feeling today?

ChronicallySleepy · 20/12/2024 10:09

Absolutely fine to use it short term

Porcuporpoise · 20/12/2024 10:10

DinosaurMunch · 19/12/2024 23:44

Flu should be starting getting better after 3 days ish. It's a short lived illness. What do you think 111 can do if you won't get to the GP. They won't send an ambulance for something like this so you will have to go somewhere if you want medical attention. Why couldn't your husband take you to the GP?

Erm, no. A bad bout of flu can last 10-14 days.

floormops · 20/12/2024 10:15

I know somebody who died as a result of exactly this because they had taken some OTC medication sold for runny nose that interacted with the opiate. You need to be really careful about resurrecting medicine prescribed for a different condition. Flu is awful, but I don't think opiates are appropriate, particularly as pneumonia is already a risk with flu. Don't take something that is known to suppress the cough reflex and affect breathing.

Gleeanda · 20/12/2024 10:16

TouchOfSilverShampoo · 20/12/2024 06:00

I listened to a podcast about the death of Brittany Murphy and the use of opiates to help her pain during a bout of flu was a contributor to her death.

As the oramorph suppresses the cough you can't clear your lungs effectively.

I mean for sure she was on a cocktail of a whole lot more that oramorph but I would use with caution.

OP, off @TouchOfSilverShampoo's post I'd just like to re-iterate that when I had a chest infection that I thought was flu, it never crossed my mind that it could be a chest infection. I wasn't really aware of any chest symptoms until 10 days in, when the infection had really set in and I started coughing up blood. Please get yourself to a medic.

Original poster
flusuffererhelp · 20/12/2024 10:16

Thanks all for the replies. I've woken this morning feeling considerably more human than the past few days. It makes a nice change to not wake up groaning and crying in agony with the pain in my head, throat and body. I'm actually out of my bed, dressed, and pottering about the house (albeit slowly and having to stop and sit at times) for the time in days. I have no idea if the improvement had anything to do with the morphine but either way, things seem to be going in the right direction.

The poster who shared how morphine had contributed to someone's death with flu, that's horrific and I had no idea! Definitely something to be mindful of.

Thanks again x

OP posts:
SilviaDaisyPouncer · 20/12/2024 10:17

2blueyand1bingo · 20/12/2024 02:50

My DD ( 11 ) is currently in hospital with influenza on day 4 and was taken in by ambulance, flu isn’t short lived and not dangerous to everyone. It can be very nasty.

Show quote history

I'm not sure if you've quoted the wrong person or didn't understand my post, but I wasn't suggesting anyone did or didn't need an ambulance. I was just explaining that 111 can arrange medical help outside of calling an ambulance for you.