Anyone else allowed to self medicate after c-section ??

[Nutcracker]

When i had my 3rd section i had to have it at a larger hospital than with the previous sections. After the section i was given some initial pain relief and was then asked if i wanted to self medicate. I agreed, although i kept thinking i'd give myself an overdose. Basically i was then given a little bag with some viles (sp ??) of morphine in, some Diclofenac and some Codydromol tablets. I was given a key to wear around me neck and had to lock them away in my locker. There was a card in the pack which told me how often i could have each drug and i had to fill a chart in each time i had anything. The midwife would check the chart and the pack each day to make sure it was all correct.
Anyway, it was absolutly brilliant, i didn't have to call a midwife every time i was in pain and also didn't have to wait for pain relief.

Since then though i have never heard of anyone else doing this. The scheme was called SMACS i think.

Anyone else heard of or done this ???

Can't remember who told me this story... they had an operation or someting, and then afterwards (still in hospital, mind) they were given a button they could press themselves whenever they needed a top-up of morphine down the IV line. Actually, they said they were quite relieved when the facility was taken away as they found it a bit too tempting! It does seem like a sensible idea, though, if you can be assessed as low risk for abuse.

I had self medicated morphine via a IV line after my first c section, It was excellent. You couldn't over dose as the upper limit was set, but you felt in control. In general that said that woman give themselves less morphine using this system than they would be given on routine dosing.

Would have liked to- they were very busy after my 2nd section and kept forgetting to give me pain relief. i was waiting until I was in agony (I had bad adhesions and it bloody hurt- whereas 1st time round I was in hardly any pain) until calling someone and then having to wait for an hour until they brought them. ONe midwife found me unable to move on the way back from the loo, and went and blasted everyone (I heard her). She then took over my next few rounds- told me the times I was meant to get pain relief and told me to buzz if it didn't arrive. Bless her. If I ever have another section I will ask about self medication- thanks nutcracker.

No such option here, but it sounds wonderful .

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Yep, now that sounds more familiar.

I didn't have patient controled analgesia with ds, and it wasn't as good. I also had to wait sometimes and it wasn't pleasant I think the theory is that it takes less medication to keep the pain away than it takes to take the bulk of the pain away (IYSWIM). You only need small top ups to keep things under control, so you take less.

It was excellant and i would reccomend it to anyone. Can't remember how many viels of morphine i was given but once they were gone that was it. There was a card in the pack to explain which ones were best to take when. The codydromol were recommended for wqhen you started to feel abit better. I used all of the morphine and most of the diclofenac. When i left i was given the left overs to take home.
I'm assuming it must be a relitivley new thing then.
One less thing for the midwives to do too.

Yes I had pca morphine for 4 days after mine and it was good.

grumpyzebra - my brother had that after his operation. There was a limit to what it could give you though. It would actually only let you administer a certain amount within each time period. The other times it was pressed it didn't actually administer. But my brother said phsycologically it helped.

Nutcracker - we have though about doing it but there are issues round security. What did the locker look like? Is it the traditional one you keep your clothes in? Were they secured to the floor?

I also had the "morphine line" after a lung biopsy and it was great as the pain was unbelievable (much worse then childbirth ) It was limited as said by someone before but much better to control the pain and get fast and spontaneous relief. It was closely monitored. Had everything administered by staff after c-section last year though. This system sounds a good idea.

A friend's young dd was one of the first people to have the self-medicate morphine drip, after a serious op. It was excellent, and a psychological boost too, as Hulababy says.

I had brilliant post-op pain relief after an emergency appendectomy. Medication was given every four hours, without having to ask, and it kept pain down to a minimum. I'm sure that must be psychologically good, too, knowing you're not going to have beg before anyone takes any notice.

Mears - The locker was the normal one that you put your stuff in and i had to wear the key around my neck. Don't think that they were secured to the floor, can't remember to be honest.
Never really thought about the secuirty aspect of it, supppose it is a bit dangerous really.
I know that i did have to keep the empty vials of morphine so that they knew i wasn't selling them

yeah i done this with my first it was better for me i controlled the pain, then with my second i was in pain every time even though i gave them plenty of time they would still give late by then i was suffering so much i couldnt pay full attention to breast feeding the baby. does anyone else have big babies by section and succesfully breast feed can anyone help? desperate to breast feed my third who is due in 6weeks?

I had morphine via PCA (patient controlled analgesia) after a major operation. I had opted for an epidural but it didn't work. I didn't like the PCA. I couldn't get the relief I hoped for (it was a huge operation) and it made me very sick. But it was that or something inferior!

Ticklytum, try asking in breastfeeding about help feeding after a section. I'm sure tiktok or one of the other trained breast feeding counsellors there could help you.

The scheme is called SAM. Self Administration of Medicines. It is very effective in patients who are lucid etc. An assessment should be done by a pharmacist or nurse prior to commencing with SAMS.

Patent Controlled Analgesia. Effective with patients who have had a surgical procedure. The idea is to keep on top of the pain. You cannot overdose as it has a maximum dose you can give yourself.

I am a firm believer that most patients who come into hospital should be allowed to do SAMS. My pet hate is the taking away of insulin/diabetic meds from people who have been looking after their bodies with these meds for years.

Yep, I self medicated with the last one. Was a bit shit for me though as they asked me to start it before I could comfortably reach the drug locker .