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General health

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Original poster

docs and nurses over here please - question about the effects of morphine.....

17 replies

Kbear · 16/02/2008 09:30

MIL is on morphine after having hip replacement op on Thursday. This morning at 6am she calls FIL and says "you've put me in here for a laugh, I know what you're all up to, I'm on candid camera and you've set me up. Well I've taken the dressing off and there's no wound so who's laughing now?".

FIL (82 and in poor health) called us in a right state worrying as she is in a side room on her own and he was worried she had in fact removed the dressing etc and could maybe fall out of bed.

I called the ward and was reassured she was ok and it was the morphine making her confused.

Is this normal with morphine then? Will it stop when the does is reduced? She is self-administering it, is she over-dosing?

I will be speaking to the nurses when I go up tomorrow but some advise now would be appreciated so I can reassure the old man!

OP posts:

SlightlyMadSecretSoundWinner · 16/02/2008 09:33

I think it is a nromal effect of morphine - it is an opiate like heroin.

After FIL had an op for an aortic aneurysim he was also delious at the time (witnessing full black tie balls in his bay of the ward ). In his case it was an indication he needed to put his oxygen mask on to feed his brain....

Blandmum · 16/02/2008 09:35

Yes, it can cause confusion. particularly in the frail or the elderly.

DH is on a synthetic opiate, and he has had some wierd effects, particularly at night

onlyjoking9329 · 16/02/2008 09:35

Steve is on morphine and is much the same, he is convinced i have swopped the house for a narrowboat. i should think they will be weaning her off the self administered stuff as soon as they can.
hope she is less confused soon

NomDePlume · 16/02/2008 09:35

KBear, I assume your MIL is on one of those morphine 'watches' that she can click when she feels she nees a boost of pain relief ? It is not possible for a patient to OD themselves on these. The watches are set to release a certain amount of medication over a certian amount of time with each click. If she tries to click more doses than is appropriate then the watch will not release a dose.

Morphine in high-ish does can cause confusion.

Unfitmother · 16/02/2008 09:36

A shory period of post-op confusion is not uncommon in the elderly.
Does she have a machine with a button, a PCA or patient controlled ananlgeasia? These machines have a lock-out that prevents overdose.
If her op was on Thursday it will probably come down today.
When you visit you need to look for reassurance that the acute confusion is resolving and does not have another cause such as a urinary tract or chest infection.

NomDePlume · 16/02/2008 09:36

sorry, meant to say 'can cause confusion', that rabdom 'does' was a typo

geekgirl · 16/02/2008 09:37

I agree, in my experience this is normal too. My mum (who died from cancer last year) came out with all sorts of crackers whilst on morphine - wild hallucinations like that as well as being far more outspoken than required (my brother and I know far more than we ever wanted to about our parents' sex life in the 60s now! ).

alfiesbabe · 16/02/2008 09:38

Kbear - I had morphine after my CS and yes, it can make you feel very spacey and out of it. I felt like I was floating on the ceiling and apparently talked nonsense. I loved it, and was quite upset when it wore off!

Original poster

Kbear · 16/02/2008 09:39

Thanks so much for your reassure and I will check those things unfitmother, ta.

It was a frightening start to the morning at 6.45 when the old man called all upset and worried.

The upside is that I have done my shopping already and have the morning free to MN play with the kids and do housework!

OP posts:

Blandmum · 16/02/2008 09:39

OJ, I've always fancied a trip on a narrow boat, can I pop around?

Dh's 'turns' were much more boring. One night he was telling me that I had to 'atone' but he knew that I hadn't done anything wrong! He talks very 'carefully' when he has these turns, as you do when you know that you are pissed and want to hide it fro other people

onlyjoking9329 · 16/02/2008 09:51

if you fancy doing lock duty at 2am 3am & 4am you are welcome MB Steve is in the hospice now so the nurses are all having a turn!

Blandmum · 16/02/2008 09:53

Oh, when did that happen (I've been away), is it to get him stabelised? This happened to us just before Christmas, and was a godsend.

Love sent, as always.

Will do locks, get the kettle on!

onlyjoking9329 · 16/02/2008 09:57

I have a thread somewhere in health
I hope you had a nice time away.

tiredemma · 16/02/2008 14:46

I was completely dolally on morphine- kept trying to climb out of bed, completely disorientated

Original poster

Kbear · 17/02/2008 09:37

thanks all - MIL is now off the morphine and they apparently got her up walking a few steps yesterday. What an amazing turn-around in a few hours (and I didn't get an early call from FIL in a panic so all good!).

OP posts:

Unfitmother · 17/02/2008 09:49

That's great news, thanks for letting us know. Don't be surprised if she home in a couple of days.
Does she remember her confusion at all? most patients don't and would be motified if you mentioned it.

Original poster

Kbear · 17/02/2008 13:07

She does remember it but thought she had dreamt it!! She is back to her usual self now I am told and being moved further down the ward today (probably because she talks so much ha ha!).

I think she will be in hosp for another week though, she struggled to walk due to arthritis before the hip thing so I think she will be there until they are happy she is steady on her feet.

Thanks for all your advice everyone.

OP posts:

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