85 year old grandma with morphine-induced nausea, hasn't eaten for 2 days, any advice?

[LiegeAndLief]

My grandma has been taking morphine for chronic pain for a few weeks, has developed terrible nausea and isn't eating anything - don't think she's really had anything for at least 2 days. She's been to the doctor and he's taken her off the morphine, given her paracetemol and codeine (cocodamol?) and anti-nausea meds but she isn't feeling any better. Will the anti-nausea meds take a while to kick in? Is there anything she can do to lessen the nausea, or things that are good to try and eat? She's pretty underweight to begin with and very bad at drinking fluids so am very worried about her.

sorry to hear about your grandma.

no advice, but didn't want you to go unanswered.

would she be interested in fruit smoothies or milkshakes?

When my brother was on lots of morphine for one of his cancer treatments, I remember he liked sucking on cold things - lollies, frozen fromage frais, ice cubes etc. I don't think he had much appetite at all, and these refreshed him and helped with the horrible taste in his mouth that he reported.

I second what Cies says, my grandma had fruit cartons with straws she would sip intermittently, to keep her blood sugar up.

with my gran she just wanted fruit juice and for some reason cooked plums with cream. so that's all she had for about a week. then she started wanting cheese and biscuits.

it is awful when they're so very frail.

If the antiemetics are not working then you need to contact her doctor and get them changed. There are lots of different types of antiemetics and some work for some people and not for others. To a degree you need to 'shop around' and see what works for her.

I'm with martianbishop, perhaps the antiemetics need to be changed as different combinations work for different people.

actually remembering when my mum was taking morpine for pain relief during her final months, she liked to eat ice-cream and custard (together in the same bowl!). The day hospice she attended gave it to all the patients as it's loaded with fat and calories and often tempted them when their appetites were iffy.

Thanks everyone, I'm going to ring her now so will pass on all your suggestions. Her favourite lunch is ryvita and cucumber (yum!) so she's not doing herself any favours on that front! Have been trying to persuade her to go back to the doctor but she's very much of the "I don't want to be any bother" ilk - thanks martianbishop and reikizen for the info about the antiemetics, maybe if I tell her there are others she coudl have she'll be more willing to go.