Guilt over Meds?

Peanuckle

Firstly I'm NOT asking for medical advice.

I've recently been diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis (I'd already got MS) and have been placed on long term pain meds. After trying a lot of different types my doctor has now given me long acting morphine and also quick acting morphine for break through pain. Along with various other things like stuff to reduce stomach acid, Amitriptyline for nerve pain and Creon to aid digestion. They are working and I'm in a lot less pain but I'm still struggling to get my head around actually needing it.

In my mind morphine is for people with terminal illnesses and not for long term use for someone who is still living life to the full, I know this sounds daft but it's really bothering me and for some reason I feel almost guilty about needing it.

I suspect part of the problem is we lost my father in law to pancreatic cancer last week and I know that the list of drugs I'm now on is almost exactly the same as his were until the last week of his battle. Hopefully I'll get to the point where I will no longer need it but has anyone else ever felt the same about taking certain drugs and do you have any advice on becoming more comfortable about needing them?

InDebted2U_2

Sorry, nothing much to add about drugs, just a message of support. My father was on morphine when he was in hospital after a major op, so not just for long term use, but an effective painkiller.

Mojisola

My Mum has been on a variety of morphine meds for some years to try to control unspecific pain. Your doctor wouldn't have given it to you if there was something else that worked better.

Try to disassociate "morphine" from "terminal" in your mind. Morphine is just another painkiller and, if its use lets you live life to the full, celebrate it!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Anything to do with the pancreas is damn painful, whether it be something life limiting or just plain agonising. It's not prescribed because someone is dying, it's prescribed because someone is in intolerable pain.

Morphine works where beggar all else does on pancreatic pain. So don't feel guilty, be glad you are getting it, as you'd soon stop feeling guilty and would be desperate for relief if you were to stop being prescribed it.

WhiteHorse

Many drugs have a wide variety of uses. Pain is pain, from wherever it comes. It might be terminal cancer, or a broken leg. If you need it, you need it, and that's it.

Feel annoyed perhaps, but certainly not guilty.

juno

They wouldn't prescribe it if they didn't think you needed it, so don't feel guilty. It's also not as though you getting it stops anyone else having painkillers - it's quite the opposite, as if you're not in pain you won't need as many appointments so someone else can have them!

My sister had major surgery and was on pretty much the same painkillers as I'm on now, but each condition is different so needs different medication, and also people react differently.

MrsManda

Don't feel guilty about it (easy to say, less easy to do I know).
The way I've always looked at medication, especially opioids (morphine, codeine etc...) is that you take the dose which you need to manage your pain. If you're getting high you're taking too high a dose and run the risk of addiction, if you're comfortable and lacking in pain then you're on the right dose and you're ok.

Doctors don't like prescribing these drugs so if they're giving them to you they obviously think you need them. Hope you don't need them for long but it's better to manage your pain than suffer.

[Deleted User]

Peanuckle wrote: »

Firstly I'm NOT asking for medical advice.

I've recently been diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis (I'd already got MS) and have been placed on long term pain meds. After trying a lot of different types my doctor has now given me long acting morphine and also quick acting morphine for break through pain. Along with various other things like stuff to reduce stomach acid, Amitriptyline for nerve pain and Creon to aid digestion. They are working and I'm in a lot less pain but I'm still struggling to get my head around actually needing it.

In my mind morphine is for people with terminal illnesses and not for long term use for someone who is still living life to the full, I know this sounds daft but it's really bothering me and for some reason I feel almost guilty about needing it.

I suspect part of the problem is we lost my father in law to pancreatic cancer last week and I know that the list of drugs I'm now on is almost exactly the same as his were until the last week of his battle. Hopefully I'll get to the point where I will no longer need it but has anyone else ever felt the same about taking certain drugs and do you have any advice on becoming more comfortable about needing them?

my wife has been on slow release morphine patches for 3 years now,purely for pain

Peanuckle

thanks all, I think the whole thing is just messed up in my head as there has been so much going on just lately

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

cyclops. wrote: »

There will always be one bright spark - wondering how much they could sell them for on the street?
I will have to get my stash valued - you never know, if times get hard - it could be a nice little earner. So don't worry about being prescribed them. You would be out of it before you could really do any damage. The most dangerous part is if some idiot decided to crush a few MST tablets and take it as a single dose, being high would be the last thing they would remember!!

[facepalm]

Bright spark or completely kamikaze twit?

What are you going to do - go to the nearest crack house and say 'Scuse me mate, I've got enough medical diamorphine in me kitchen cupboards to keep you in gear for the next three months, plus probably get the Russian drug dealer you owe money to off your back for nearly a year - how much do you think it's worth?'

SingleSue

I feel the same way OP, I have been suffering pain and although my anti imflammatories have been helping, after a rheumi appointment last week where I was made to feel like poo, I stopped taking them (have kept with the amitriptylene though as it seems to cure my insomnia!).

Within 24 hours, I was as stiff as a board but kept telling myself it has to be mind over matter, there really is nothing wrong with me, I'm making myself feel stiff etc and didn't give in.

I still haven't restarted them and have tried mind over matter but things are not improving, only getting worse, the last week has been absolute hell.

Mind you, it doesn't help that I am a bit anti taking things anyway.....