Grandmother Refuses To Take Morphine

My grandparents came to live with us (my parents and I) in December, and it's been a blessing to get to know them but it has been very difficult.  Grandma was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer last summer and is now in the final stages.  She stopped chemotherapy last week.  The hospice nurse said she probably has less than 3 weeks.

Grandma is very comfortable with the idea of death, and with all th pain Grandma is experiencing, this has become a bit of a curse.  She has started to get dementia the last week or so, and is not who she was before any longer.  She's become very paranoid, especially when it has been more than an hour since her last dose of morphine.  I think she thinks that my mother (the one who usually gives her the morphine) is trying to keep her around longer by giving her the pain medication (she thinks that it's curing her somehow), and all she wants to do is die.  

 So in her confusion she is resisting taking the medicine and ends up in intense pain and I think feelings of withdrawal.  My instinct is to get the medicine in her however possible, but if she's fighting it that would entail holding her arms or something.  Am I in the wrong in considering doing this?  Has anyone else had to deal with a situation like this?

Is your family involved with hospice?  They are usually amazing people that know how to handle difficult situations like this.  There may be another way to administer the medicine that would make it less difficult or perhaps they will have another idea.  My best to you and your family during this difficult time.

Jackiekay

You might try asking if there is another medicine she could take along with the morphine, to address the paranoia and stubbornness. 

My husband is on hospice for a brain tumor.  He had big problems with paranoia, and during this time (usually afternoon and evenings) he would oppose anything anybody wanted him to do, like take medicine.

He was put on Ativan and Seroquel.  I think though that it is the Ativan which causes him to be much more reasonable, and paranoia is just a minor issue now.  Morphine is quick acting but does not stay in the system as long.  I would ask about something that would keep her more calm, and she might then take the morphine when offered.

As has been said, you will find that the Ativan helps to take the edge off in a very big way.  You may also consider Haldol for this as well.  As for alternative administration methods, Durmorph can be given orally (with eye dropper or small sirynge).  It does not have to be swallowed and can be absorbed in the mouth.  If possible, you could give it to her while sleeping and just let it absorb in the mouth.

 I am the caregiver (along with a lot of help from Hospice) to my mother who was diagnosed in september.  We are in what seems like the final stages of the disease process.  While we have been able to manage pain with oral medication (pills) she is no longer able to swallow well.  Just Monday, she received a Moraphine pump that has been a wonderful option.  The pump is programed to administer continuously and there is a button for "on demand" supplemental dosage.  Our Ativan has also been switched to liquid as I described above on the Durmorph.

Consider these options.  They have really allowed my mother to rest much more peacefully. 

 I am new here, but would like to offer any help or support to anyone going through this.  As we are approaching the end, I feel an intense need to not only share my experience, but to help others who may have no idea where to turn or what they may be in for. 

John

Your grandmother is awfully far along in the disease process, but I am one of those who believes never say never.

So far outside of mainstream medicine (but in FDA trials) is a very potent pancreatic cancer fighter made from an extract of the common oleander plant.  It IS available as a patented medicine from Honduras via FDA exception rule.

A study just published this past December in peer reviewed journals attested to the ability of oleander to induce cell death via autophagy in pancreatic cancer cells:

http://www.tbyil.com/autophagy.htm

Other studies supporting oleander as a potent cancer fighter and immune booster can be referenced at:

http://www.tbyil.com/Newman_Studies.htm

or by going to PubMed and doing a search for "oleander and Newman" (noted MD Anderson researcher Doctor Robert A. Newman has led or participated in many of the most important oleander studies).

The patented medicine form of oleander known as Anvirzel may be obtained at:

http://www.saludintegral.hn

and there is also a supplement form modeled after the medicine that is available from South Africa, where it has had over 90% success against cancer ad 100% success against HIV/AIDS:

http://www.sutherlandiaopc.com

I hope that someday soon the world will know about this important cancer fighter and have access to it, as I am convinced it could save millions of lives.

They have some pain patches that work. I'm not sure if she would consider wearing the patch, but then she wouldn't have to take as many pills.

Fentanyl is the name of the patches my mother has.