My mom is completely over medicated and I need help/advice

[Jaimee]

This is going to be fairly long, but I need to get some advice please.

In April 2004, my mom had what was to be the first of 8 back surgeries. She had complication after complication. The Dr basically told her if she didn't have the first surgery then, she wouldn't be able to walk in 6 months. Her spine had compressed onto her nerves and she was losing feeling in her legs. So there were going to build some kind of metal cage to separate her vertebrae and then drill around the nerves in her spinal cord to give them more room. During the first 2 surgeries they nicked her spinal cord and she ended up with a spinal fluid leak and horrible headaches. She had to lie flat in the hospital for a week while it healed, and both times she contracted pneumonia. Next they went to implant a nerve stimulator (she has a remote controll thingy that she uses to turn it on for pain releif). There were many complications with that also, so additional surgeries were needed.

She still loses feeling in her legs and has had several horrible falls (one resulting in 60 stiches in her knee...) She also has Fibromyagia which doesn't help the situation.She's been on pain meds for the last 2 years. And I mean STRONG stuff. Oxycontin, Neurontin....Now the doctor put her on Morophine!

This is so hard for me. I'm an only child and a single mom. My mom is only 53 and she's always been so strong. She raised me by herself, she went back to college at 48 and earned her 4 year degree by the time she was 50. She's smart, funny and has always been a workaholic. Now she's so different. She had to leave her job of 28 years, and is on long term disability. I work full time and live about 45 mins away, so I don't see her every day. I took her to lunch yesterday and she was a completely different person. We've always shared a strange sense of humor, but she wasn't laughing at all. She fell asleep in mid-sentence twice on the 20 minute car ride to the restaurant, and I wanted to cry. My step dad takes her to her appointments, and we don't have a great relationship, so I'm kind of out of the loop. Is it out of line for me to call her surgeon? She has to have another surgery in June, and I'm so scared. She takes about 20 different meds a day, the nerve pills for her legs keep her awake, so she takes sleeping pills, then the pain pills, then pills for her stomach because some pills make her nauseus.

I'm miss my "old" mom

 

[L107ANGEL]

I am not sure the Doctor would be able to tell you anything with the pirvacy laws. I wish I had advice to give you, I know how hard it is.

 

[Christine]

I don't know what to tell you either. Sorry. It must be awful. It sounds to me that, since this is kind of long-term, that she needs to also be in the care of a pain management specialist. This is a growing field and sometimes it is hard to find doctors that specialize in this, but they are out there.

I don't know how much you can do, but you are her daughter and, it seems to me that it wouldn't be out of line to try to talk to her doctor.

 

[poohandwendy]

I guess I am wondering...does she have only one doctor or several who are prescribing her meds? If there is more than one doctor, are they aware of all of the medications she istaking?

Is it possible that she is not taking the meds as prescribed? Maybe go through all of it with her...get a daily pill container thing to make sure she is only taking what she is supposed to take.

I am sorry you are going through this, maybe go with her on her next doctors visit and bring the issue up?

 

[Fan2CSkr]

It sounds like your Mom has been through a lot. If you are able please schedule an appointment where you can accompany her. Bring pen and paper and have the Doctor go over EVERY medicine and its doses with you. If you are unable to go with her have your Mom call the Doctor to OK that he/she speak with you. I have been doing this for years with no problems from any Doctors. You can also get her the daily/weekly medicine holder.

As far as being over medicated my guess is that she was switched from oxycodone to morphine. Ask the Doctor is she is a candidate for the Intrathecal Pump. This would deliver her pain medication directly to the spinal cord area.

You are very smart to be questioning her medication. Someone must be overseeing this. It is highly likely with the drugs you have listed that she is taking too much or too often. As far as her personality change that you notice that would also be a clue but could just be the narcotics.

Good Luck to you.

 

[luvmyeor]

With that many medications there are definitely some unwanted interactions. I work in the MH/MR field and one of our nurses said that if you take 5 or more medications then you definitely have some bad interaction. Can you get a list of all her medications and dosages? My mother has several medical issues (bi-polar, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc). I am in charge of her medications. Our nurse recommended medicationadvisor.com. The site will guide you through questions concerning medical history and diagnosis. Then it will ask you to enter all of the medications and dosages. The site will try to get you to pay for a more advanced report but the free report is all you really need. It will tell you what meds interact and what to look for. Don't panic if it brings up a lot of interactions. Mom takes 15 different pills a day. The report brought up several warnings but nothing that was dangerous. It just recommended that we check blood levels which we were already doing. I actually showed the website to her psychiatrist and he was impressed and said that he was going to use that site. Good Luck!

 

[Bbgrizzle]

Just want to wish you well. What you are going though sounds very difficult. I hope you get your old mom back. Prayers and Pixie Dust coming your way. . .

 

[DVC Sadie]

It sounds as if she is over medicated and more than likely addicted. Pain is horrible but sometimes doctors have a tendency to overmedicate.

I'm sure you want your old mom back and I would talk to her doctor to find out what is going on. Good luck to you and your mom.

 

[Big V]

Sorry about your Mom Jaimee. I would talk to the doctors, if you can. I will keep her in my prayers. I know how close you two are.

 

[LoraJ]

Fan2C gave you some great advice on how to go about speaking to the doctors. Good Luck and Hugs!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I can't imagine going thru what you are. I am sorry about your mom.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Definitely sounds like she is overmedicated. DW MeanLaureen takes all those meds you listed (Neurontin. Morphine..) and it doesn't have any change on her day to day life. As long as the person taking them has the level of pain for the amount of medicine prescribed, you won't see an issue. Once the medicine level goes above the pain level, you start seeing the effects of the drug (highs, sleeping issues, etc) I would ask her to sign off on the Hippa form to allow you to discuss the medical problems with her doctor if you aren't already allowed.

Also, remember that with chronic pain comes debilitating depression at times. You might want to consider that she may need to be treated for that as well.

 

[MAKmom]

My grandmother was addicted to prescription drugs given to her by her doctor. When he retired the new Doctor told her no way to what she was taking. In her 90's she ended up in the hospital detoxing.

Speak with the Doctor but if you are not happy with the results seek out a second opinion. You have a BIG project ahead of you. If you can do it the rewards will last a life time.

 

[VanniGirl]

No advice, just best wishes and good thoughts for you and your mom.