Exactly! My 96 yr old dad was dying and had dementia. About a week before he died he became agitated so unlike my dad….he was in a regular hospital crying and screaming for help. I went to a nurse for sedation and the young nurse said we don’t want him on Xanax because he could become addicted! I should have insisted! We took him home and called Hospice…..the best decision ever! They gave him Xanax and pain meds and a week later with Hospice looking in daily he passed peacefully sleeping…no pain no anxiety! I will forever be grateful for the wonderful Hospice staff! They wrote to each of his kids after he died checking on us! God bless the angels who brought us the meds! 😇
Just returned from seeing my mom in hospice. She is expected to pass in the next 24 hours. The doctors and nurses there are angels. They are doing so many things to keep her comfortable. I can tell she is not in pain. She was sleeping and looks very peaceful. I am grateful for that.
How difficult this must be, but how comforting, too, to know your mom is being looked after. Please know you're not alone and prayers for both you and your mom's peaceful passing, are on their way....
Thank you. I’ve been on oxycodone for 6.5 years. I brought it up to my oncologist because I was afraid of getting addicted to it. I also told him that I try to get off it and by time noon gets here, I’m miserable. He said the same thing that you did, I’m in pain, so I’m not taking it recreationally. Oh… I have metastatic breast cancer, and it spread to my spine. I’m doing ok!
@@Nublet67 I take opiods for chronic pain due to arthritis and degenerative disc disease and have taken it for 14 years. I was concerned about addiction and my doctor explained it like this: my body is addicted to opiods but I am not psychologically addicted to opiods… if I was I would be seeking more opiods by buying them on the street, stealing them from friends and family - THAT’S psychological addiction which is what addicts have.
I was so blessed for the six days my husband was in hospice. He was finally pain-free. He was sleeping soundly. I know he was not suffering. But before he went into hospice, he suffered terribly from both his heart and kidney failure.
This is one of the reasons docs and nurses specialize in hospice. So they can give your loved one the dosage needed to help them cross over peacefully. Levels a regular doc/nurse might get in trouble for. Hospice workers are a special kind of angel. Thank you for being there for your patients, especially the ones who have no family who understands.
I heard that the amounts of pain meds given and how often, have to do with what state you live in. I believe some states are more restrictive and put limits on how many pain meds you can receive/how often. Does anyone know about this?
@@elbee1290I really pray that the government stays out of end of life pain medication management. Us and our lived ones deserve to pass away peacefully and pain free.
I had an 87-year-old patient who was definitely in in stage treatment for cancer. They gave him a couple months. We were all wondering if he was going to even leave the hospital even though he wanted to die at home. I walk in one day and he’s sitting up on the edge of the bed happiness clam. Chatting with people everything seemed great. Then he told me that the doctor had just given him marijuana pills. He told every single person that walked in the room, the lady bringing the lunch tray, lady bringing flowers, all his family and friends that came. His son was so embarrassed.😜“dad do you have to tell everybody?!” he told me those old hippies knew what they were doing. I’m glad that he at least got some pain relief towards the end and he was happy considering everything that was going on.
Even if you have chronic pain and are on it long term does NOT mean you are addicted. You do become dependent on it to control the pain so you can funtion. It doesn't make you "high" or dopey. It controls the pain. That's it. Many do not know you are on it unless you tell them!
So true. So much disinformation out there. Those in pain have pain protein molecules in their CNS. When you take opioids those bind to the pain molecules. No euphoria. No addiction. No constipation in most cases. Recreational use who do not have pain molecules the opioid molecules have nothing to bind to. Ergo that may cause loopy. In the vet world, we never withhold opioids because to withhold is INHUMANE. Our pets get better care than humans do. Pets can die from pain. So, let's treat humans as we treat pets.
If I was in a hospice, dying, I would be put on medication to sleep. I have suffered so much with anxiety all my life, and I don't want to die being afride. Thank you so much.
When my partner was dying from cancer, he was prescribed the same low dose narcotic he was taking for degenerative disc disease. When hospice came in, he started on another low dose narcotic every 3 hours, and within 24 hours, he was finally free of all pain and was able to let go. I regret not pushing him into hospice sooner. It killed me to see him suffering like he did. Folks don't wait to start your loved one on hospice as soon as you see the downfall begin!!!
I am 78 and in pain management and if I didn’t take it I would be non-functioning! It is prescribed every 4 hrs. I try not to take the Oxycodone every 4 hrs if the Norco is working. I will sometimes have to have to have 4 to 6 on hand of the 10 mg of Oxycodone when the pain gets out of control! I understand people getting scared having to take pain meds but they have saved me! I had colon surgery and wear a bag. I do not have constipation so I am blessed that didn’t happen! Take the pain meds! Best decision I ever made! 😊 New subscriber
I have always refused pain medication (I’m a cancer patient) after surgeries, I’ve had 6 surgeries so far. But I wish I found your channel before this cancer journey. Addiction runs generations deep in my family, I was so scared to use them. I could’ve saved myself some horrible pain. Thank you, Julie ❤
Julie will you please explain why you don't recommend stool softeners. I am on Hospice with Metastatic Ovarian Cancer and using a stool softener helps. I do use a laxative occasionally along with Senna-plus. Thanks for your book. My Sister purchased a book for everyone in our immediate family. After reading the book we had a "book club" to discuss. It was a wonderful way to inform everyone and give the opportunity for discussion. It was a great tool! Your video are terrific!
I wish she explained why she said that about softeners. If what you are doing is working for you, don't worry about it. Maybe people are being over prescribed softener when they don't need it.
Larry Burkett's book on "Giving and Tithing" drew me closer to God and helped my spirituality. 2021 was a year I literally lived it. I cashed in my life savings and gave it all away. My total giving amounted to 30,000 dollars. Everyone thought I was delusional. Today, 1 receive 75,000 dollars every two months. I have a property in Calabasas, CA, and travel a lot. God has promoted me more than once and opened doors for me to live beyond my dreams. God kept to his promises to and for me
It is the digital market. That's been the secret to this wealth transfer. A lot of folks in the US and abroad are getting so much from it, God has been good to my household Thank you Jesus
I've seen Hospice in action and it's such a blessing. But I can tell you right now, it's the doctors these folks have had for years that have scared folks to death about using ANY pain management ever! That's why this 'myth' got started. Thank you for helping people to see this differently for their end of life care.
Hello Julie. A heartfelt thank you for your gift of this channel and your book. My husband is end of life, hospice at home currently. He has prostate cancer met to lungs and bones. I can attest to the pain relief of both slow release morphine tablets and liquid morphine for his breakthrough pain. He also takes Pregabalin. He says he has never experienced such pain as that from the bone metastasis. We could not get through without his hospice angels and his pain meds. From your videos and book, we have been able to work fully with his team, knowing that these meds are a good thing!! God bless and thank you.
It was painful to even watch... It's heartbreaking especially for young people.. my step mum dying in her 40s from cancer and last days couldn't take.. yes we had morphine patches and everything.. but last two days.. it's too heartbreaking 😢
You should have made the point that addiction to pain medicine has a stigma for non-hospice patients because it can make them unproductive and unhealthy. But for hospice patients, those considerations are completely irrelevant so there is no reason to fear the possibility of addiction.
Bob, I'm totally with you ! I live in Florida where they don't have " dying with dignity" yet !!! I just keep singing in my mind "One Day At A Time" sweet Jesus !!! It gets me through the raw patches!!!
@bobwinters2885 hi, you may already know this, but it bears repeating: making an Advance Medical Directive is the most important and reliable way to have your wishes followed in case at some point you DON'T have the mental or communicative capacity to advocate for yourself. I am an inpatient hospice nurse (my unit is primarily for dying patients whose symptoms cannot be managed at home). Being located within a Level 1 Trauma hospital, some of our patients are dying from much more sudden/unexpected conditions than most home hospice patients - cardiac arrest, catastrophic strokes, brain bleeds (from trauma or hemorrhagic stroke), severe respiratory failure, overdose, etc. Many of them could be kept technically "alive" for a little while longer with maximum drastic interventions in the ICU, but family has understood the unfortunate reality of their loved one and opted for comfort measures. Families (not to mention the patients!) have a MUCH easier time with this process when they already knew that the wishes of the dying loved one were for comfort care only. "He always said just let him go if xyz...", "She swore she'd come back a haunt us if we let them put that tube down her throat", etc. But having an actual document of the wishes (the Advance Directive) also minimizes fighting between family members and the very difficult task of having to be the loved one to sign a DNR and hospice consents. One last point - if someone is unmarried, has no directives, and has any children age 18+, their child is legally the one who has to sign. That's not so bad if the patient is 80 and their children are 60yrs old, but it's downright traumatic for an 18yr old child of a 37yr old patient (actual situation I had - a middle-aged family member tried to sign so the teen wouldn't have to, but legally the teen had to do it). I'll get off my soapbox now, but if anyone benefits from this info it was worth typing it all out.
I take care of my grandma who is 94 and broke her hip from a fall when she had a stroke. She had surgery and came out ok but she has pain sometimes. She does take narcotics and has problems with constipation. I found laxatives were too aggressive and stool softeners were worthless. The absolute best thing I found is prune juice. You might have to trial and error some but 5 ounces with breakfast and before bed works just right for her.
Thank you for this channel. Normalising the end of life processes removes unnecessary fear and creates a space of grace to celebrate life like a song well sung.
Thank you for easing my mind. I always wondered if my dad may have died sooner bc of taking morphine when he was in hospice. His hospice nurses were marvelous and sensitive to our family. I am feeling so much better now after hearing about the studies and listening to the rest of your talk.
My sister had a fentanyl patch and occasional spray of morphine into her mouth. It made her so much more comfortable. She couldn’t get the pain relief she needed without the hospice team.
I have a disability which causes me pain each day and i have to take pain meds to function, if i dont take the meds i dont function. I cant take NSAIDs because of serious kidney trouble as a kid so i have to have opioid based painkillers each day. My body has become addicted over the years but i can control it, its not ideal but i do need them to function and live. To be honest if i was dying anyway i wouldnt care what kind of painkiller they gave me, just aslong as the pain goes away and it helps me to chill then its fine by me :) Becareful with laxatives i can not take laxatives they give me crippling stomach cramps, so i use stool softeners (Sachet Stool Softeners) such as Molaxole or Laxido and they work fine by me. Only take what suits you either laxative or stool softener, listen to what your body prefers. Laxatives do not always work for everybody.
You are not addicted in the same sense as a 'drug addict'. You are medically habituated due to having to take narcotics for chronic pain. Very different motivation and psychology. Wishing you well.
@@Rani-gr8yi The herbal kind that starts with C and ends with bis. If you are talking about that kind of herb it is still illegal in the UK. Unfortunately our government will not legalize, regulate or tax it and are to stupid to realize how much money they could make if they did.
My mother was admitted to palliative care Aug 30th and then hospice a week later. Her lungs are bad due to COPD. She is on all of those medications you mentioned, plus nabilone and fentanyl. Thank you for saying that people become more themselves when they have less pain. It seems as though she has stabilized and is now just accepting visitors and enjoying the attention. She has been approved for or accepted for the medical assistance in death program, but probably won't choose it. It is hard to go every day because I live in a different town and have to take transit. If this goes on for a long period, I'm not certain I can keep it up. Life is weird sometimes. 🤷♀️
Used properly pain medicine is helpful. Having a more balanced view vs. pain medicine is evil, hopefully is happening. I appreciate cannabis mentioned for pain medicine. It is helping people with pain. Eating .Sleeping. Calming. Better mood. Quality and purity necessary. Using plant medicine doesn't make you an addict. Comfortable and safe...
My late husband, at 72, had pancreatic cancer and then a stroke, wound up in hospital and then in hospice, where he spent his final 3 weeks. His pain was terrible. They were giving him shots of morphine every few hours, but then he’d be screaming in agony, and I was begging the nurses to give him another shot, but they insisted they couldn’t “because it might kill him.” I was out of my mind with frustration and grief. I would NEVER go into hospice. I’ll take care of end of life decisions for myself by myself, at home. We all die, but no one deserves to die like that.
My brother just had open heart surgery, and his blood pressure was low. So they only gave him Tylenol. It worked well for him. Now, that was hospital level Tylenol. Not drug store Tylenol. But it does work.
Now thinking about the hundreds of kids getting amputations in Gza without any anaesthesia, is insane And for those passing away under the rubble Its crazy
Morphine helped my dad cope the anxiety associated with copd. It was a life saver, he was able to relax and enjoy family. I realized it would have helped a lot if it had been available to him for his final year of life. Also there is a significant difference between dependency and addiction.
My father had metastasis on the bones. He was in an immense pain. He was put on durogesic patches (fentanyl) and morphine. His pain was just lessened, but actually did not disappear, and he was on very high doses (ever higher). Dexason (cortisol) would decrease the pain but he got delirium from it. Constipation was an ongoing battle despite the laxatives. Everything was a mess, none of it was peaceful. I think it's not talked about enough that sometimes pain can't be fully managed.
I understand morphine is what is used in hospice for pain, but I also understand morphine suppresses the respiratory system. I don’t want any pain meds bc I want to be able to see who is coming to greet me and cross me over. I believe the buzz from pain medication will dilute the visions.
I’ve taken pain meds, including morphine, for nearly 20 years & im not addicted 2 my meds. I have on occasion run out of my strong meds when I’ve 4gotten 2 order them in time but I don’t go into withdrawal at all I just have 2 suffer the pain until my meds are delivered
Awesome topic today. I am a hospice nurse who knows nothing about Marijuana for pain relief, end of life., is there reliable information out there just so I can learn more?
Marijuana doesn't help the actual pain generally speaking. It works by allowing you to relax enough to manage the pain and deal with it. I personally don't do Marijuana because I am on opiates and they don't allow both. I know several people that do use it medically for pain and not recreational to get "high". I've been told it's much stronger than the stuff in the 1960's and 1970's. I'm sure you can Google it to get good information. There are 2 strains of it, indica and stativa I think. And there are many different types in these 2 strains and they do work differently. One is a up feeling and one is a down feeling.
@@monicamoore2971 your welcome. Just what I've learned from people that use it medically. Some prefer it in baked goods or gummies as you can't smoke everywhere. And there's a process to use it that way, it's just not throwing some in a recipe.
Not everyone that is on narcotics needs laxatives. Medical history with meds will determine that. Laxatives don't work the same for everyone unless you want ass-plosions all over the sheets. I think I would have that put in my chart. Some people are prone to constipation and others never had to deal a day with it.
My brother keeps fighting the laxatives. He's post stroke and having trouble cleaning himself. No constipation issues. But they insist on the laxatives. Sometimes he can convince the nurse not to give them, sometimes not. When he is forced to take them, it's like a never ending yogurt machine. Docs can be idiots.
@@Mermare Some people just have slower-moving bowels when they older or in a disabling state due to medical issues. How uncomfortable that must be (also knowing you may mess yourself and the bed) and not being able to get showered immediately.
There are actual terminal patients in pain and instead of the hospice nurse giving pain medication they instead give then antianxiety medications to keep them sedated. Which of course doesn't relieve the pain.
Use gabapentine from the vet to chill my kitties out before an appointment. It does wonderful things to relax them. All because very purry and prone to snacking. So can assume it would help a human in pain very well.
What do you say to your Doctor to convince him to give you pain medication? It seems like they don't want to give it out anymore because of all the addicts.
Yes, my husband is living in pain the rest of his life because his doctor won't prescribe him something else. he has bult up a tolereance for the pills, so it's just popping pills, and pain patches, but still not enough relief. so sad. we both suffer. Doctor's are afraid of being sanctioned for giving them something different. they don't care!!!! talking to a wall it is!!!
My husband now on 2 pain meds ,due to his liver disease his lower back and feet kill him . Plus Valium,it keeps him clam cause liver disease is painful.still in hospice care after 1 1/2 yrs due to declining health .
Thank you for your videos. We can't find hope and peace in this world but there is Someone that can give us true hope and peace. Because he Loved us: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Because of his Grace: Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Because of Hope: Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Blessedly, my mother never took more than an occasional Tylenol when she was dying from lymphoma that had spread widely in her abdomen-except-before she became unresponsive, she had a brief stretch of some agitation. I always wondered if she had pain at that point-she was given morphine 2x and quickly relaxed, so I am assuming she had pain at that point. I watched her closely after that for any sign of pain after that, but she never showed anything.
I would love to know more about your opinion of stool softeners please. I occasionally use them with mixed results. Why do you not like them? By the way I love your channel.
Can you explain what causes non-disease related pain in bed bound hospice patients? I’ve had a couple hospice patients who had so much pain in their limbs along with stiffness, even though they did not have arthritis. My thoughts are that it’s caused by the muscles wasting away from lack of use, but confused by how that causes pain physiologically. None of their pain meds help and I try to be extremely gentle while repositioning their limbs (legs especially). Unfortunately it is so bad they often cry out while their legs are moved.
Look I have been involved in Firefighting and First responding and yes it is some times squirelly and when it gets that way you do the best you got with what you got .. But what happened with Mum .. no one who was ever there told me the Truth and all I ever got was hand patting and platitudes and a story I frankkly dont belive a word of ... Sure Mothers !! Who would have one ! There are so many things that can go wrong with them ... but I wasnt there and I have a sense of what dieing of thirst must be like ...
I have a question regarding the frequency of using laxatives with opioids. Generally (we know that everyone is different and should consult their doctor), would you suggest using the laxatives 1:1 with the opioid doses? Should we experiment to find a balance? Love your content, Julie! ❤
My Dad just went on hospice and is very itchy and in pain from kidney failure. His kidney function is 7 out of 60. Itchy from his body being polluted by the kidney failure and his spine discinigrating from the tumor destroying his spine. He is on many medicines and they keep him happy and pain free. He sleeps more too and can’t bathe himself so they come in and do it for him. I think the end is near. What do you think?
I'm a mental health therapist and have a client with advanced Duschene muscular dystrophy. He is in hospice and the Dr and nurse have prescribed pain meds for him. Sadly, his caregiver and father won't give my client the meds as prescribed because they are fearful he will not be able to breathe (he has lung scarring from Covid along with atrophy. I've worked with this client for 10 years and familiar with the family dynamics. Any suggestions how to allay their fears?
My daddy had prostate cancer and it went to his bones. My mother an 2 brothers said I was killing him when I gave him a shot of morphine. My daddy looked at them pulled down his sheet to his swollen belly and said I hurt. I said well not any more. Then they stormed out.
My brother was just diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung cancer that has metastases into his bones. He is on heavy pain meds and has been given 2 weeks to live. If not for his pain meds he would be in agony. The downside is that he is barely lucid for more than 30 seconds per visit 😢
How sad this must be hard to bear, knowing he doesn't have a lot of time. My prayers are that he doesn't suffer, that the medicines banish his pain and that he passes peacefully when the time is right. Meanwhile, please know you're not alone....
my husband was with hospice, but the liquid morphine made him nauseated. he told them at the start he was allergic to it, but the nurseses & doctor wouldn't listen, & wouldn't switch him to another pain medicine. we were back and forth over this issue, & the doctor REFUSED to prescribe him anything else other than tylenol suppositories. Unfortunately, we had to withdraw from hospice, so i'm on my own taking care of him. Back to pain management again with patches and other pain pills he's build up a tolerance for. not a good outcome. what to do????
My husband died in hospice 6 months ago, he was 44, head and neck cancer. I've a question: He was doped up pretty hard to make the trip from the hospital to the hospice. I was 20 minutes behind them. When I got there he was already doped out. He was just... gone. He was drugged to the point he simply never woke up again. He was awake and responsive when he went into the ambulance. He wasn't ever again. He passed a day and a half later. I just... didn't feel like that was right. Is that normal?
@waitaminute2015 I agree about pain and compassion, what I'm saying is they literally put him to sleep. As in he could sit up, talk, move around, etc, and then he was drugged to where he couldn't the second he got there. It felt as though the nurse on the floor couldn't wait to dope him to death. Same woman who did religious things over his body the second I left the room to make calls when he passed. I walk in on that. I'd informed everyone we're non religious when checking in and filling out the paperwork. When I asked what she was doing, that's when I got a lecture on jesus and told how wrong we were and she knew better. So yeah, threw her out. I hadn't felt alright with the situation before and was shut down when asking if it was necessary to dope him to sleep like that and take away so many things at once. That last part makes me think it wasn't. I'm asking
Yeah, my brother's cancer was so painful for him, that when we turned and repositioned him, he screamed out in gut wrenching anguish, eyes came wide open. This happened when we assumed he had slipped into a coma, he hadn't, he was only sedated, apparently not enough medication. Though it's a fine line between giving the right amount and overdosing. I refused to allow him to be moved more than slightly after that, which was 12 hours.
Yes if that much pain, not enough? Or not right for one. We all know fentanyl has become totally misused recreationally. For dying may be most helpful for some and used as the pain medicine it is. Should pain medicine be discussed also in case can't verbalize at time?
My dad dying of cancer was only offered morphine by hospice. Would those orders have been given by the family doctor to hospice? After administering morphine, he started screaming at everyone and he was not the kind & loving person I loved.
My husband suffered from Terminal Aggitation. He had brain cancer. They started with morphine, then eventually added phenobarbital. The head nurse said that he would remain asleep until his death. Is this a normal protocol?
If you're dying getting addicted is the least of your worries.
Exactly! My 96 yr old dad was dying and had dementia. About a week before he died he became agitated so unlike my dad….he was in a regular hospital crying and screaming for help. I went to a nurse for sedation and the young nurse said we don’t want him on Xanax because he could become addicted! I should have insisted! We took him home and called Hospice…..the best decision ever! They gave him Xanax and pain meds and a week later with Hospice looking in daily he passed peacefully sleeping…no pain no anxiety! I will forever be grateful for the wonderful Hospice staff! They wrote to each of his kids after he died checking on us! God bless the angels who brought us the meds! 😇
My daughter is sfraiid i wint get oxygen if i sign a RNR.
Whst is the truth?
Just returned from seeing my mom in hospice. She is expected to pass in the next 24 hours. The doctors and nurses there are angels. They are doing so many things to keep her comfortable. I can tell she is not in pain. She was sleeping and looks very peaceful. I am grateful for that.
How difficult this must be, but how comforting, too, to know your mom is being looked after. Please know you're not alone and prayers for both you and your mom's peaceful passing, are on their way....
God bless you and your mom 🙏🙏🙏
Sending you love ❤️
🙏🙏🙏
❤🙏❤️
Hospice doctors and nurses are a special breed. Love to you all.
Thank you. I’ve been on oxycodone for 6.5 years. I brought it up to my oncologist because I was afraid of getting addicted to it. I also told him that I try to get off it and by time noon gets here, I’m miserable. He said the same thing that you did, I’m in pain, so I’m not taking it recreationally. Oh… I have metastatic breast cancer, and it spread to my spine. I’m doing ok!
@@Nublet67 I take opiods for chronic pain due to arthritis and degenerative disc disease and have taken it for 14 years. I was concerned about addiction and my doctor explained it like this: my body is addicted to opiods but I am not psychologically addicted to opiods… if I was I would be seeking more opiods by buying them on the street, stealing them from friends and family - THAT’S psychological addiction which is what addicts have.
I was so blessed for the six days my husband was in hospice. He was finally pain-free. He was sleeping soundly. I know he was not suffering. But before he went into hospice, he suffered terribly from both his heart and kidney failure.
❤🙏❤️
This is one of the reasons docs and nurses specialize in hospice. So they can give your loved one the dosage needed to help them cross over peacefully. Levels a regular doc/nurse might get in trouble for.
Hospice workers are a special kind of angel. Thank you for being there for your patients, especially the ones who have no family who understands.
I heard that the amounts of pain meds given and how often, have to do with what state you live in. I believe some states are more restrictive and put limits on how many pain meds you can receive/how often. Does anyone know about this?
@@elbee1290I really pray that the government stays out of end of life pain medication management. Us and our lived ones deserve to pass away peacefully and pain free.
If I'm dying I don't think I have to worry about getting addicted. Load me up.
I had an 87-year-old patient who was definitely in in stage treatment for cancer. They gave him a couple months. We were all wondering if he was going to even leave the hospital even though he wanted to die at home. I walk in one day and he’s sitting up on the edge of the bed happiness clam. Chatting with people everything seemed great. Then he told me that the doctor had just given him marijuana pills. He told every single person that walked in the room, the lady bringing the lunch tray, lady bringing flowers, all his family and friends that came. His son was so embarrassed.😜“dad do you have to tell everybody?!” he told me those old hippies knew what they were doing. I’m glad that he at least got some pain relief towards the end and he was happy considering everything that was going on.
It IS a medicine, and it DOES work. The stigma from recreational use is a real problem.
Sweet story! 😊
@jimthain8777 It's hard for me to imagine that Marijuana takes away pain. I think the pain is still there, but maybe you just don't care as much?
@@jmsfabrication7821
It is prescribed for nausea & pain especially for cancer patients. Apparently it does help.
Even if you have chronic pain and are on it long term does NOT mean you are addicted. You do become dependent on it to control the pain so you can funtion. It doesn't make you "high" or dopey. It controls the pain. That's it. Many do not know you are on it unless you tell them!
So true. So much disinformation out there. Those in pain have pain protein molecules in their CNS. When you take opioids those bind to the pain molecules. No euphoria. No addiction. No constipation in most cases. Recreational use who do not have pain molecules the opioid molecules have nothing to bind to. Ergo that may cause loopy. In the vet world, we never withhold opioids because to withhold is INHUMANE. Our pets get better care than humans do. Pets can die from pain. So, let's treat humans as we treat pets.
I call this ' medical habituation'. Way better than trying to go through life grouchy due to chronic pain.
I agree with that. Chronic long-term pain is awful to deal with, sometimes dependance happens, I look on it as a trade-off, end of.
If I was in a hospice, dying, I would be put on medication to sleep. I have suffered so much with anxiety all my life, and I don't want to die being afride. Thank you so much.
When my partner was dying from cancer, he was prescribed the same low dose narcotic he was taking for degenerative disc disease. When hospice came in, he started on another low dose narcotic every 3 hours, and within 24 hours, he was finally free of all pain and was able to let go. I regret not pushing him into hospice sooner. It killed me to see him suffering like he did. Folks don't wait to start your loved one on hospice as soon as you see the downfall begin!!!
When I'm in my last days bring the pain meds please!!! All the meds😂
All❤
Sending ❤ to you 🙂↔️
So helpful. My dad is in hospice now with dementia and other things. Don’t want him to suffer.
@@vjdalady...same here for my mom. The waiting is hard!
God bless all my friends here that have prayed for me, God bless Julie
You to
Julie, Excellent Video on end of life pain & pain meds.............
I am 78 and in pain management and if I didn’t take it I would be non-functioning! It is prescribed every 4 hrs. I try not to take the Oxycodone every 4 hrs if the Norco is working. I will sometimes have to have to have 4 to 6 on hand of the 10 mg of Oxycodone when the pain gets out of control! I understand people getting scared having to take pain meds but they have saved me! I had colon surgery and wear a bag. I do not have constipation so I am blessed that didn’t happen! Take the pain meds! Best decision I ever made! 😊 New subscriber
I deal with pain 24/7. I am used to pain. Death does not scare me at all. I just have to make sure my loved ones are taken care of.
I can’t thank you enough for this video, Julie.
Julie you make so much sense good for you
I have always refused pain medication (I’m a cancer patient) after surgeries, I’ve had 6 surgeries so far. But I wish I found your channel before this cancer journey. Addiction runs generations deep in my family, I was so scared to use them. I could’ve saved myself some horrible pain. Thank you, Julie ❤
Thank you, Nurse Julie! A lot of us will be facing this ourselves or with our loved ones in the future. It helps to understand. You are awesome!
Julie will you please explain why you don't recommend stool softeners. I am on Hospice with Metastatic Ovarian Cancer and using a stool softener helps. I do use a laxative occasionally along with Senna-plus. Thanks for your book. My Sister purchased a book for everyone in our immediate family. After reading the book we had a "book club" to discuss. It was a wonderful way to inform everyone and give the opportunity for discussion. It was a great tool! Your video are terrific!
@@debbiebrown5586 usually because a stool softener is just not enough. Not all laxatives are harsh. I use miralax.
I think she's saying use the one with the best results.
Maybe try magnesium…
I wish she explained why she said that about softeners. If what you are doing is working for you, don't worry about it. Maybe people are being over prescribed softener when they don't need it.
@waitaminute2015 Stool softener doesn't work as well. Coloxyl for example is a stool softener.. However coloxyl with Senna is much better .
Glad to hear about the variety of pain meds available for the dying.
- we've swung too far the other way on pain medication in this country.
Larry Burkett's book on "Giving and Tithing" drew me closer to God and helped my spirituality. 2021 was a year I literally lived it. I cashed in my life savings and gave it all away. My total giving amounted to 30,000 dollars. Everyone thought I was delusional. Today, 1 receive 75,000 dollars every two months. I have a property in Calabasas, CA, and travel a lot. God has promoted me more than once and opened doors for me to live beyond my dreams.
God kept to his promises to and for me
@@DanielKay-ey6uh There's wonder working power in following
Kingdom principles on giving and tithing.
Hallelujah!
But then, how do you get all that in that period of time? What is it you do please, mind sharing?
It is the digital market. That's been the secret to this wealth transfer. A lot of folks in the US and abroad are getting so much from it, God has been good to my household Thank you Jesus
And thanks to my co-worker (Michael) who suggested Ms Susan Jane Christy
So nice to see Susan Jane Christy talked about here. Her good works are speaking already, and like wild fire, she's spreading.
I've seen Hospice in action and it's such a blessing. But I can tell you right now, it's the doctors these folks have had for years that have scared folks to death about using ANY pain management ever! That's why this 'myth' got started. Thank you for helping people to see this differently for their end of life care.
Years ago my MIL was given Demerol for pain. My BIL was given fentanyl. Both passed from pancreatic cancer.
Hello Julie. A heartfelt thank you for your gift of this channel and your book. My husband is end of life, hospice at home currently. He has prostate cancer met to lungs and bones. I can attest to the pain relief of both slow release morphine tablets and liquid morphine for his breakthrough pain. He also takes Pregabalin. He says he has never experienced such pain as that from the bone metastasis. We could not get through without his hospice angels and his pain meds. From your videos and book, we have been able to work fully with his team, knowing that these meds are a good thing!! God bless and thank you.
Thank you for this, Julie. You have given me peace of mind about a choice I had to make when my husband was dying from cancer.
It was painful to even watch... It's heartbreaking especially for young people.. my step mum dying in her 40s from cancer and last days couldn't take.. yes we had morphine patches and everything.. but last two days.. it's too heartbreaking 😢
You should have made the point that addiction to pain medicine has a stigma for non-hospice patients because it can make them unproductive and unhealthy. But for hospice patients, those considerations are completely irrelevant so there is no reason to fear the possibility of addiction.
Hopefully I’ll have the mental capacity and strength to end things on my terms when the time comes. The third option here.
Bob, I'm totally with you ! I live in Florida where they don't have " dying with dignity" yet !!! I just keep singing in my mind "One Day At A Time" sweet Jesus !!! It gets me through the raw patches!!!
@bobwinters2885 hi, you may already know this, but it bears repeating:
making an Advance Medical Directive is the most important and reliable way to have your wishes followed in case at some point you DON'T have the mental or communicative capacity to advocate for yourself.
I am an inpatient hospice nurse (my unit is primarily for dying patients whose symptoms cannot be managed at home). Being located within a Level 1 Trauma hospital, some of our patients are dying from much more sudden/unexpected conditions than most home hospice patients - cardiac arrest, catastrophic strokes, brain bleeds (from trauma or hemorrhagic stroke), severe respiratory failure, overdose, etc. Many of them could be kept technically "alive" for a little while longer with maximum drastic interventions in the ICU, but family has understood the unfortunate reality of their loved one and opted for comfort measures.
Families (not to mention the patients!) have a MUCH easier time with this process when they already knew that the wishes of the dying loved one were for comfort care only. "He always said just let him go if xyz...", "She swore she'd come back a haunt us if we let them put that tube down her throat", etc. But having an actual document of the wishes (the Advance Directive) also minimizes fighting between family members and the very difficult task of having to be the loved one to sign a DNR and hospice consents. One last point - if someone is unmarried, has no directives, and has any children age 18+, their child is legally the one who has to sign. That's not so bad if the patient is 80 and their children are 60yrs old, but it's downright traumatic for an 18yr old child of a 37yr old patient (actual situation I had - a middle-aged family member tried to sign so the teen wouldn't have to, but legally the teen had to do it).
I'll get off my soapbox now, but if anyone benefits from this info it was worth typing it all out.
Write out what you want! Living will or health directives I think it’s called!
@@vjdalady
I already have that to take the pressure off my husband and daughters!
I take care of my grandma who is 94 and broke her hip from a fall when she had a stroke. She had surgery and came out ok but she has pain sometimes. She does take narcotics and has problems with constipation. I found laxatives were too aggressive and stool softeners were worthless. The absolute best thing I found is prune juice. You might have to trial and error some but 5 ounces with breakfast and before bed works just right for her.
These videos are so informative, I’m glad you do them.
Thank you for this channel. Normalising the end of life processes removes unnecessary fear and creates a space of grace to celebrate life like a song well sung.
Thank you for easing my mind. I always wondered if my dad may have died sooner bc of taking morphine when he was in hospice. His hospice nurses were marvelous and sensitive to our family. I am feeling so much better now after hearing about the studies and listening to the rest of your talk.
My sister had a fentanyl patch and occasional spray of morphine into her mouth. It made her so much more comfortable. She couldn’t get the pain relief she needed without the hospice team.
Hospice (Somerset West) is so lovingly helpful. Thank you all
I have a disability which causes me pain each day and i have to take pain meds to function, if i dont take the meds i dont function. I cant take NSAIDs because of serious kidney trouble as a kid so i have to have opioid based painkillers each day. My body has become addicted over the years but i can control it, its not ideal but i do need them to function and live. To be honest if i was dying anyway i wouldnt care what kind of painkiller they gave me, just aslong as the pain goes away and it helps me to chill then its fine by me :)
Becareful with laxatives i can not take laxatives they give me crippling stomach cramps, so i use stool softeners (Sachet Stool Softeners) such as Molaxole or Laxido and they work fine by me. Only take what suits you either laxative or stool softener, listen to what your body prefers. Laxatives do not always work for everybody.
@hobouk3871 Laxitives can be very harsh. I use Miralax. You can use it in anything you drink and it doesn't change the flavor or texture.
You are not addicted in the same sense as a 'drug addict'. You are medically habituated due to having to take narcotics for chronic pain. Very different motivation and psychology. Wishing you well.
There are herbal remedies that help, usually.
@@Rani-gr8yi The herbal kind that starts with C and ends with bis. If you are talking about that kind of herb it is still illegal in the UK. Unfortunately our government will not legalize, regulate or tax it and are to stupid to realize how much money they could make if they did.
My mother was admitted to palliative care Aug 30th and then hospice a week later. Her lungs are bad due to COPD. She is on all of those medications you mentioned, plus nabilone and fentanyl. Thank you for saying that people become more themselves when they have less pain. It seems as though she has stabilized and is now just accepting visitors and enjoying the attention. She has been approved for or accepted for the medical assistance in death program, but probably won't choose it. It is hard to go every day because I live in a different town and have to take transit. If this goes on for a long period, I'm not certain I can keep it up. Life is weird sometimes. 🤷♀️
You are truly a blessing Thank you
Dependence is the nature of pain meds, but it does NOT make you a drug addict.
Used properly pain medicine is helpful. Having a more balanced view vs. pain medicine is evil, hopefully is happening. I appreciate cannabis mentioned for pain medicine. It is helping people with pain. Eating .Sleeping. Calming. Better mood. Quality and purity necessary.
Using plant medicine doesn't make you an addict. Comfortable and safe...
Thank you for educating..it means so much
My late husband, at 72, had pancreatic cancer and then a stroke, wound up in hospital and then in hospice, where he spent his final 3 weeks. His pain was terrible. They were giving him shots of morphine every few hours, but then he’d be screaming in agony, and I was begging the nurses to give him another shot, but they insisted they couldn’t “because it might kill him.” I was out of my mind with frustration and grief. I would NEVER go into hospice. I’ll take care of end of life decisions for myself by myself, at home. We all die, but no one deserves to die like that.
My brother just had open heart surgery, and his blood pressure was low. So they only gave him Tylenol. It worked well for him. Now, that was hospital level Tylenol. Not drug store Tylenol. But it does work.
Excellent video, you're appreciated ❤
Now thinking about the hundreds of kids getting amputations in Gza without any anaesthesia, is insane
And for those passing away under the rubble
Its crazy
Morphine helped my dad cope the anxiety associated with copd. It was a life saver, he was able to relax and enjoy family. I realized it would have helped a lot if it had been available to him for his final year of life. Also there is a significant difference between dependency and addiction.
My father had metastasis on the bones. He was in an immense pain. He was put on durogesic patches (fentanyl) and morphine. His pain was just lessened, but actually did not disappear, and he was on very high doses (ever higher). Dexason (cortisol) would decrease the pain but he got delirium from it. Constipation was an ongoing battle despite the laxatives. Everything was a mess, none of it was peaceful.
I think it's not talked about enough that sometimes pain can't be fully managed.
I would be begging for pain meds. They help physically and mentally.
I wanna be on cloud 9, until I'm ACTUALLY on cloud 9!!
Nurse Julie a lovely home
OMGosh! Thank you for this!
Off topic hon, do you still have your sweetheart you showed us?
I’ve learned so much from you, thank you!
✨💖✨
thanks for sharing this information. I expressed this same info in many situations using the same conversation and language.
I understand morphine is what is used in hospice for pain, but I also understand morphine suppresses the respiratory system. I don’t want any pain meds bc I want to be able to see who is coming to greet me and cross me over. I believe the buzz from pain medication will dilute the visions.
If you are in pain, you may not be able to see your loved ones anyway. You don't have to take so much drugs to turn you into a zombie.
Hey thank you for sharing with us
❤️ Thanks for your content.
Thank you we are enjoying your book too ❤
I already have my exit strategy arranged.
I'm glad you're here- sending you love
Great topic
My 90 year old grandma wouldn't take pain meds because she didn't "wanna be a junky." 🤣🤣🤣
I’ve taken pain meds, including morphine, for nearly 20 years & im not addicted 2 my meds. I have on occasion run out of my strong meds when I’ve 4gotten 2 order them in time but I don’t go into withdrawal at all I just have 2 suffer the pain until my meds are delivered
My husband just passed away in agony, i got him out of hospice and had emergency doctors give him pain relief. Sadly, he died in pain.
Sad and unfortunate.
Thank you for this information.
Thanks Julie, this is helpful!
Awesome topic today.
I am a hospice nurse who knows nothing about Marijuana for pain relief, end of life., is there reliable information out there just so I can learn more?
Marijuana doesn't help the actual pain generally speaking. It works by allowing you to relax enough to manage the pain and deal with it. I personally don't do Marijuana because I am on opiates and they don't allow both. I know several people that do use it medically for pain and not recreational to get "high". I've been told it's much stronger than the stuff in the 1960's and 1970's. I'm sure you can Google it to get good information. There are 2 strains of it, indica and stativa I think. And there are many different types in these 2 strains and they do work differently. One is a up feeling and one is a down feeling.
@@Jomama02 😊 thanks!
@@monicamoore2971 your welcome. Just what I've learned from people that use it medically. Some prefer it in baked goods or gummies as you can't smoke everywhere. And there's a process to use it that way, it's just not throwing some in a recipe.
How can you be a hospice nurse and know nothing about pain relief?
Ive been taking pain medication since my 30 yrs and it make me myself
Your hair looks great
Not everyone that is on narcotics needs laxatives. Medical history with meds will determine that. Laxatives don't work the same for everyone unless you want ass-plosions all over the sheets. I think I would have that put in my chart. Some people are prone to constipation and others never had to deal a day with it.
My brother keeps fighting the laxatives. He's post stroke and having trouble cleaning himself. No constipation issues. But they insist on the laxatives. Sometimes he can convince the nurse not to give them, sometimes not. When he is forced to take them, it's like a never ending yogurt machine. Docs can be idiots.
@@Mermare Some people just have slower-moving bowels when they older or in a disabling state due to medical issues. How uncomfortable that must be (also knowing you may mess yourself and the bed) and not being able to get showered immediately.
@@Mermarecan he pretend to take them? Sometimes arguing gets you nowhere.
There are actual terminal patients in pain and instead of the hospice nurse giving pain medication they instead give then antianxiety medications to keep them sedated. Which of course doesn't relieve the pain.
Use gabapentine from the vet to chill my kitties out before an appointment. It does wonderful things to relax them. All because very purry and prone to snacking. So can assume it would help a human in pain very well.
Gabapentin has never helped any pain I've ever had.
Gabapentin should only be used for nerve pain. It will not work for most other pain!!!!
2:54 When I am dying, give me all the strongest morphine. Having too much pain is never an option.
Nothing helps peripheral neuropathy. It just gets worse.
Have you tried Gabapentin or Lyrica?
Prunes or Kiwifruit are great for constipation ☺️
It was impressive
My concern is that I live in a rural area with poor access to palliative and end of life care.
What do you say to your Doctor to convince him to give you pain medication? It seems like they don't want to give it out anymore because of all the addicts.
Yes, my husband is living in pain the rest of his life because his doctor won't prescribe him something else. he has bult up a tolereance for the pills, so it's just popping pills, and pain patches, but still not enough relief. so sad. we both suffer. Doctor's are afraid of being sanctioned for giving them something different. they don't care!!!! talking to a wall it is!!!
My husband now on 2 pain meds ,due to his liver disease his lower back and feet kill him . Plus Valium,it keeps him clam cause liver disease is painful.still in hospice care after 1 1/2 yrs due to declining health .
I found a medicinal tea that is great for constipation
Thank you for your videos.
We can't find hope and peace in this world but there is Someone that can give us true hope and peace.
Because he Loved us: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Because of his Grace: Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Because of Hope: Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Blessedly, my mother never took more than an occasional Tylenol when she was dying from lymphoma that had spread widely in her abdomen-except-before she became unresponsive, she had a brief stretch of some agitation. I always wondered if she had pain at that point-she was given morphine 2x and quickly relaxed, so I am assuming she had pain at that point. I watched her closely after that for any sign of pain after that, but she never showed anything.
I would love to know more about your opinion of stool softeners please. I occasionally use them with mixed results. Why do you not like them? By the way I love your channel.
Can you explain what causes non-disease related pain in bed bound hospice patients? I’ve had a couple hospice patients who had so much pain in their limbs along with stiffness, even though they did not have arthritis. My thoughts are that it’s caused by the muscles wasting away from lack of use, but confused by how that causes pain physiologically. None of their pain meds help and I try to be extremely gentle while repositioning their limbs (legs especially). Unfortunately it is so bad they often cry out while their legs are moved.
Look I have been involved in Firefighting and First responding and yes it is some times squirelly and when it gets that way you do the best you got with what you got .. But what happened with Mum .. no one who was ever there told me the Truth and all I ever got was hand patting and platitudes and a story I frankkly dont belive a word of ... Sure Mothers !! Who would have one ! There are so many things that can go wrong with them ... but I wasnt there and I have a sense of what dieing of thirst must be like ...
I have a question regarding the frequency of using laxatives with opioids. Generally (we know that everyone is different and should consult their doctor), would you suggest using the laxatives 1:1 with the opioid doses? Should we experiment to find a balance?
Love your content, Julie! ❤
My Dad just went on hospice and is very itchy and in pain from kidney failure. His kidney function is 7 out of 60. Itchy from his body being polluted by the kidney failure and his spine discinigrating from the tumor destroying his spine. He is on many medicines and they keep him happy and pain free. He sleeps more too and can’t bathe himself so they come in and do it for him. I think the end is near. What do you think?
I'm a mental health therapist and have a client with advanced Duschene muscular dystrophy. He is in hospice and the Dr and nurse have prescribed pain meds for him. Sadly, his caregiver and father won't give my client the meds as prescribed because they are fearful he will not be able to breathe (he has lung scarring from Covid along with atrophy. I've worked with this client for 10 years and familiar with the family dynamics. Any suggestions how to allay their fears?
My daddy had prostate cancer and it went to his bones. My mother an 2 brothers said I was killing him when I gave him a shot of morphine. My daddy looked at them pulled down his sheet to his swollen belly and said I hurt. I said well not any more. Then they stormed out.
My brother was just diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung cancer that has metastases into his bones. He is on heavy pain meds and has been given 2 weeks to live. If not for his pain meds he would be in agony. The downside is that he is barely lucid for more than 30 seconds per visit 😢
How sad this must be hard to bear, knowing he doesn't have a lot of time. My prayers are that he doesn't suffer, that the medicines banish his pain and that he passes peacefully when the time is right. Meanwhile, please know you're not alone....
Gabapentin is horrible!!
my husband was with hospice, but the liquid morphine made him nauseated. he told them at the start he was allergic to it, but the nurseses & doctor wouldn't listen, & wouldn't switch him to another pain medicine. we were back and forth over this issue, & the doctor REFUSED to prescribe him anything else other than tylenol suppositories. Unfortunately, we had to withdraw from hospice, so i'm on my own taking care of him. Back to pain management again with patches and other pain pills he's build up a tolerance for. not a good outcome. what to do????
I'm hoping you can address the issue in my last comment. I do have a reason for asking these questions.
For god sake you're dying and worry about becoming addicted thats the last thing you should worry about
My husband died in hospice 6 months ago, he was 44, head and neck cancer. I've a question: He was doped up pretty hard to make the trip from the hospital to the hospice. I was 20 minutes behind them. When I got there he was already doped out. He was just... gone. He was drugged to the point he simply never woke up again. He was awake and responsive when he went into the ambulance. He wasn't ever again. He passed a day and a half later. I just... didn't feel like that was right. Is that normal?
Are you asking if it's normal to give pain meds to a person in pain? It's not only normal, it's legal and compassionate.
@waitaminute2015 I agree about pain and compassion, what I'm saying is they literally put him to sleep. As in he could sit up, talk, move around, etc, and then he was drugged to where he couldn't the second he got there. It felt as though the nurse on the floor couldn't wait to dope him to death.
Same woman who did religious things over his body the second I left the room to make calls when he passed. I walk in on that. I'd informed everyone we're non religious when checking in and filling out the paperwork. When I asked what she was doing, that's when I got a lecture on jesus and told how wrong we were and she knew better. So yeah, threw her out.
I hadn't felt alright with the situation before and was shut down when asking if it was necessary to dope him to sleep like that and take away so many things at once. That last part makes me think it wasn't. I'm asking
"Studies done .."
"Source? Trust me bro."
Yeah, my brother's cancer was so painful for him, that when we turned and repositioned him, he screamed out in gut wrenching anguish, eyes came wide open. This happened when we assumed he had slipped into a coma, he hadn't, he was only sedated, apparently not enough medication. Though it's a fine line between giving the right amount and overdosing. I refused to allow him to be moved more than slightly after that, which was 12 hours.
Yes if that much pain, not enough? Or not right for one. We all know fentanyl has become totally misused recreationally. For dying may be most helpful for some and used as the pain medicine it is. Should pain medicine be discussed also in case can't verbalize at time?
I will not take gabapentin, it doesn't work for my pain!!!
Same here. Its a joke. I don't even know why they started making it out to be hard drug. Tylenol works better.
Works for me
We could not talk with our mom after she went on morphine.
My dad dying of cancer was only offered morphine by hospice. Would those orders have been given by the family doctor to hospice? After administering morphine, he started screaming at everyone and he was not the kind & loving person I loved.
My daughter said they poured morphine down her dads throat instead of putting it in his port and he couldn't swallow so he died choking on it. 😢
Tell the dam drs that
My husband suffered from Terminal Aggitation. He had brain cancer.
They started with morphine, then eventually added phenobarbital. The head nurse said that he would remain asleep until his death.
Is this a normal protocol?
@@Lexington-n7z thats what they did with my father.