Palliative care/ Morphine: pain relief or assisted suicide

Charlie003

My father just died of cancer. He went in monday sept 12 and died on the 15. He was strong until they started the morphine drip. He died 24 hours later.

dls06

I am so sorry for your loss. It is never easy. But you have to celebrate his life and know we are all going to be there some day.
The same thing happened to my Mother in law ( Lung Cancer) and my 26 yr old neighbor (Breast Cancer). I saw it as a blessing because by the time they put them on Morphine, they were in so much pain it was horrible. It was time.

ber3023

I would say that it put him more at ease for his transition. You should think of it that he's no longer in pain or struggling. Sorry for your loss.

JNettie73

So sorry for your loss.

rileamoyer

Having lost my father, daughter, brother, several dear friends and other relatives to this evil disease I am convinced morphine is a blessing at the end. Though I know that several of those dear ones would have chose assisted suicide prior to the disease advancing that far if they had that option and at times I wish they could have had that option. God bless you and your family.

Skinnymomma11

So sorry about the loss, but he's better in god's hand, he feels free with no pain.
God bless your heart for being strong for your dad.

Avalonis

You have my sympathy for your loss. I lost my Papa (Grandfather) in much the same way, he died within 2 days of getting his first Chemo treatment. Its very hard to accept, but you have to remember the good parts of his life and not focus on the end.

RIP Charlies Dad.

CoachMaritova

My mother died in 2001 of cancer. She had been home and bedridden during the months prior to going into a nursing home for cancer patients. It was her decision to go to the nursing home because she knew that her time was near. The hospice workers had also informed me that her kidneys were beginning to shut down.

Prior to going to the nursing home she had been on some heavy pain killers, but did not have morphine until she got to the home. She was there for one week before she passed away. During her stay she was given morphine, and the changes that I saw in her were a rapid progression of losses.

I know that it was the cancer that took her life, not the morphine. But as others have said the morphine eased her transition by taking away her pain. For that I am grateful.

Blessings to you, and I am so sorry for your loss. May you receive peace and security in knowing your father is no longer in pain! xoxo

littlemount

That is so hard, I have a dear friends 17 yr son battling Ewings sarcoma and it is hard to see a child needing morphine regularly.He is such a wonderful boy. It is hard.

lindalee0315

I am so very sorry for your loss. I lost my father to cancer one year ago. Hospice came in on Wednesday, started the morphine and other palliative medication (he had multiple myleoma, and his lungs filled with fluid so he felt like he was drowning, and they gave him a medication that would dry up the fluid, but not allow him to cough it up--they only give it to people in the last stages of this disease). He died Thursday morning. I completely understand how you are feeling. I administered the morphine because my dad didn't want to be in the hospital. I felt a little like I was killing him, but he was so distressed without it. He calmed down after two doses, and was semi-conscious about 8 hours after Hospice arrived. He was never fully conscious again. I sat with him through the night and was with him when he died. I do really understand what you're feeling. I went through it, too. Don't feel guilty. Without the medication they suffer so much more. And, they've suffered so much already--through the treatment, the indignity of hospital stays, the loss of independence, hair, etc. I will always be angry that my dad had to suffer so much.

chocolateandvodka

My mother died October 27, 1999 at 1:27am of colon cancer. the funeral was 3 days later, on my 12th birthday.

she was on hospice, and had refused chemo after a bad reaction. there were quite frankly a lot of reasons to be angry about the events surrounding her death, but... life goes on for the rest of us. morphine is a painkiller that makes it easier to tolerate the excruciating discomfort caused by cancer. i wouldn't begrudge anyone diagnosed with a terminal illness this one luxury.

TheLongRunner

I can relate to your pain. I lost my mom last November. She was so young....and should not have died. It did seem like the Morphine sped things up. She signed up for hospice and one week later, she was dead. It is still mind-boggling to me. One thing that gives me comfort is knowing she is no longer in pain. I still grieve constantly....but I remind myself to celebrate her legacy and focus upon her positive influence on this world.

My thoughts are with you as you are dealing with this grief.

Diana

rebecky27

So, so sorry for your loss. Cancer is horrible - I've lost several family members to this evil. They are so full of life, it's mind boggling how quickly they go from dancing one week, to a hospital bed the next. Cancer can take over so quickly. I belive that your father was strong, but when they gave him the morphine - it was because he was nearing the end of his battle and it was time. The morphine is given when they need it...it's not what causes the death, but lets them arrive to the next stage in peace.

It's sure not easy for the ones left behind....my thoughts are with you.....

cbrick143

I know too many people who have had cancer, including family members and friends. In an effort to help fight back, I volunteer for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event, which takes place in over 5,000 communities. Relay is more than just a fundraiser, it is about bringing a community together in the fight against cancer, and everyone who I've spoken to about the event has said that after they participated in it once, they were hooked. Check out the website www.RelayForLife.org and search for an event near you! It's a great way to support those cancer Survivors in our lives and also to remember loved ones who have been lost to cancer.

Here's a good video about it too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esdA6RMpm3I

godblessourhome

i am so sorry for your loss.

my dad was on a morphine drip for 8 months. he was on a dose so high, it was scary (the hospice nurses had never seen such a high tolerance). in the end, it didn't cover the pain. that sucked.

rebecky27

I know too many people who have had cancer, including family members and friends. In an effort to help fight back, I volunteer for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event, which takes place in over 5,000 communities. Relay is more than just a fundraiser, it is about bringing a community together in the fight against cancer, and everyone who I've spoken to about the event has said that after they participated in it once, they were hooked. Check out the website www.RelayForLife.org and search for an event near you! It's a great way to support those cancer Survivors in our lives and also to remember loved ones who have been lost to cancer.

Here's a good video about it too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esdA6RMpm3I

This year was my first year participating in Relay for Life and I was a Team Captain. It is an amazing event, I highly recommend anyone who has a loved one fighting and/or fought cancer to attend.