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[Dilly2]

Anyone with COPD had morphine medicine to help with their breathing most. Interesting to know how you got on with it 😂

[CDPO16]

Hi Dilly. I have morphine sulphate (oramorph). I take 2.5ml as needed and tend to take it when I'm really struggling with breathlessness and when, at those times, anxiety kicks in. It does help take the edge off both along with sitting and resting.

My prescription is for up to 5ml every 2 hours if needed but I haven't taken more than 2.5ml so far and rarely more than once or twice a day. Some days I don't take it at all. I do know others take it on a regular basis and maybe someone who does may come along and let you know about their experience.

Have you been prescribed it?

[Dilly2 in reply to CDPO16]

Hi CDPO16. No not yet but my respiratory nurse mentioned it to me because I've been very ill lately went onto hospital about 2 months ago came out and my doctor wanted me to go back in. No way most horrid felt very neglected. When morphine was mentioned thought I would do a bit of home work about it. I'm please with the replys I'm getting not such a scary thing as I first thought 😙😋😙

[CDPO16 in reply to Dilly2]

It may be worth a try and you don't need to stay on it if it doesn't suit you. I started with a 1.25ml dose as I was wary but that had no effect so I took 2.5ml. The first dose made me feel a little dizzy but that soon wore off and is no longer a problem.

I'm sorry that you have been and still are so ill but I quite understand you not wanting to ho back in hospital.

I hope if you try the morphine that it helps you. Best wishes xx

[Dilly2 in reply to CDPO16]

Thank you ☺️ x

[Spacecat1]

I ha e orimorph which I thi k lower grade to morphine. Prescribed to me for anxiety and panic attacks find it disehelpcalm. I do have copd

[Dilly2 in reply to Spacecat1]

Hi Spacecat1 thanks for your reply finding if very helpful 🤗

[O2Trees]

I only use Oromorph during serious flare-ups so not since hospitalisations in 2018, but those times it felt like it was invaluable, saving my life - taking edge off panic and making breathing just a tiny bit easier.

[Dilly2 in reply to O2Trees]

Hi 02Trees thank you for your reply. At the moment I feel I'm on deaths door can't walk three steps and I feel I can't breath finding your comments really helpful 😊

[Gladwyn in reply to Dilly2]

I’m so sorry you are feeling so awful. I hope it has eased a little by now.

[Gladwyn in reply to Dilly2]

How are you feeling now Dilly? Are you going to ask for Oramorph after all the responses you’ve had to help you decide.? Actually, I need to thank you because your post made me decide I needed to give it another chance. I was given a bottle of it by Dr of course lol I who kept telling me be very careful with it. He scared me so much lol it was 3 months before, in desperation, I tried it, using 1.25ml once a day which made very little difference.

Today I picked up my new bottle and this time I will take it twice a day as a poster advised. Fingers crossed it works for me too as my breathing can be like yours ,awful. I hope you let me know how you are . 🦋😄💐

[Dilly2 in reply to Gladwyn]

Hi Gladwyn I am feeling a bit better thank you. I thought I was dyeing and I wanted to I felt so ill. I haven't heard from anyone they seem only to busy with covid can't blame them.I am still interested in morphine respertary nurse says it's a very mild so you want get addicted to it,

How are you getting on day to day with your breathing does it stop you going out?. Hope you cope better than me.

😘 Xx

[Gladwyn in reply to Dilly2]

Glad to hear you are feeling a bit better. I’m recovering from a bug I caught so still a bit wonky but feel tons better today. Trouble is I’m more aware of my breathing as feeling so awful was a distraction ... if that makes sense lol.

I’ve got the bottle of Oramorph so plan to start it when I’ve completed my rescue meds in a couple of days time. I would encourage you to ask for it too. You get a leaflet with it that answers all

sorts of concerns including constipation . It says more or less your doc will give you a light remedy to take until you’ve adjusted.

I use a trolley to move about indoors and a walker in the garden centre. The one thing I use that helps a great deal is a powerful hand fan. I get them from amazon at anything between £6 and £10. I have one in the bathroom , kitchen, beside my chair on the trolley. Blowing the air onto my lower face really helps.

Do take care Dilly. All the best. Onwards and upwards lol 😂😂😂xx💃🦋

[Dilly2 in reply to Gladwyn]

Yes it does make sense GladwynThe thing that I've found helpful is to concentrate on my breathing do the persted lip breathing until until your breathing slows down.

I will ring my health centre and ask about the morphine I also have a Zimmer frame and a walker.

Shall get a fan from Amazon.

Thank you for your help ☺️ xx

[Gladwyn in reply to Dilly2]

It’s good to talk Dilly. Just take it slowly and build up gradually. Think positively. Looking forward to hearing how your getting on in a couple of days. 😄🍀🦋xx

[johnderby]

Hi Dilly. I have been taking Oramorph ( 2.5ml every four hours) for 18 months now. It has been a great help in reducing breathlessness. I can recommend it. Just one word of warning, when first taking it, start with two doses, one morning and one night. Once you are okay with it you can slowly increase up to four times a day. When I first started I took the four doses from the start and I suffered from nausea and sickness quite badly but if you slowly get used to it you don't get these side effects. Good luck. John 😀

[Dilly2 in reply to johnderby]

Thank you for your helpful reply shall take note of your advice.best wishes 🤗

[Biofreak]

My husband started this last week. It has helped relax him but unfortunately has caused constipation. The doctor has advised him to stop until he is no longer constipated then try again but only twice a day at 2.5 and see how he is then.

[Dilly2 in reply to Biofreak]

Hi Biofreak. That's interesting but not very good hope he soon gets used to it😒

[Biofreak in reply to Dilly2]

One step forward and one step back 🙄. Hope you get on well with it. O2trees is right though, my husband says he wants to carry on with it because he felt it helped him.

[Alberta56]

Hope you soon start to feel better, Dilly, with or without the help of morphine. Glad you've had such helpful advice. xx

[Dilly2 in reply to Alberta56]

Thank you Alberta56 ,🤗

[Izb1]

Hi Dilly2, my neighbour went on this when he was very ill and he said it helped him alot, give it a try, if it doesnt help you dont need to stay on it. Hope you feel better soon x

[Dilly2 in reply to Izb1]

Hi Izb1 thanks for your reply made sense found it most helpful 🤗🤗

[Franmol]

Can those getting oramorph tell me if it was prescribed by the GP/nurse or a hospital appointment?

I'm really struggling and last year the nurse told me I was taking the maximum treatment available - Ventolin and Trimbow.

[Dilly2 in reply to Franmol]

Hi Franmol I can't tell you if your taking the maximum for inhalers

I haven't started taking the morphine drug but my respiratory nurse suggest it.

I thought I would get some inform about it first but I believe it would be prescribed by your doctor.

Take care🤗

[barbs47 in reply to Franmol]

Hi Franmol it always bothers me when nurses etc tell you you’re taking the maximum dose. I would be inclined to speak to either your doctor or respiratory specialist (if you have one) to try different inhalers. If you are really struggling it sounds as though the ones you are on aren’t helping you. I have had COPD for nearly 30 years and it took a while to find the best inhalers to keep my breathing under control. I take Spiriva once a day, Symbicort twice a day and have Bricanyl as a reliever if needed. I have tried others but have always come back to these. Please do have a conversation to try other inhalers. Barbs x

[Franmol]

Thanks, Dilly2!

[Dilly2 in reply to Franmol]

Thanks Franmol

[Franmol]

Thank you, barbs47. It's unlikely I will get an appointment with a specialist. I think GPs were asked some time ago to avoid sending people to hospital unless it's an emergency and they seem to be sticking to this. When I saw another nurse at the surgery last year she had the nerve to try and persuade me to stop the Ventolin. I could have smacked her and will refuse any appointments with her in future. I absolutely rely on the odd puff of Ventolin after my morning Trimbow effects have worn off.

Of course it's very difficult at the moment with Covid having put a stop to our normal way of dealing with things. I think we all understand the reasons procedures have had to change but it's normal to think we're getting fobbed off much of the time. However, it just doesn't seem right that I have to walk down the road at a snail's pace in order to avoid serious breathlessness.

[Sundance115 in reply to Franmol]

Hi, I take trimbow three times daily.

The consultants words were "it wont kill you to take it three times"

He wrote to the GP and have now been on that dose for over 12 months now.

[Catnip]

Greetings

The hospice doctor looked at my GPs prescription, "humphed", and doubled the dose. 5ml 4 times a day plus two slow-release capsules twice a day. She threw in four packs of Diazepam (Valium) and said one, four times a day, more if you get anxious.

I really don't have any problems with being short of breath these days and the meds are simply great for keeping me calm and rational. There isn't any question of addiction: I'm at end of life. So long as I'm comfy, warm and have things to do, I'm a happy bunny.

Sorry -- didn't intend to write an essay....

Cheers

Marjie

[Dilly2 in reply to Catnip]

Hi catnip glad to hear your happy which is a big thing when your body isn't doing what you want it to do it a good thoughtful doctor.

Best of luck 😂🤗😘

[Gladwyn in reply to Catnip]

I’m pleased to read you have a caring doc who is prescribing what you need to relax. Love that you are comfy , relaxed and a happy bunny. 😀🙏xx

[Maricopa]

'Many say it helped them however, it made my breathing more laborious.

[Dilly2 in reply to Maricopa]

Thank you Maricopa

[Biofreak]

Hi again Dilly2. Just an update on my husband and Oramorph. As I said earlier my husband became very constipated when taking this medicine. He had a break and restarted but the same thing happened again. It obviously doesn't suit him and the Dr said it slows down the central nervous system and this leads to constipation in some. He has now stopped altogether because the alternative would be to take laxatives alongside.

[Dilly2 in reply to Biofreak]

Hi Biofreak thank you for updating me on your hubby. Hope they can sort it out for him and you. Perhaps he can start again on a really small dose and see how it goes. Best of luck to you both keep me informed I will be most interested 🙂 xx