Epideral vs Morphine pump

I am trying to decide between the two. What are your experiences with the two. I feel as though the dr. office was pushing towards an epideral. They said you dont have the nasau associated with morphine. I was leaning towards the morphine but now I am not sure. Please let me know what worked for you. Thanks! :angst:

The epidural will probably give you better pain coverage without feeling "loopy" however, there are risks -- they are placing a catheter into your epidural space of your spinal cord. The narcotics in the epidural can make you very "itchy." If the epidural is not in the exact right spot -- your pain coverage can be "spotty" -- meaning you will have areas that could be "numb" and others that you can feel everything. As I have not yet had WLS -- this is from my own experience during childbirth labor and as an employee working in that department Whatever you choose, "they" should be able to amply manage your pain -- so if you are in pain -- speak up and ask them for another option! Blessings!

i loved my epidural!!!!!!!!!!!!! would do it again in a second!!!!!!!!!!

When I woke up from my surgery I was in severe pain. Once my epidural kicked in I was wonderful. Yes, I did have some itching, which I had no problem dealing with... I would rather itch than feel any pain. Everyone I have talked to who has had the epidural was very glad they went that route. Good luck in your decision! Julie

I had morphine afte surgery and I felt no pain at all! I loved it Maybe a bit too much Kathryn

i had no problems with the morphine but the gastric bypass surgery wasn't really that painful for me and i'm not sure it was really necessry. for my recent neck surgery the pain was so bad that the morphine was the only thing that made it bearable and when hey sent me home on lortab i was in absolute hell. i have heard of people having bad dreams from the morphine and my GF really preferred the epidural. i guess it's a personal decision. i'll choose opiates any time they're offered (legally of course).

The epidural really works great. After my TT I was running the halls. I felt so good, and I was surprised. For my WLS, they could not get it to work. They left it in, but it really was not working. I have a very strange side effect that would cause me to never have one again though. I have never heard of anyone else having this, and the doctors had no idea why. The site where they put it in becomes an ache so deep and so severe that I ended up in the ER the very night they sent me home. The only thing that helped me was Dilaudin(lots of it). I will never have one again. Two times is more than enough. The only other thing that makes me dislike them is the shock of the pain when it wears off. They take it out and just when the pain kicks in they send you home. Thanks, but I would rather deal right off the bat with some good drugs instead. Morphine pumps are pretty awesome too. Lots of people get them though and do just fine. I would recommend it, because you never know really know until you try. Good luck.

Sandra, I have not yet had WLS but when I had my C-sections I had a Morphine PCA and it worked very very well for me.... I had no pain, nausea,etc.... I had it for 2 days and I requested the same thing for my second C section. I had twins the first time and they were very premature and I was able to walk the halls and go visit them shortly after delivery in the NICU. I am also a L&D nurse and see wondeful results with epidurals as well. So dont worry to much about it. They are both exellent choices and both work really really well. Good Luck with your surgery!!! Donna

I was literally scared to death of the epidural, but it was a Godsend. I loved it, I can't imagine not having it. I'm really glad I chose it over the morphine.

Sandra, i had the morphine pump. i was on it for 2 full days. i had one bout of nausea, but they were able to take care of it with a shot. the pain relief was great! good luck, teri