At Thu, 1 Feb 2001, Kate Murphy wrote:
> >On 31 Jan 2001, at 14:17, Helen Dynda wrote: >Kate I have been reading the message board and I am writing to you on behalf of my son who has suffered from adhesions for 8 yrs now it used to be once a year he had severe pains and vomiting also bowel problems and he would be admitted for 4 days or so but for the last 4 months it is happening every other day. He had a major op when he was 6 for a cyst and was fine for the 5 yrs after. I was interested in the PCA machine you spoke of. We are in Scotland is it available here? I am sorry to hear of your prolems too how are you nowI am using my son's email address as I do not have one. >> Kate, I find your messages filled with so much medical information; and >> I have learned alot from the messages, which you have posted. Do you >> have a medical background? >> >> I would like to know what a PCA machine is and how it is used? > >Helen, > >Although I worked in a community health center, I have no formal >medical training. I just had to figure out medical issues so that I >could do my work of developing new facilities and programs for the >health center. I did a lot of writing and planning and was around >medical issues all the time. > >However, most of my medical information comes from my own >experience and participation for several years now on the colon >cancer and ovarian cancer lists. I read a lot about medical issues, >hoping to find solutions or at least understand my problems. > >I am a founding member of the Colon Cancer Alliance and have >learned oodles of things through CCA and participation in various >medical conferences as a patient advocate. > >I am an eighteen year survivor of colon cancer and had a >recurrence 8 years ago. I also have had ovarian cancer and breast >cancer. I've had abdominal surgery 3 times for cancer and 4 times >for adhesions. I've had scans and x-rays of all types to diagnosis >the cancer or to find out if it was back. This summer I had a full >blown bowel obstruction that taught me stuff I never wanted to >know about inserting NG tubes, infections, and major pain! > >I am retired from the Health Center on disability, but am working on >a book about cancer recovery. > >The PCA machine is a intravenous pump that is programmed to >deliver a very small dose of painkiller (usually morphine or demerol) >when the patient pushes a button. PCA stands for Patient >Controlled Analgesia. The amount of drug and frequency is >controlled so you cannot overdose. > >Much, much better than nurse administered shots of pain relief -- >you can have steady pain drugs rather than a big dose every 4 >hours that disappears before the pain returns. > >Some of my friends have also had an epidural to control pain after >their surgery. The drug is inserted through a catheter into the back. > >Pain can be managed after surgery -- and it should be. > >Kate > >-- >Kate Murphy >katemm@mindspring.com >