Withdrawals!!!!help

aclancey · #1 05-17-2008, 09:57 AM

No really...seamus has been extibated for 24 hours now and the withdrawals are awful!!!!! He is currently on Ativan and morphine...they also gave him benedryl because he was itching. This is really bad... he has not slept since they extubated his yesterday over 24 hours ago...What else can be done???

bradensmom · #2 05-17-2008, 10:16 AM

Withdrawals are terrible!!! Braden went through it after we got home from his spinal fusion last year. He screamed, sweated, and didn't sleep for 48hrs. After that things got better each day. We just waited it out because we didn't want to go back into the hospital after a 3week stay.

Amy

hcs_mom · #3 05-17-2008, 12:09 PM

Hannah's withdrawals were awful. She was vented and sedated for 14 days. They eventually put her on methadone, and then she came home on a methadone/ativan taper. The first 48 hrs were rough...we couldn't "catch up" to where she was with meds because it would have suppressed her pulmonary function too much. So we just suffered through it. Alot of times, she was just inconsolable. We kept continuous play DVDs running and I kept the recliner right beside her bed so I could catch some ZZZs here and there while she was comfortable.

It's tough to watch, but he WILL feel better soon.

Jennie

suzanne2545 · #4 05-17-2008, 12:13 PM

I would see if they can add the methadone. I think part of it is a waiting game. Hang in there. The other thing is that most hospitals have a 1 hour policy with their window for these meds. Make sure they are on the dot if you see that Seamus is starting to get worse as you know his next dose is coming up.

aclancey · #5 05-17-2008, 12:13 PM

Thanks- he is sleeping right now after ativan/morphine and benedryl. He was itching so bad- he opened up his neck incision. The say they are going to give him ativan/morphine all day and then start the ativan/methodone tonight. They are trying to stay ahead of it. I think he was so over tired from beine awake 32 hours straight....I hope they have him "captured" or ahead of it as they say!!! Thanks for the support!!! What these poor kids go through!

KJKK8437 · #6 05-17-2008, 01:52 PM

I don't have any suggestions medically beyond what you've already heard. But, on the "let's distract the child" approach, here is a thought.

If you have computer access to download something from Itunes, I recommend getting the Bunnytown Season 1. It does miracles for Alex -- it got him through post op palate surgery when the nurses made him "prove his pain" before they would order the blasted meds (which then takes another hour to get there at the least....)

It wasn't a perfect solution, but it did help calm him down even during the worst of it. I wish I could mail you DVR so you could just watch our episodes. I don't think it is out on DVD yet, but I do know it is downloadable on Itunes.

Child Life here at the hospital I'm sititng in is looking to get DVDs as soon as they come out. They say it is "better than Baby Einstein."

Here's a

for the mommy.

lil' G's mom · #7 05-17-2008, 02:09 PM

As you know I'm new at this.... but what kind of withdrawls? what are they caused from?

suzanne2545 · #8 05-17-2008, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lil' G's mom

As you know I'm new at this.... but what kind of withdrawls? what are they caused from?

Seamus just had an LTP surgery to reconstruct his trachea. My son had one 5 weeks ago. It requires about a week of being fully sedated and on a vent. So the withdrawals are from the sedation meds. Just like hard core drug addicts go thru. Hence the methadone. It isn't pretty, but for some of our kids it is the only option to get the trach out.

lil' G's mom · #9 05-17-2008, 03:51 PM

Wow... and Thank you for explaining.... I can't even imagine what you guys must go thru seeing your childern go thru that.... but I guess it's the light at the other end that keeps us all going

Mom2TwinsPlus1 · #10 05-17-2008, 04:38 PM

Our last hospital trip in Emma was sedated and paralyzed for over a week due to pnenomina and her body fighting to breath over her vent, which they did not want. I think when we switched to methadone it got much better, we came home on it too. Sorry he is itching, i am that way on all pain meds and the best thing I have found is the benadryl. Are they giving him shots/iv or liquid form? I found the oral stuff didnt work near as good as a shot of it