hi all. I have to take controlled release pills of morphine a few times a day. I was concerned at first, thinking that time release stuff wouldn't work for me because of my large intestine being gone but my doctor said he believes it does most of the work in the small intestine. We decided to try and it works great.

I now need to start taking my fiber again as my stools are finally back to being all liquid and all the time. I started gentle at first, I'm only taking the powder citrucel but I would like to eventually go back to the metamucil wafers since they worked best. I worry they will coat the medicine as it moves through my small intestine and stop it from releasing the medicine, maybe even just push it right out. I will be asking my doctor as well just wondered if anyone knew or had experience with this.

Thanks!

- Sarah

Hi Sarah,

Can I ask what you take the controlled release morphine for? Which of your docs prescribed it? GP, GI, Surgeon?

I am having such a hard time getting the pain meds I need I can't believe it. Do the controlled release work all day? I suppose it depends what you are taking it for. I am currently taking vicoden for gas, adhesion, and BB pain. I have to take two tablets to get any relief at all. The vicoden works great, but my doctor doesn't want to prescribe it anymore. Any info would be greatly appreciated, but if this is too personal a question I understand completely.

Hi Cataja!

Not too personal at all.. I am taking the morphine for my back/muscle pain and spasms. (I had thought the pain was from adhesions but turns out they just made it worse in conjunction with straining to pass stool)

It was prescribed by my pain management doctor who is also an anesthesiologist. I am also having injections done twice a week (in my back muscle) by the pain management doctor, to help with the muscle and nerve pain.

The control- release medication is supposed to work for about 12 hours, doesn't work for quite that long for me, I take it 3 times a day. Just to warn you, I had a difficult time at first with getting my bowels under control with this particular medicine, but now after slow going, liquid diet off and on and lots of apple juice I am able to eat a normal diet and am back to those.. er.. wonderful liquid stools.

I had been taking tons of vicodin/percoset (I had to take around 15 mgs to get any relief and still had a significant amount of pain)and I couldn't handle the ups and downs of pain control, thats why we tried the longer lasting stuff.

I also tried the fentanyl pain patch for a few weeks and it worked great as well.. didn't need it anymore though, as soon as we started doing the injections.

If I were you I would ask your regular doctor to set up a consult with a pain management doctor. A lot of the doctors say 'oh they only do injections...etc' but many of them are able to write prescriptions or at least help you find someone who can. My new doctor is also helping me to learn many different, non-medicinal ways of dealing with pain which is interesting.

If you have anymore questions feel free to ask, I can also ask my pain management doctor any questions about what that type of doctor is able to do for a patient who needs pain medicine, if you would like.

Best of luck.. I really hate it when these doctors just decide they aren't going to give you the medication you need to get through the day anymore.. I'll bet your doctor has never had to deal with chronic pain, like my previous doctor.

Feel better!!

- Sarah

Hi, I read something about the back pain. I have a J Pouch and have CRAAAAAAAZY back pain!!! Sometimes I can wake up in the morning and scream from the pain. Any idea of the association?

Thanks!!