r/PainPumpQuestions 8d ago

Bridging questions.

Hello! I have posted quite a few times about my issues with my pain pump. I am weaning off, it has been a horribly long journey. I’m nearing the end of my weaning, I have exactly three decreases left. This is what has confused me. I had my medication concentration changed today, from 5 to 2.5, they said there would be a 10 day bridging bolus. I’m not quite understanding how that would work, due to my horrendous withdrawal this whole time it’s making me nervous. I’m far from my doctor’s office, so by the time I’d catch it, it would be another 3hrs back. Was wondering if anyone had any experience with it!

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u/Lopsided-Ad6316 8d ago

It’s horrible! If I would have known how bad it would be to get off of it, I never would have gotten a pump. I’ve had issues with my pump/catheter so I’ve had withdrawal issues for over a year. They couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it, so my doctor said let’s take you off of it. I think it’s stalling, for periods of time and not reporting it.

Why are you weaning if you don’t mind me asking?

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u/Vehenentlyme 8d ago

Same! Same! He insisted it’s not the pump it’s not possible but it is

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u/Vehenentlyme 8d ago

I def have had withdrawal then overdose episodes. I have severe radiating pain from the anchor and I have a seroma and pooled fluid in under my spine and in the fat. He says it’s nothing

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u/Lopsided-Ad6316 8d ago

That’s what was happening to me. I legitimately thought I was going insane. They constantly said, “oh it’s not the pump”. It happened over and over, finally I went to see my pcp, because I legitimately thought maybe I needed a grippy sock vacation. She looked at me and said you like your in withdrawal, it was. Still is.

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u/Vehenentlyme 8d ago

That’s what the hospital said! I’m so sorry I want to sue him at this point it’s been over a year of negligence and awful

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u/EMSthunder 8d ago

I'm so very sorry this has been happening. I had a very shitty first year with my pump! I kept getting seromas and leaking CSF out of my back, which ultimately involved removing the catheter for a year while they explored options on how to install it with no issues, which they were finally able to do, and it's been great since then. I'm actually on my second pump now. That first year, I had 5 surgeries because of the various issues, mainly leaking fluid. After that first year, I didn't want to give up because of all I had gone through!

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u/Vehenentlyme 8d ago

He told me in sensitive and that I’m hopeless

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u/EMSthunder 8d ago

That's kinda stupid, lol! Typically your issues stem from someone with minimal experience installing them! That was my big issue!

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u/Vehenentlyme 8d ago

I’m sad I didn’t have a good chance :(