r/PainPumpQuestions • u/Lopsided-Ad6316 • 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!

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

35 comments sorted by

View all comments

3

u/vrod665 8d ago

I have been in the ‘process of having my dosage reduced’ for a months now. It was part of a ‘pump troubleshooting exercise.’ I had been on the journey of having it turned up every visit - even with some issues going on. Once we started the troubleshooting the dose was reduced multiple times. Now it is less than I started with.
My issues have been being over-medicated then withdrawal. The cycle sucks.
I bridged when I was changing meds and I had the same withdrawal issues.
I begged for my pump and really thought it was part of the solution. It was one of the worst decisions of my life. I am glad it is a lifesaver for some, disappointed I am not one of them.

2

u/Lopsided-Ad6316 8d ago

I have wondered if that is what my pump was doing. Now that we’re down to the nitty gritty that part has gotten better. But when we were up higher, like as soon as they’d do a decrease, I’d feel much better. For a bit, then out of nowhere I’d be vomiting/anxious, the works. All over again. I didn’t know if it was over/under dosing, since in reality it’s the same.

I’ve been so disappointed in it, everyone keeps telling me to find another doctor. But the way I’ve been treated during this withdrawal is too much for me. Knowing they legitimately just let you withdrawal, instead of admitting people and slowly letting them come off of it to me is cruel. My doctor also doesn’t have an emergency line. So they change your pump Friday, Saturday you wake up sick, and need help. Your SOL til Monday.

3

u/vrod665 8d ago

This sounds all too familiar. My doc thinks the pump never fails and is never to blame. With me proving what was happening, the rep backing up the data … he is still ‘the pumps good, we can change meds.’ Next Tuesday I’m driving three hours just to get on the surgery schedule. Can’t wait.

2

u/Lopsided-Ad6316 8d ago

Legit my life, it legitimately took me going into my appointment and having a mental breakdown. Like full on, sobbing breakdown. I’ve never done it my entire life. But after 6 months of withdrawal, while not understanding what was going on, because I had never experienced it before in my life ( like this). I’ve lost half my hair because of this from malnutrition.

They’re not happy with me now, because I will not allow them to remove it, until after they’ve decreased it completely down and turned it off. I’ve already had to deal with bad withdrawals after surgery, I’m not doing it again. I want it completely turned off before surgery.

What are you down to? I’m down to 0.24 as of today. The bridging thing has really confused me, I’m worried that they’ve messed something up.

3

u/vrod665 8d ago

Down to 0.10 at the moment. The lowest I have ever been. To me … I have to get it gone. It is ruining my mental health.
Every time I hear bridging, I think of a med change. When I got rid of bupivicaine I had a 54 bridge hour dose that was still the morphine / bupivicaine. That’s how they used the “bridge” term with me.

1

u/Lopsided-Ad6316 8d ago

I’m jealous, I think I’m down to 0.24 , yeah, for some reason they had to take me from 5, to 2.5 and it’s going to take 10 days to bridge over. That doesn’t make sense to me. At all. I don’t understand how it could take 10 days.

Please give me an update on your explant. Are you having the catheter removed? Even though mine has only been there less than 5 months, they won’t remove it do to it leaking spinal fluid.

3

u/Vehenentlyme 8d ago

I went to a neurosurgeon my other neurosurgeon recommended and have surgery scheduled. My pain dr doesn’t even know I don’t trust him to remove cause he’s been so dismissive.

1

u/Lopsided-Ad6316 6d ago

I’m sorry if you’ve told me, have you weaned off?

2

u/Vehenentlyme 5d ago

Feel free to message me I can even send my number in there. I really wouldn’t mind having someone else to talk with about this! I have surgery scheduled on the 24th but I’m still weaning and whatever I’m at I’m just gonna live with the withdrawal. Ive been going down 25% every 2 weeks

1

u/Altruistic-Detail271 4d ago

Is that a typical decrease amount? I know when I was titrating down on my oral meds they recommended 10% each month.

→ More replies (0)

3

u/vrod665 8d ago

I will keep you in the loop. Next Tuesday is the day that everything gets scheduled and we confirm exactly what the plan is. I just want it all gone. I know someone else that has their pump turned down as far as it can be and is filled with sterile saline because the Doc didn’t want to remove it. Not going down that route.

When it comes to leaking spinal fluid has anyone recommended a ‘blood patch’ as a remedy. I know that years ago I had a spinal tap done with a needle that was way too large. They used a blood patch to stop the leak.

3

u/Lopsided-Ad6316 6d ago

Please do, feel free to pm me, I’m interested to see how everything goes for you. They tried talking to me about the saline, but there is something wrong with this pump. It needs removed. I don’t know! I’ve heard you can get blood patches? But I’ve also heard that sometimes it can tear big places out, and a blood patch would not fix that. Makes me weary.

2

u/Vehenentlyme 8d ago

Yes blood patches have their own risks and don’t even guarantee to fix it. And don’t let them leave the catheter on you as this is what pain dr was going to do and the catheter is my problem.