My Cousin’s husband was diagnosed with AML last Dec (very young). Chemo & BMT haven’t worked & he is entering EoL phase
His Morphine syringe driver was helping his pain but he is now experiencing hallucinations and paranoia (alongside pyrexial spikes)
Can you suggest analgesia to help, the acute unit aren’t moving to calling in the Pall Care team until these symptoms are resolved but I believe he needs PC team to help with overall symptom control right now
Any advice greatly welcomed
Hi AwfulAML
Thanks for getting in touch with us and welcome to the online community. My name’s Simon and I’m one of the Senior Nurses on the Macmillan Support Line.
Our Ask A Nurse service is not staffed now until 9am tomorrow morning. I can see from your message though that there may be a need to respond more quickly to the symptoms you describe that your cousin’s husband is experiencing.
I’m sorry to hear that he is now entering an end-of-life phase to his AML. At the Macmillan Support Line, we do not have access to anyone’s medical records and are unable to suggest any medications or analgesia.
It is not clear from your message whether he is at home or an in-patient in hospital. If he is in hospital, then your cousin can ask her husband’s treatment team to formally make a palliative care referral for his pain.
If your cousin’s husband is at home and is experiencing hallucinations and paranoia whilst on a morphine syringe driver, then they should call 999 for urgent advice and assessment of his condition and medication today. His GP can be asked to make a referral to the community palliative care team for on-going support, but it is important that he is assessed today by 999 if he is at home.
I hope this information is of some help.
Best wishes
Simon: Senior Cancer Information Nurse Specialist
You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.
Ref/SMJ/KS
