Overdose from pain pump refill

Posted by bubbles888 @bubbles888, 1 day ago

I have had a pain pump for over 5 years, with no problems. In June I went for my refill, and something went wrong, and I ended up in the emergency room with an overdose that they said could have taken my life. It was a very frightening experience. And I was in the emergency room for 5 hours. When I spoke to my pain doctor and told them what happened, they told me that there was no possible way it could have been their error or an error on the part of the apparatus. I am due for another refill in September, and I am very chance about getting this redone. I'd like to know if anyone out there has ever had this happen or known about it happening. I'm just perplexed and have no idea where to turn for further answers because I'm absolutely sure I didn't have any type of mood altering drugs or anything different than I usually would have had in my my system. I've looked at this from all angles and don't have any idea about how to figure out the rest of it. I called the pain pump company, and they sent a representative to check my device. They couldn't find where it was leaking or anything like that. Both the doctor and the drug company representative have stated that they've done all that they can do to check it and it it's just not possible for it to have malfunctions and caused overdose that way. But it wasn't a small overdose it was massive as it was responsible for my overdose reaction. And the medical personnel and the emergency room you did say that if we hadn't gotten there and I just come inside to rest I wouldn't be here. Did anyone has any information whatsoever please make a reply thank you

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

Miriam, Volunteer Mentor | @mir123 | 1 day ago

I think the best place for you to post this would be in the Chronic Pain support group. Might you go ahead and do that? It is a more specific group and more likely to have experiences and information. You might get some feedback here, but particularly of you don't, post there. You can also search on pain pump and see if you find anything useful that way. I'm sorry to hear of this experience and hope you get some helpful insight.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | 23 hours ago

@bubbles888, as @mir123 suggested, I moved your question to the Chronic Pain support group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/pain/ No need to repost.

That must've been a very scary experience and I can understand your apprehension getting the next refill. It doesn't sound like you are getting any answers about how this could've happened. I might suggest you also ask what safeguards will be put in place to ensure that it doesn't happen again.

When you get the refill, are you usually asked to wait for a period of time to ensure that it is functioning properly? Might that be something you request at the next refill?

frouke | @frouke | 21 hours ago

I did a little research and it is very possible for a pain pump to cause an overdose, some reasons mentioned are, pump malfunction, pump dump which means too much drug was released, error in program when refilled and possibly using patches or oral medication with the pump. I don’t think that you did anything wrong and just be very cautious if you can to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

carolynhughes75 | @carolynhughes75 | 8 hours ago

My question is after your overdose, was the pump checked to see how much medication was remaining in the pump ? Or has the medication in the pump, made it till your next refill date without alarming? Knowing either of those 2 things would clearly give you an idea of what happened. Also, did you get a bonus at the time of your last refill and just before your overdose ?

rockon79 | @rockon79 | 7 hours ago

I have had a pain pump for many years until had it removed. I too did suffer an overdose. The port was initially missed, not fully engaged, or the refill syringe leaked (plunged mistakenly) before proper entry or exit of the port, admitted the doctor doing the refill. If your account is accurate (no reason to doubt) then the emergency room visit and diagnosis is absolute proof of an over dose. Hopefully the offending narcotic was identified and if the same in the pump-that is conclusive of either physician or machine error. The doctor summarily denying any error on his part sounds unreasonably arrogant, and therefore suspect of being wrong. Also consider that the pump has been refilled for 5 years, maybe compromising the refill port. Remember-you have documented facts on your side and something or someone must have caused that overdose!

grr78 | @grr78 | 6 hours ago

Hey I feel for your quondary I am in the UK. I have had a Medtronic pump for 12 years , I am on my third pump because the first two malfunctioned after three and four years . When I have my pump refills they make me lay down for 30 mins because the reason you have spoken about, apparently after 30 mins the pump settles into it's rhythm. I am now being tapered from hydromorphone because it has caused opioid secondary adrenal insufficiency, a type of Addison desease. I started to have Addison symptoms after seven years pump use . My GP and my local hospital treated me for uncontrolled high blood pressure for 5 years 37 emergency runs in an ambulance to hospital.Until my pain clinic doctor done a early morning blood test which proved the opioid was blocking messages to my glands so my body was out of sync and gradually shutting down . I have been on a taper for one year now another six months approximately, then after another 18 months my glands should wAke up . I am obviously on hydro till then . I don't know if my story has helped you but I do hope so . If you start getting brain fog , nausea feeling really unwell dizzy spells , unusual. Blood pressure readings or maybe anxiety attacks tell your doctor you wAnt a cortisol morning blood test . As a lot of doctors do not know about opioid induced secondary adrenal insufficiency.