Patient hallucinations

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I have found that sometimes a combination of morphine and a lack of sleep causes some patients to have hallucinations. For some reason they always seem to see bugs. Is this a common hallucination?

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Specializes in Nurses who are mentally sicked.

I want to see some $$$$, what should I try.....

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Specializes in vascular, med surg, home health , rehab,.

My fave was the guy who woke up screaming about rats eating his feet. Calmed him down, he goes back to sleep.One hour later his roomate wakes up screaming, about a 6ft rat on a bike cycling around his bed. The original guy, eyes still closed says "see, told you there were rats in here"

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Specializes in Trauma/ED.

Sounds like DT's...are these drinkers?

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Specializes in ICU, Med/Surg, Ortho.

Yep! I've had a lot of patients see bugs. Crawling on the floor, flying around, on their skin, etc. Makes me "buggy" too.:chuckle

Stacie

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

Don't get me started on pt. hallucinations .... :uhoh21:

cheers,

Roy (Who once had a 92 year old woman AO x 3 before 11pm, turn into a confused combative pt who wanted to make babies with him :eek: )

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Specializes in Orthosurgery, Rehab, Homecare.

Bugs are a common hallucination. So are mice/rats, and children.

~Jen

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I didnt see rats or bugs when I was on morphine(post surgery)...But I did see Lobsters...they were crawling around in the florescent lights. Then the silver sprinkler thingy on the ceiling morphed around the room like an amoeba. :bugeyes:

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Specializes in HH, Psych, MR/DD, geriatric, agency.

Ahhh the morphine. I had a morphine drip immediate post-op c/s in 1996. I distinctly remember laughing my butt off at the doctor during my recovery phase. He had a bandana on his head with different colored frogs and I swear those frogs were jumping all over his head and sticking their tongues out at him. My mom videotaped me for 2 hours that day. I could hold up my end of a conversation, until I hit that PCA button. Then I was -out-. I'd wake up a few minutes later and continue what I was saying. Mom says she's going to show that to my grandchildren. LMAO

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