Living with a colostomy can be a unique journey, and when combined with managing pain from herniated discs, it can present additional challenges. If you're considering having a morphine pump implanted to help with pain management, here are some helpful points to consider:

1. Talk to your doctor about how a continuous morphine infusion might affect your digestive system, particularly since it can slow down colonic motility and lead to constipation. You can find more information in the "Constipation" section of the Morphine article on Wikipedia.

2. Be aware that some people experience severe or long-lasting side effects from implanted morphine pumps. It's important to keep an eye on your mental state and overall wellbeing.

3. If you're worried about the side effects of morphine, such as hallucinations, severe constipation, or allergies, discuss other medication options with your pain specialist.
- Hydromorphone, known by the brand name Dilaudid, can also be delivered by a pump and may cause fewer cognitive side effects than morphine.
- Modern pump technology allows for pre-measured dosing, which helps prevent overdose.
- While morphine pumps are typically for long-term use, some Dilaudid pumps are available in external or temporary forms, which might be less invasive.

4. Both morphine and Dilaudid have a high potential for addiction. It's crucial to work with your doctor to set realistic pain management goals and establish a monitoring plan.

5. If you choose to go ahead with a pump, make sure your doctor explains everything clearly, including the choice of drug, how the dose will be adjusted, how often refills are needed, the potential for developing a tolerance, and what to do in case of an emergency.

6. Engaging in social activities like playing bridge, listening to music, and maintaining a positive daily routine can be great ways to distract from pain and reduce anxiety while you and your healthcare team work on optimizing your medical treatments.