Your syringe driver explained

What is a syringe driver?
A syringe driver is a battery powered machine which is made up of three parts:

The machine itself
Attached to that is a syringe, with the drugs drawn up in it
Attached to the syringe is a thin piece of tubing with a very thin needle on the end.

The needle goes just under the skin, e.g.: on your chest, your tummy or the top of your arm or leg.  The needle is held in place with tape. Usually the needle can stay in one place for several days, but if it gets sore or uncomfortable, ask your nurse to move it to another place.

Am I getting worse?
This machine is designed to give you your medicines over 24 hours, so each day your nurse will come about the same time to fill up a new syringe and check the machine.

You may have felt worried when your doctor or nurse suggested using the syringe driver.  It does not mean that you are getting worse. There are three reasons why the   syringe driver is used — not all of these
reasons will apply to you:

• Often it is used when you cannot take pills due to sickness and difficulty swallowing
• It may be used whilst the doctor is finding the correct dose of drug for your particular symptoms
• It is used to avoid having to give injections frequently, because they can be painful and uncomfortable.

What if I think the machine is not working?
If you think there is something wrong with the syringe driver, or if the alarm sounds—don’t panic—follow these instructions one by one:

1. Check that the light, on the right hand side is flashing.  If it is then go on to 2.   If it is not  then change the battery and then press the ‘start/ boost’ button. The light should begin to flash again
2. If the alarm is sounding, take out the battery as that is the only way to stop the noise
3. Then check if there is a kink in the tube and if necessary untwist it or if the syringe is disconnected from the machine,  attach it again with the black strap.  Replace the battery and press the ‘start’ button
4. If the syringe is empty or the needle has come out, or if the needle site is swollen then contact your District Nurse, or out of hours, contact the Hospice for advice.

Will I need to change my lifestyle?
Hopefully not.  We hope that the machine will make your life more comfortable and therefore, you can be as active as you want to be.

• You can have a bath.  Try to keep the needle site dry and keep the machine out of the water by putting it on a stool beside the bath
• You can eat what you feel you want to eat, and a little alcohol will not do you any harm.