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Problems with Rectal Meds

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/21/2008 12:18 AM (GMT 0)

I know this sounds weird, but has anyone had problems getting Rowasa in "where it needs to go" so to speak?  I feel like my left side is so swollen that the Rowasa won't even go in there.  I squeeze the bottle and it is meeting so much resistance that it leaks out around the bottle neck.  I have tried positioning myself and the bottle different ways but that doesn't seem to resolve the problem.

Posted 8/21/2008 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
In the past during really bad flares it has been difficult to insert due to the extreme inflamation mad
Posted 8/21/2008 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
I can get the enema in there, but I can't hold it. The instructions say to lay on your side. But that didn't work for me at all. I get on my hands and knees with my bum in the air. I also put a little KY jelly on the tube. (I do this for cortifoam and Canasa supps too). The GI turned me on to this little tricks. If I don't use the KY, insertion hurts like hell!
Posted 8/21/2008 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
That "position" seems to work the best for me too. I do ok holding it but just having it in there makes my left side feel like it is going to explode - - so much pressure on that side. When I look down at the floor, the left side of my abdomen actually sticks out further than my right side by quite a bit. I am pretty skinny, so maybe it looks worse to me. Geez, this is a weird disease.
Posted 8/21/2008 4:59 AM (GMT 0)
You might try getting most of the air out of the bottle before trying to insert it.  It can be a little tricky because you have to keep the bottle at the same pressure or air will go back in, but it can be done.  It's much more comfortable without all the extra air. 

Using additional KY or vaseline helps, too.  I think rowasa is more uncomfortable inserting than cortenema. 

Posted 8/21/2008 10:08 AM (GMT 0)
Adding some lube (ky or similar) onto the applicator helps me.
Posted 8/21/2008 5:39 PM (GMT 0)

"I squeeze the bottle and it is meeting so much resistance that it leaks out around the bottle neck."

In my experience, some of the enema bottles (depending on which generic manufacturer made the bottle) are tougher than others.  There was one generic manufacturer whose bottles always seemed to offer more resistance in the sqeezing part and usually seemed to leak at the bottle neck.  My advice is to either put tape around the neck of the bottle or to ask the pharmacy if they can give you enemas made by another manufacturer.

Posted 8/21/2008 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
Have you tried taking the Canasa suppositories instead of the enemas? When I was in a severe flare and couldn't get the enemas "up there" my GI prescribed Canasa. Quite expensive, but worked okay. I am now back on the Cort enemas alternately with Canasa...still bleeding though and in a mild flare. Oh well.
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