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Enemas - What to Do vs What Not to Do

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/27/2009 9:51 PM (GMT 0)

My GI has prescribed Cortenema, once a day for twelve days. I've never had/used an enema. Can any experienced veterans explain the does and don't of an enema. To make things worse, I live with my fiancé in a 500 sqft studio apartment. Is this a two man job?

Posted 1/27/2009 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
I've never had any trouble with them so you should be able to do them yourself. A good tip is to warm the bottle before inserting. This will help keep any cramping down. You can roll the bottle around in your hand to warm it up a bit. Also, squeeze the air out before inserting. Cramping is usually the worse but if you have any, try to hold it as long as you can. After administering the med, lay on your left side for at least 30 minutes - preferably all night.
Posted 1/27/2009 11:46 PM (GMT 0)
Red about said it all.  If you have cramping during that 30 minutes just squeeze and bear it and it will subside and you can sleep all night.

I am using the generic version now 10 days.  Please let us know how it works for you.  I am not doing well - symptoms got worse so I stopped one night and now two in a row - still have problems - continuing unless it gets worse in a couple days again.

 

ElaineNY (fellow NYer but central NY here)

Posted 1/27/2009 11:48 PM (GMT 0)
By the way, do you not take a Probiotic anymore?

Posted 1/28/2009 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the tips. Tonight will be my first attempt. I'll cross my figures and legs. :)

Kop: I stopped the VLS six months ago because my insurance wouldn't cover it any more and I refused to pay the big $$$$ for it. I'm taking over the counter Acidophilus, but it is hard to tell if it helps.
Posted 1/28/2009 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
I'll warm mine in the sink in warm water. Also, like Red said-- squeeze the air out. A cold enema is one thing, but the air really hurts me. These enemas are the only things that have ever helped me. So as weird as it may sound-- I'm a huge fan. ha!

Once you use them a few times you'll find what works for you.

Oh and huge "dont"-- make sure you use the right end. ;o) Both you and the bottle.
Posted 1/28/2009 3:01 PM (GMT 0)

I really can't afford those expensive probiotics either but get a lot of help for forming stools from Align which you can get in pharmacy for about $38 a month.

ElaineNY

Posted 1/28/2009 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
What a night!

So I made my fiancé go into the bathroom (we live in a studio apartment) while I played with the enema. It was a little embarrassing and I wasn't going to let her watch, plus I have bronchitis and I was coughing so hard I thought I might push the enema out.

Well it was a little difficult inserting the tube the full length and I had a little leakage, but when I took a slow deep breath it helped with getting the tube all the way in. I'm glad I had a towel under me :( . I didn't have any cramping and after 30 minutes I was able to lie on my back and fall asleep. I made it the whole night with it in. I think that practice makes perfect and tonight should go a little easier.

I'm guessing that it will take a week or so to see any changes.
Posted 1/28/2009 7:47 PM (GMT 0)

Sounds like you did ok! I can only get about 2/3 in because of the fact that I do it on the toilet.  So, maybe that is why I have not had good results!  I used it 8 days , one day off because I felt so bad and now four nights again.  It is is working for me yet!  I will call doctor after a few more nights if no better.

By the way, I used extra lubrication on tube - helps!

Good luck!

Posted 1/28/2009 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
I just do mine in the bathroom too. It takes the anxiety out of being in bed and wondering if you could make it or not with the next pain to release it. Typically give myself 30 min or so.
Posted 1/28/2009 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
I admit, sometimes I do mine on the toilet, too. It's just more likely I'll do it that way, if hubby has already gone to bed. Then I run into bed and plop down on my left side. Hubby laughs. I haven't noticed that it works less well, but I can hold them in pretty good!

BTW, Congrats on the success. Yes, be careful because the liquid can stain. And get the air out first, absolutely! Then when you think you have all the medicine in, just leave the bottle in a moment and let your b-hole relax and it will slip out almost on it's own. Less trauma.
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