Black Mucus, Aching + Rowasa

Enemas can be difficult, because it's not the delivery method of choice, right? But I think being calm (deep breaths) helped me when I first started down the Rowasa enema road. Also, I try to lie down (or at least lounge on the couch)immediately afterward. It prevents any light cramping I have or feelings of my body not wanting to retain the medicine.

I've heard some people lay down on their sides to aid in the delivery (lol...I had a hard time choosing the right word), if not comfortable standing/squatting in the bathroom.

You might be surprised how quickly you no longer feel the meds in there. I just kind of hang out about 15 minutes and either fall asleep or forget about that I just took an enema.

If you use the enema and can only hold it like 5 or 10 minutes, maybe try again. If you make it an hour, (if it were me) I'd consider it a success, then the next day try to hold it longer.

Good luck!

B

Hey,

Yeah, I just tried hydrocortizone enemas for the first time last week. Up till then, id only used the suppositories, so it was a bit different. For me, the instructions were to lay on my left side , with my right leg bent for the insertion. I have to say the hardest part is emptying that darn little tube, its kinda a gymnastic effort, if you can picture it. I found that holding it with my right hand (behind my back) at the bottom of the bottle helped me, cause i could fold it up like a toothpaste tube as it emptied. It is tricky, but you get better at it. My GI said to stay in that same position (legs and all) for at least a 1/2 hour, so that your left colon "SUCKS it up". I could actually feel this happening.

I was able to retain them for about 5 hours, best if I never moved outta that position. But I started getting like semi cramps after a few nights, right after insertion and thought Id have to go to the bathroom, but was able to relax, take deep breaths and it always (thankfully) went away....

DOnt know if this will help at all, but thats my experience.

p.s. saw your other post, thanks for your input!

The first time I used them....oh 20 years ago...my doc said as long as it's in for half an hour the first times, you'll still be getting some medication. But...try to keep it in as long as possible.

Do lay still on your left side, and you may have the urge to run to the bathroom....but grunt, groan, bite the sheets and squeeze those cheeks to ease the urge..it passes within a minute (which seems like an hour).

As your flare eases, that feeling will become less....with time.

Yep, one may believe you can never get used to them...but you do.

Let us know how it goes.

quincy

I don't know if that's normal or what, but here's what helps me retain Rowasa.

I lay on my left side with my right leg bent forward.. put it in.. and then have a pillow handy and i actually pull in two opposite directions really hard till the urge to run to the bathroom leaves.... most of the time its just gas anyways so i just clench my cheeks haha.. and it stays in... after the urge leaves...usually 10 mins.. i roll on my back and im good to sleep

wooHoo for holding it in for 3 hours!

No, the vomiting isn't normal from the enemas unless the extra pressure in the rectum caused some nausea from the excessive peristalsis once you got up.

If it continues nightly, then maybe there's something up with that...but you should persevere in using them and hopefully retention of the enemas will be easy peasy! ;-)

How were you feeling today?

quincy

what's the new problem? colour change of the mucus? no biggie..normal.

Aching? to the point you can't walk?

Maybe not add the changes to your title...just add new posts to this thread with the changes. Much easier to keep track of.

quincy

Definitely continue the Rowasa for at least a few weeks. You should notice some definite improvement over a week or so.

q