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How long for steroid enema to work???

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/1/2010 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on the steroid enema since friday night. and retaining them every night since then. I was doing good yesturday and then started back with that horrible pressure and pushing today...why?? How long for them to start to work or are they not going to??
Posted 6/1/2010 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
You should get an almost immediate improvement, say after two or three days at least.

But be aware of the fickle nature of UC which invariably plays nasty little mind games with it's victims.

For example, I've been on Hycort for two months and still not out of the woods yet. I seem to be having trouble every time I try to taper off to alternate nights. It just won't let me.

On the morning after the missed night I usually get a 'reminder' of just who is in charge, the steroid or the UC? I'm afraid (in my case anyway) it's clearly the UC.

I still have hope that the roid enemas will eventually win out in the end!

There's always an underlying fear of becoming steroid dependent though.

Not the best of replies you'll get Lynn but I hope it helps a tad.
Posted 6/1/2010 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
I've only used the mesalamine (5ASA) enemas, but sometimes it can take a week or two to see some improvement.

I'm curious why the doc had you on the steroid rather than a 5ASA since you were using the Canasa previously.

q
Posted 6/1/2010 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on one nightly with no results, could be from how ulcerated my colon is. I am starting Imuran after I get my blood work back. there are doctors out there that stress the importance of surgery, an option I'm considering down the road. as soon as I can save 100k to save my life, and finance some doctors kid's BMW
Posted 6/1/2010 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
it works with me after the fourth night of using... the pressure i felt in the lower part is completely gone .
Posted 6/2/2010 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
quincy...i was the one who wanted to try the steroid enemas. I have tried rowasa before with not too much luck...so i figured this would be alittle stronger. Do you think the rowasa may work better?? I have some i could try....i don't know. This disease is so confusing. One day you think things are turning around and the next they dont. My question is why is it that i only have the pressure and urgency in the morning and then it seems to be okay for most of the rest of the day???
Posted 6/2/2010 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
They haven't show much improvement for me and I've been using them for a week to two weeks. I have stopped all my 5ASA drugs, they stopped helping me. Pointless to kill my kidneys.
Posted 6/2/2010 4:11 AM (GMT 0)
Lynn....I don't think one is necessarily better than the other....that's pretty subjective and I'm pretty biased since the 5ASA works so well for me.

Mornings will be your worst time, and if you're good for the rest of the day, then that's definitely an improvement.

Keep us posted as to how it's going....

If your UC at this point is flaring low in the rectum, remember, it's the most difficult place to deal with, even with rectal meds.


Are you still on all the meds in your signature? If not, maybe update it.

q
Posted 6/2/2010 5:31 AM (GMT 0)
Lynn, with my very frequent usage of steroid enemas over many yrs (almost 2 decades actually) I have found that steroid enemas work best for
"me", I also learned over the yrs that it depends on how bad the rectal inflamation is when it comes to determining just how long it can take to kick in...generally, the worse the flare, the longer it can take for the steroid enemas to kick in but once they do kick in they tend to work very well.

One of my worst rectal flares that I had, I ended up having to use cortifoam (steroid rectal meds) for one yr before weaning off of it (I was only using it once/day, not twice as recommended) and I had absolutely no issues with any side effects what so ever....only the smallest amount of it can end up in your bloodstream which is generally why there are virtually no side effects from it for the majority that use it (compared to taking oral steroids which is a whole other story).

Be patient and give it time, good luck!
Posted 6/2/2010 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
Well..I talked to the doctor today and going to use the steroid enemas 2 times a day. How am i going to keep the morning one in??? At night i have been taking an ambien and giving it to myself before i fall asleep...any ideas?? And lets hope the 2 times a day clears up this morning problem...thanks for the comments.
Posted 6/3/2010 4:12 AM (GMT 0)
maybe the doc can prescribe you a foam enema for the daytime use and the liquid for night....

q
Posted 6/3/2010 5:08 AM (GMT 0)
Lynn, this is why I only was able to use it once a day when I was on cortifoam, mornings are always the worst for me...but soon enough (even with only night-time use) things will/should improve (they did for me) you could also try late afternoon/late day and night (just before bed) if that works better for you than mornings....good luck!
Posted 6/3/2010 5:31 AM (GMT 0)
I've been using the foam in the morning and I don't have a problem during the day because the majoirty of my problems are right after waking up. I actually find it to be more effective in the morning because I am "empty". I think the ones I use at night don't do too much... I haven't been using them as much as I should. I am going to try to do it morning and night and see if it helps with the urgency and cramping I have in the morning.
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