HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

First time Rowasa user...

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/10/2010 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hello all,

I believe I have been mildly flaring since 5/28. My GI upped my Asacol dose to 9/day, but as I'm still not getting enough relief, he prescribed Rowasa enemas for me today.

I have never used an enema before, and I'm kinda nervous about it, honestly. Any tips for using one?

Thanks so much!

Posted 6/11/2010 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
I'm on Apriso 4 pills a day and Rowasa enemas nightly for the past 7 days. I've seen some improvement (less blood). I was on Hydrocortisone enemas for 3 weeks prior to starting Rowasa and I stopped using them because they weren't helping at all. I felt i was getting worse. Ever since I started Rowasa I've seen an/some improvement. I hope they help because I don't want to use prednisone (never have) I was diagnosed in April of this year so I'm still learning to deal with it.

As far as they Rowasa, they are not painful. I am able to retain them all night. I have noticed an increase of case in the mornings but it goes away as they day goes by. I usually take the air out of the bottle (by squeezing it slowly) before inserting.

Good luck I hope they help us both smilewinkgrin
Posted 6/11/2010 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hi.  I'm a fellow Rowasa user and have had great luck with them! 

Let's see, tips:

Be sure to shake it.  I squeeze the air out until the med reaches the top of the tip.  I use a lubricating jelly (KY jelly), just a small bit as there's some lube on the tip of the enema.  I lay on my left side but some people do the on the knees position.  The first couple times you might want to squeeze it slowly and depending on how badly you are flaring you might get the urge to expel it, just do your best, breathe squeeze your fists, whatever you gotta do to get that feeling to pass.  When you feel like you can get up, I go ahead and go lay in bed on my left side for at least 30 mins.  I do them right before bed and I don't usually get back up after doing one.  After you've done them several times and the inflammation goes down you'll be able to do them quick and easy, 2 minutes and done.

Be sure to give them a fair chance and if they do work for you, most peeps like to do a taper to a maintenance schedule.  But do them nightly until you feel 'normal.'

Good luck, keep us posted!

Posted 6/11/2010 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
The above folks have given you great tips!
I do them while on my left side, in bed. I actually put the lube on my butt before I leave the bathroom, so I can wash my hands - then carefully shake, squeeze the air out slowly, and insert and squeeze. Then I toss it into the trash basket (or, more usually, I miss, but... how well, lol.)
In cold weather I warm it up first, by holding it under my arm while I read.
If you're really inflamed and can only get half of it in the first few nights, that's ok - it'll begin to soothe the bottom ad you'll get more and more in as the days go by.
Posted 6/11/2010 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
all the tips above are great...I do mine when I crawl into bed at night and fall asleep on my left side. Sometimes I'll warm my bottle up a bit under the faucet. It's really not too hard to keep it in...usually after I've got it in, I can barely tell its there.
Posted 6/11/2010 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you guys so much! I'm not sure why the prospect of an enema is so daunting, but it is, at least for me.

Here's hoping they work well and fast!

Posted 6/11/2010 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
For all of you guys that have had good results with Rowasa, how long does it take to see results (no more blood)???? I have uc in my sigmoid.
Thanks
Posted 6/11/2010 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
sweet:  the enemas were a little daunting for me at first too, but now it's not a big deal at all!  Hoping for the best for you, maybe you can finally achieve that remission.  I truly believe I would not be in remission without them.  oh, and I meant to tell you above, the first couple days I had some pain with BMs after the enemas, but it quickly went away.  I just don't want you to give up on them without giving them a chance. 

missey:  Let's see, I noticed improvement after 3 days and I'd say...probably within 3 to 4 weeks I was symptom free.  It takes some time for the colon to heal.  I've not had blood in MONTHS! :)  And I have UC up to but not beyond my sigmoid, so sounds similar to you.

Posted 6/11/2010 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
Definitely use some vaseline or anal lube, especially if your butt is sore.

I didn't have too much trouble holding them in either, but they make me poop more than usual so I don't use them anymore.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply