Rowasa question +Fleet Naturals w/ Aloe

This forum has been an invaluable resource--thanks to all the contributors.

Rowasa has been amazingly effective for my pan colitis. Suggestions from the forum (such as squeezing excess air from the bottle) made the process much easier.

Recently, my pharmacy switched generic brands from Perrigo to Gavis. I'm finding that the Gavis solution is more difficult to retain--mainly due to gas. When I administer a second bottle, I retain it easily but my Rx supply is limited per month!

I'm considering using Fleet Naturals with aloe as a "pre-treatment" for the Rowasa. Has anyone tried these to flush the pipes, so to speak?
The Fleet Natural solution doesn't contain a laxative, so it shouldn't interact with the melamine. Right?
http://fleetnaturals.com/product-details.php

Any thoughts? Or other tips for retaining mesalamine enemas when you're gassy?

Thanks!

Thanks for the reply, Quincy. I see your point about the enema purge. I wasn't thinking about that.

I am just trying to trigger the same release of gas that has been causing me to lose the Rowasa every night.
I'm not flaring at the moment--but i'm on a Rowasa nightly regimen. It's becoming a nuisance because i'm running through Rowasa at a rapid pace and it's not cheap!

Last month, when I reduced to every other night my symptoms got worse. I want to be on the lowest Rx regimen, but haven't had the nerve to reduce the Rowasa again. UC is so tricky--so many variables.

I haven't been eating anything differently. I'll prob add Beano to my meal regimen because I do tend to eat veggies with every meal. I'll also lay off the L-glutamine for the time being. I'll look more closely at my diet for gas producing foods.

Rowasa has been really effective at making my life normal and I can't afford to not retain it !

Thanks again for the response.

I got a big shipment of Gavis enemas the last time I got my Rx filled. I found the tips to be a bit rough, and shortly after, I developed a perianal abscess. I wonder if the rough enema tips did enough damage to cause the abscess. My doc said it was possible, but we'll never know. I also found that it was VERY hard to squeeze the air out of the Gavis bottles before using the enema - I think b/c the plastic on those bottles is quite thin and flimsy - and noticed I had a lot more gassy feelings, but never to the point of having to expel it.

I decided to quit using the Gavis enema bottles, b/c I didn't want to risk causing another abscess. But, I didn't want to toss the boxes and boxes of enemas. My sister (who is a doc, not a GI) suggested I buy a Fleet enema, dump the contents, reuse it several times, then toss it and buy a new one when the bottle got worn out. However, I asked my GI to write me an Rx for a few boxes of Perrigo enemas, so that I wouldn't have to mess with rinising out an enema bottle while traveling (ie, I take Perrigo enemas when I go anywere) and I reuse one of those several times at home. After using the enema, I leave the enema bottle on the floor, sort of wrapped up in the old towel I lay on when administering the enema, then clean it out the next morning. I rinse it really well with hot water, and use a bit of soap on the tip. Then I put it in the cabinet on a washcloth to drain. I put the tip right side up, then put the bottle upside down over the tip to drain. It works quite well.

Have you tried laying on your left side and in the position you do the enema for a little while before you do it? For me moving onto my left side, especially if my legs are bent or curled up towards my body at all it makes me pass gas if I have any to pass.

Maybe see if you lie in the enema position for a little while gas will move.