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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/21/2012 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

I started using the rowasa enemas about 3 weeks ago. After about 1 week the bleeding had stopped, finally. Last night I forgot to do it and this morning woke up and had a small amount of blood. Is this normally what happens if you forget a dose. Is the rowasa helping to heal my colon or is it just masking the symptoms? Also I still have a hard time in the mornings, I wake up and have to run to the bathroom while the stools are more formed they are still pretty soft and it is usually a large amount that keeps me on the toilet for 20 to 30 minutes with cramping, the rest of the day I am usually ok. Just wondering from people with experience if this will get better. I probably just need to be patient but having a hard time right now as I am also 8wks pregnant and having morning sickness, or i should say all day sickness and I just wish that atleast part of my body felt good.

Thanks for any advice

Shawna

Posted 3/21/2012 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, this will get better. I'm glad you haven't had any bleeding while using the rowasa, and I hope that you will continue to use it - after a week or so of no bleeding I think it's pretty normal to think about tapering the enemas down. It's kind of a trial and error process.

What else are you taking for your UC? I hope the rowasa is going to help resolve the cramping and urgency issue, too, but that seems like something higher up in the bowel and I wonder if you're using any oral meds?

Congrats on your pregnancy. The changes that come with pregnancy are bound to make this more complicated, but hopefully you'll be lucky and have a pregnancy induced remission! Wouldn't that be nice? Look for improvements in the 2nd trimester, but don't forget your maintenance meds because many of us will flare after delivery.
Posted 3/21/2012 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
sounds like the rowasa is helping, it takes a while to heal the colon so even when you have no blood you could still have inflammation. 

 

i hear from alot of people that their uc is more active in the morning.  I know mine is, but then like you i am fine the rest of the day.

 

congrats on your pregnancy, the all day morning sickness should pass!

Posted 3/21/2012 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
For me, I can't stop the Rowasa or my symptoms come back. I think that is not the norm though...many taper to a maintenance and some lucky one's can stop altogether and only use when flairing. There is evidence though that staying on them at least 2 times per week can prolong remission...so something to think about. REmember to taper slowly and I would wait until you are totally normal for a good while before even attempting this. Seems to take a long time for the colon to heal.

Congrats on your pregnancy. I didn't have UC during mine and for that I am grateful...does complicate things. I too hope you will have the wonderful remission induced pregnancy thing going. Good luck and keep us posted.
B
Posted 3/21/2012 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
Keep up with the enemas and you should see improvement. My setbacks were always fixed by using them regularly again. I used mine until I was 9 weeks pregnant then I had the best remission so I didn't use them again until my son was 6 weeks old. I hope you get some relief soon and can enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.
Posted 3/21/2012 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks all. I also take colozal 9/day. I just had a sigmoidoscopy a few wks ago that showed about 35cm of inflammation, which is an improvement from my colonoscopy in November which showed pancolitis. I know I am getting better just impatient, I guess. Here's hoping for a nice pregnancy remission.

Thanks again.
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