I CANT DO THIS!! enemas

Kazbern-- the system here will not let us key in d-i-l-d-o as a word. / Old Hat (31 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)

nightime is better, just get your mind off it for about 15 minutes after you do it. It will help you retain. I do like the singing 100 bottles of beer song. I used to chant some bad songs after I did it to help retain.

Cake.. I know the idea is gross. BUT you do have a BUTT disease. Its time for you to accept it. You may potentially have a lot more invasive things done in the butt area regarding this disease.. scopes, surgeries, tests, barium enemas, etc.. all in the presence of others. So feel priveliged that you can do an enema in the privacy of your own home, by yourself.

Seriously, this may be the quickest, least painful, least damaging to the rest of your body, and best results to get you out of a flare. Time to get your mind around it and go for it. I do know the first time 10 years ago when my doctor said I had to do enemas, I thought he was crazy. And it took me a week to do my first one. But you can do this. It may help you regain your health.

I was completely opposed to using my enemas, but in the end (for me) they are the only thing that helps.  Every time I feel a flare coming on I start using rowasa and I'm usually back to "normal" within a few weeks.

I try not to empty the full contents of the bottle - that hurts.  I typically use about 1/4 to 1/2 of a bottle.  The few times I've used the full bottle my stomach gurgles all night and then I end up running to the bathroom 10+ times in the morning.

Before bed each night I finish my nightly wash face/brush teeth/swallow Lialda routine and then insert my enema (making sure to shake well first, and squeeze out all air in the bottle before inserting).  I have never had to lie on the bathroom floor...works for me to stand and squeeze, and then I can still walk to my bed without discomfort.  From there I typically lie on my left side for at least 30 minutes and fall asleep.  It works out just fine.

I was in a TERRIBLE flare when I first began to use them and they have helped tremendously.  I suggest trying for one week to see how it goes.

One last point: these feel nothing like the saline enemas that you have to take prepping for a colonoscopy.  My hatred of those are the reason I waited so long to try the rowasa enemas.  The rowasa enemas are more of a thick milky substance to coat and soothe your colon.

Give it a shot!  Good luck.

hi - i havnt done it yet but i will, thanks for asking. my doc doubled my asacol dosage to see if that helps. i recently switched from salofalk to asacol- which is right around the time i started flaring, so im unsure if the asaol is even working for me. i dont know if im flaring just because, or because the asacol isnt working.

oh, god- thats what i was afraid of! sorry to hear that, hope you feel better.
question: is it ok to do the enema in the day? (i work odd hours)

One thing we have to keep in mind is that enemas are not magic, they take time and persistence. For some, they never work. It's something that I think is worth trying but I have had flare ups that didn't respond to enemas. There is also the chance that you're intolerant to the medication if you're experiencing worse symptoms the day following an enema. The morning after using an enema, I usually have to go to the toilet and I will notice some of the remains of the enema in the toilet but it's not a big deal if it helps me get back to good health. One thing I find helpful is squeezing the air out of the enema bottle before inserting it. Another thing to remember is that the contents of the enema bottle can stain things. I've stained my sink before squeezing the air out of the bottle.

kazbern, you read my mind!

Cake take my words I posted many times here about enemas and losing my patience with them. It surely did work my patience. The first 2 months of enemas was a bit random and i could feel better or be the same but never worst. For sure the morning after an enemas sometimes my bum would burn a bit have my stools would be loose du to the amount of liquid.

But I continued them because overall I saw improvements. Look at it weeks at a time. Colitis sucks cause you can flare up in a week but it can take weeks before it calms down now thats not a good deal eh!

But every other week I would haver an overeview of my symptoms. And I noticed that once the cheeky bm after lunch was rare, the mucus was only in the morning, then i noticed i didnt have to lay down after my supper to let all the gas out that actually i could go for a walk. Then after many many weeks I noticed my bms were more reliable like 1-2 each morning and that was it.
Then one day the magic happened: No more wet farts. Even in the morning. I oculdnt believe it! My morning gas were all dry. And now I have one bm a day and can hold it for a few minutes.

To not feel discouraged it is important to have a feedback on your symptoms. Do what you have to do everyday but then take a few minutes every week or other week and not any tiny improvement. Cause some poeple it can be instant, in my case it tooks months. But not months of flare hell cause i was getting a bit better everytime.

And you can do the enemas whenever you feel like. Just make just you stay on your left side for 30 minutes. I wouldnt personnaly plan anything after ive done one that why i do them nightly. But some poeple do them at any time of the day. I wouldnt suggest for the first weeks you do them before work just to get your body used to it and not stress.

Be patient for the pills. My nurse practitionner always tells me to give any treatment around 3 months to have a good feedback on it unless you are allergic wich you would probably know by now.

Good luck x

If you are successfully taking oral mesalamine, it's not likely that you're intolerant of mesalamine. I've read here recently that some people might be sensitive to the sulfa in some of the mesalamine enema solutions - there is a sulfa free version available now. I've also had trouble with some brands of the generic, so I recommend at least switching brands or looking for the sulfa free versions if you are made worse by the use of the enema.

Ive tried it twice!!!
Well its a funny experience. You put up a leg while standing up. You insert gently then you push the foam. Then... silence... for around 2 seconds... then you are wondering mmm what? awwwww outch! Its like a detonator that sent a solid stool back in your bum. Very hum surprising.

Deep Breath - you guys are Great!!! I'm glad I found you.

I did try the rawasa enema again last night, however, I only used about 1/2, I have to say I tolerated it much much better and the mucus was very little and a little blood. But I was able to work today, 1 bm. I'm wondering if the whole enema is just too much for my system? Max on the Asacol and the enema's are 4000. mg. That's a lot of "stuff".

I'll do the same tonight and maybe increase it back up to the entire dosage in a few days. I also have to say that my bum hole is rediculasly sore, spasms and just all around yuckiness.

Greatful for the day!


53 yr old. Also taking Pamelor 35mg at bedtime for IBS the last 25 yrs. Diagnosed with UC 9 months ago - 400mg Asacol 3 x's day.

Quincy - One more question, I see you and several others are on Vitiman D and Probiotics can you please explain - I get the probiotics but not sure about the D.

Peeka

Narula, N. and J. K. Marshall (2012). "Management of inflammatory bowel disease with vitamin D: Beyond bone health." Journal of Crohns & Colitis 6(4): 397-404. (PMCID:
A relationship between vitamin D and several disorders, including Crohn's disease (CD), has recently been proposed. Vitamin D appears to have several important actions beyond the maintenance of bone health, including various effects on the immune system. Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in the development of CD, and its analogues may have a role in the treatment of CD. Current research also suggests a role for vitamin D in counteracting some IBD-specific complications, including osteopenia, colorectal neoplasia, and depression. There remains a need for prospective studies to further delineate these relationships. Given current evidence and the apparent safety of vitamin D supplementation, it appears reasonable to screen for and treat vitamin D deficiency in patients with IBD. (C) 2011 European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.