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Salofalk Enema - What does it feel like?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/16/2013 5:23 AM (GMT 0)
So after being a year in remission my symptoms have unfortunately come back.
Last year I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and it was horrible.
I could barely get out of bed, had to go to the bathroom frequently, just awful.

After I was diagnosed though and put on prednisone and mezavant pills, about two weeks after
I started feeling better. Unfortunately then after my symptoms were completely gone and my stools had returned to normal, I ate some takeout which contained a lot of MSG's in it and it put me right back into symptoms for another 2 weeks. After that, for just almost a year I was in remission and it's returned again.

So now I've been prescribed Salofalk enema and it's not that I find it embarassing, I'm just a bit scared to try it as I'm afraid it's going to feel extremely weird. I feel like I'm going to feel it all throughout the night.
Is this true? Do you actually feel the enema going up into your colon? And how does it get all the way up there? I would think that gravity would just make it stop at a certain point near the "entrance".

I'm also confused about this position I have to lay in. Do I have to lay on my left side ALL night? Would it start dripping out or something if I switched sides in my sleep?

I've had symptoms for about 2 weeks (though its not as worse as before, I can walk around and stuff and I have a lot of energy). Should I just keep watching my diet and wait to see improvement before thinking about using this? I've heard it can actually spice a flare if it's not right for you.

I also do not know what the term "taper" means when used in reference with this enema. What does it mean to taper?
Posted 10/16/2013 9:56 AM (GMT 0)
Sugarcrave, I'm sorry you have symptoms again.

I'll answer your questions upon how I feel it.

When I initially insert the enema, I feel it. It goes all the way to the sigmoid. You should lay on your left side when inserting it. You don't have to lay all night on that side. Maximum 30 minutes. Then you can lay how you want. It won't drip out since your sphincter prevents this.

I usually have a little trash bag and some toilet paper around my bed because sometimes the enema flows out of the bottle after inserting. Also you need to put the enema bottle in the trash. This way you don't have to get up again.

Yes definitely watch your diet. Maybe a little food journal helps.

Some folks on here taper their enemas by taking them every 2nd day, then every 3rd day and so forth.

Hope you get better soon!
Posted 10/16/2013 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
I hope you have refills for your prescription...and that your doctor hasn't put you on a limited time to improve.

It'll feel weird, and you might have the feeling to expel it....clench your sphincter as soon as it's all administered and lay quietly on your left side. Read, listen to music, watch TV...whatever can help. The feeling will be done after a half a minute...hang in there.

Regarding feeling it all night.....just remember that you have it in. No forceful farting in bed or on the toilet, or you'll release it.

I've used them for almost 25 years, and there's been a mix of discomfort symptoms. You'll get to know yours.

You might ask your doc for an antispasmodic such as dicyclomine to take about an hour before bedtime. That will help calm things as well.

Regarding foods....foods that cause you a lot of gas will not help with retaining the enema or comfort during the night.

Sometimes I've found to be hotter during the nights when I use the enemas....could be a combo of what I've eaten or how much gas I might have.....

I'm happy you're using them....

Oh, the first one I ever did...I asked my husband to do it for me...lol. That's about it for weirdness other than my cat used to wait to watch the process from the floor and then attack my hand when I withdrew the bottle. Scared me the first time, lol.

Cap the bottle after administering and wipe your butt with toilet paper...discard it into a bedside garbage as Andrina suggested. Wipe your hands with wipes and relax!

Keep us posted.
q
Posted 10/17/2013 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
Does it feel gross? Like when you feel the liquid going up, do you just think to yourself "this is so disgusting".
If so, do you eventually get used to the feeling of it to the point where it doesn't bother you anymore?
After how many times would you say you would get used to it?

Thanks for your replies.

Post Edited (Sugarcrave) : 10/16/2013 10:32:20 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/17/2013 7:29 AM (GMT 0)
I never felt it was gross. I got used to it very quickly.
Posted 10/17/2013 10:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sugarcrave.

I've been using these for just 2.5 months so very new to them too. For the first week I was a little upset using them as I found them so alien to my normal bedtime 'routine'. However it very quickly became normal and to have the symptoms abate it is well worth it. The feeling is unusual but not gross or disgusting at all. I feel a coolness through the area and a sensation of it flowing/fluttering through the colon - it is certainly not uncomfortable or painful in any way - just different. about 50% of the time I get the urge to purge, and as Quincy says, clench and the sensation disappears quickly, then lie quietly for 30 minutes on your left hand side. After that I find I can sleep as normal. I do try not to drink too much water late at night to avoid needing to get up to use the loo during the night cos it's hard not to expel it when you're sitting on the loo.

Good luck with them, push through the initial fears and it'll become normal very quickly and hopefully you'll get the benefits.
Posted 10/17/2013 11:28 AM (GMT 0)
It's medication...that will hopefully help. Make of it what you like.

What's gross is having UC and all that goes along with it..

q
Posted 10/17/2013 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys.
One thing though that I'm concerned about is,

I just went to the clinic today and I was prescribed prednisone steroids again because I'm in a flare once again after about a year in remission.

Can I take the salofalk enema while using the prednisone or no?
Posted 10/19/2013 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
Your choice to take the prednisone....in truth, I'd go for the enemas first.

But...yes, you can use the enemas while on the pred.
q
Posted 10/19/2013 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
I just started them last week. First day or two it was weird but after that its not big deal at all. Im not fully back in remission but 90 percent after a weeks use.
Good luck
Posted 10/20/2013 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
Sugarcrave...have you tried them yet?

q
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