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Trouble with Rowasa

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/2/2014 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone! I started rowasa enemas last night and I am not sure if I had a reaction to it. The day before I started it I only had 2 formed bowel movements and the days before that I was usually 2-5 times a day semi formed.
Then I took the first rowasa enema last night and ended up pooping twice during the night (both formed) and felt extremely nauseous after both bm's. Then when I got up for the day I had extreme urgency and all liquid bm's and was nauseous too. Later in the day I felt like I might have had a fever because I felt chills and achey but I don't know for sure if I had one or not. My bm's have slowed down since the afternoon but I still feel my colon rumbling and don't have an appetite.
Did anyone have trouble with rowasa like this? Or maybe it is just a coincidence?
Thanks!
Posted 4/2/2014 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
It could be a reaction. Have you ever taken oral mesalamine? People who can't tolerate oral often can't tolerate rectal either. The symptoms you describe could be a reaction or it could just be the result of the enema. Sometimes when I use the enema, I have trouble retaining it but it doesn't sound like this was the case for you since you got up from sleep to go to the bathroom. Usually when I can't retain it, it happens right away. Are your symptoms mild?
Posted 4/2/2014 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
yup, unfortunately it may be as nssg says - your body might not like them either :-(

kinda sucks big time - I would lay off for a bit to see if maybe you have something else going on - now that you have them, you can try again later -
Posted 4/2/2014 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
I took lialda as an oral mesalamine for a long time and it never did anything to help so I eventually stopped taking it, but I never had any kind of reaction to it. And I used canasa suppository which I believe is also a mesalamine, but I didn't get much result from that either, but also no reaction to that, which is why my dr was doubtful my symtpoms would be a result of the enema, but he said to stop taking them until I feel better (hopefully) and then try it again and see if I get the same kind of reaction to it then we know to stop it for good. But yeah, could just be something else and a coincidence to happen the day after I take the enema for the first time..hopefully it sorts itself out!
Posted 4/2/2014 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Just out of curiosity are you using generic or name brand Rowasa? I always feel like generic irritates me. The past 3 insurance companies I've had haven't covered the name brand.
Posted 4/2/2014 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
I've never had the reaction you did and since you took oral as well as did the suppository I would be surprised if it is a reaction to the enema. Maybe you caught some kind of bug...God knows there is so much going around.

I guess the only way to tell for sure is to try it again and if you have the same problem then you know its the enema.
Posted 4/2/2014 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
I would not use it for a night, get back to it and see if it continues.

It's possible you've eaten something that disagreed during the day, and having the extra weight in the lower colon/rectum triggered bms.

We improve and regress a tad, improve..etc. it seems as we heal.

Make sure first that it's the mesalamine and not something else. It would be best if you can use the enemas....

Are you still on an oral mesalamine as well?


Please keep us updated how you're doing.

q
Posted 4/2/2014 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
Some people are allergic to the sulfite (or sulfa I am always unclear about which) in the enema. There is a sulfite-free version of Rowasa (called Rowasa-sf I think) but you have to get that specific prescription for it. Consider using this type if you cannot tolerate your current kind because it would be a shame to have to give up one of the most useful Rx meds for UC.

I would suspect the sulfite since you haven't had a problem with mesalamine orally.
Posted 4/2/2014 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
IMHO...it sounds like you just ate something that didn't agree with you.

I've shoved more Rowasa in me than just about anyone ever, and it gets absorbed pretty fast since your colon, regardless of what's going on in there, is very vascular.. Anything that comes out of you after a few hours is not the enema...its your UC junk.

Reactions are few and far between, and don't cause nausea. I'd say its what you ate and UC just being a dick.....lol. You really have to stay with it a while to get it to work.
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