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Alternating between Steroid suppositories and enemas?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 5/23/2014 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
With every steroid topical med I use I seem to have a great response for a week or so, then it wears off and the symptoms return. So I was wondering, would it be a feasible for me to alternate between steroid enemas and suppositories on a weekly basis? using 20mg enemas daily for 7 days then 5mg suppositories for 7 days
Posted 5/23/2014 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
Steriod rectal meds aren't good to be on long term. Have you used the mesalamine ones at all?
Posted 5/24/2014 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
I wouldn't drop that much that quickly. Taper the enemas alternating nights...

What's the schedule your doc gave you?

What's happening with the 5ASA intake....if you have a signature, make sure you click the "include signature" when you post in Post reply or edit. It's included when you do a quick reply.

q
Posted 5/25/2014 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I was previously using 2x pentasa suppositories and 1x salofalk liquid enema, but it didn't fully improve my symptoms. So I swapped the two suppositories for one 20mg predfoam enema and they worked exceptionally well for about a week, the bleeding was almost gone, but suddenly the symptoms returned and now I'm bleeding worse than I was before I even tried the steroid meds. It seems to be my problem every time I use rectal meds, they work at first then their effectiveness wears off after a few weeks of using, and I was wondering if there is any way around this?

As you can imagine, it's very frustrating that every time I use a rectal med it gets my hopes up then stops working suddenly, it really does upset me at times

I can't seem to get my signature to work, so here is a list of what I am doing currently:
1x 59ml 2g salofalk liquid enema
1x 20mg predfoam
4x2 Balsalazide 750mg
175mg Azathioprine

5cm of inflammation, proctitis, been causing bleeding for over a year now

Post Edited (CMJ96) : 5/25/2014 8:12:26 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/25/2014 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
The area that's inflamed is pretty much the most difficult to treat and maintain. I keep forgetting it's so limited in your situation.

How were you using the steroid supps previously?

What's your stool like?

q
Posted 5/25/2014 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
In the past I have used the steroid suppositories, but that was for a previous flare, they basically done the same as the predfoam, looked promising, worked at first, then just lost all effectiveness after a couple of weeks of use. I was using like 1-2 a day
Currently my only real symptom is bleeding, sometimes I'm more constipated than anything else
Posted 5/27/2014 1:49 PM (GMT 0)
I was using 20mg predfoam last week they were working well the week before, but as you know, they stopped working , but since friday I have been using 5mg x2 predol suppositories and it got the bleeding back down again, this is really strange, it seems I can't get effective treatment out of steroid rectal meds if i use them more than a week
Posted 5/27/2014 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
It seems a rock and hard place situation. That's a hugely difficult area to treat, for whatever reason.

My thought is as well for you to try to keep your stool as soft as possible...that would include fibre supplements and maybe foods that help loosen it a bit. Even upping vitamin C or something like that.

Seems the alternating is a good plan...not one continually, but one and then the other.

Then use the enemas for a boost/shot of higher potency once a week or twice a week...

you're also on probiotics?

q
Posted 5/27/2014 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
I'm gonna buy some probiotics soon, I'm working on that. I'm definitely going to phone my doctor and ask what they think about the alternating idea, sadly I doubt they'd agree with me on the idea, but early signs suggest that it is certainly working so far. I don't see why there would be a problem with it, I normally get my prescriptions on a monthly basis, I would just have to ask for half of the enemas and half of the suppositories as opposed to a months supply of one or the other
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