new to Rowasa - questions

the relief you will get from them is great!

They can be hard to hold in for the first few days to a week until you start getting better. Try to hold in for at least 30 min. I would do mine at night.

Lay on your left side and bring your right knee up and kind of angle it towards your pelvis slightly when putting it in (that worked well for me, though you will find your best angle).

HTH!

My experience with Rowasa - simply put it is a wonder med.  It pulled me out of my first nasty flare within two weeks.   I don't use it regularly just when I need to or start having problems and everytime it puts me back on track - well so far at least.  For me I always go to the bathroom and shall we say dump anything that I can, it is way easier for me to keep it in all night if I can start empty on the that end.  Then I get on my hands and knees and apply it that way on my own - way to personal of a task to ask for help.  I personally only sit like that for maybe 2 minutes afterward then I get up and go right to bed laying on my left side for the next 10 minutes or so.  I have never had problems with them doing it this way and like I said it has worked wonders for me.  I realize the instructions say to remain in the position for 30 min or longer but for me that isn't going to happen and I have a great results without staying propped up in some degrading position while it settles in, besides that creates more stress which could lead to going to the bathroom again.  My overall opinion and suggestion for you is I think it is more important to keep it in longer than it is using it per instructions with the wait and position- especially if following those rules only creates problems and leads to another trip to the pottie. 

I will add make sure you squeeze out the excess air first.  It will help a lot with the cramping and urgency feel.  Squeeze slowly from the tip over the sink until the medicine comes to the top, then hold it there until you insert.

Once you get use to the feeling of having them in you, it will be easier.  Just keep squeezing your butt as tight at possible ( good work out!) to make sure it stays in until you get use to them.  They do work! Give them time!

bluechipguy

i started these 5 days ago & i am still getting used to it. the biggest help holding it in is if you squeeze the air out first - like someone already mentioned. second biggest help was setting it in a glass of warm water just before using it so it comes to body temperature first. i find that anytime i switch positions drastically i have to go #2 - so if i lay down on my side first for a minute - maybe roll onto my back - i usually need to go to the bathroom & that clears out the area :) . THEN i can lay down & use the enema. i am up to holding it for an hour now!! i was only holding it for 2 to 10 minutes at first. it does get easier.

lily

Just some thoughts re rowasa:

all the suggestions re getting the air out first are very important, but in this vein my husband found a very big difference between brand name rowasa and generic. He initially was given generic and perhaps the medication is the same but the bottle is made of less flexible material making it nearly impossible to deliver all the medication as the plastic is so hard to squeeze. Also the tip felt more harsh to him


Also do be prepared for staining which God cannot remove on sheets and toilet seats. It IS helpful to keep handy disinfectant wipes in the bathroom but mere flushing causes splashes on the lid .

Re retention, the first nights are character building as one cannot fathom how to retain for the night. BUT you have to believe that even a couple of hours does something and as time goes by one can retain longer and longer and then perhaps by 10 days the whole night.

This forum is just so helpful. Rowasa did not help my husband who is now on cyclosporin and imuran but we wish we could get to the point where rowasa may help retain remission. we are not there yet.
Cheers, Chloe

I had no problem holding them (Salofalk) in after the first minute or so of having the urge.

Welcome bluepurl...

I can't say enough how good rectal meds are....remember that they are used for treatment and must be tapered to maintenance dosage. I've used them for over 19 years....

Think about the options...use them faithfully and they can serve you well for a verrrrrry long time.

quincy

As a person in your position when first using Rowasa I experienced the same issues you were. I use the real Rowasa but either way your going to have to keep up using it. Just go a little bit at a time. And you will get there and if you have issues with Rowasa, try to go with the real version. I totally was saved by peoples warnings. This board rules. Everyone is dead on. I love everyone on this thing.