Hi This is my first post been hovering for over a year.
My name is Sue I live in the UK and I was diagnoised with ulcerative colitis in November 2006 (10 cms left side) I don't think I have ever been completely flare free in the last 16 months. Currently I am taking 3 x 2 asacol daily and 1 asacol foam enema in the morning and 1 asacol foam enema in the evening. This is what has brought the flares under some control in the past
Unfortunately This time I have been unable to taper the morning enema as within 3 days of reducing them to every other day I start bleeding again. Previously I have managed to reduce to just taking 1 enema every evening and reduce my oral asacol to 5 tablets aday with out bleeding, mucus and usually only 2-3 bms aday although I have never been pain free or with out nausea dizziness and shaking after a bm.
On my last visit to my GI he told me I was overdosing on the enemas (I was only taking 1 per day) and the I had to reduce them to every other day for 2 weeks and then drop them altogether this I did and within 10 days I was bleeding and going to the toilet 5 times a day and feeling really ill again. So I have gone back to the medication listed above.
My questions are:-
1. How long should I continue 2 enemas a day after all the bleeding has gone
2. Does any bodyelse do mesalazine enemas every evening and have you been told your are overdosing
3. I understand that left sided colitis is the hardest to control has anybody with this managed to come of the enemas completely (I don,t mind doing the enema in the evening as I go straight to bed after but in the morning I have to lie down for 1 1/2 hours to retain them and this is a nightmare with a 4 year old and a 6 year old)
4. How long do the enemas have to be retained to do any good
Sorry this is so long but I am at the end of my tether as it is the easter holidays and once again it is dictated by my colitus as to what little we do
quincy I think you are very knowlegable on rectal meds perhaps you will coment
thanks again