HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Canasa and Colozal Question

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/25/2008 5:50 PM (GMT 0)

I have proctitis and have been having a flare since November.  Im finally getting serious about fixing things.  I am taking 9 colozal per day and using canasa.  Along with the canasa usage and fixing my diet (eliminating sugar, chocolate, veggies, nuts, dairy with exception of kefir), things are getting better.  Stools are not yet formed, but no blood, no mucus, no gas in the a.m., etc.  My question(s) are:

1.  How long should I stay on Canasa before I stop using it?  I don't want to stop prematurely and have a relapse.

2.  Does canasa prevent your stools from becoming formed?  Will they stay runny when using canasa? (that is a reason I want to get off them if this is the case)

3.  How long should I wait before I start introducing healthy things (fruits, veggies, etc.) back into my diet?

thanks for any input you may have....

Posted 4/25/2008 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
I would stay on Canasa until you and your doctor feel that if you stop taking it you will relapse. I was put on Canasa about a month ago and within that time I feel my colitis is under control. The doctor suggested to stay on it for a year so I would not relapse as easy.

My stools have become well formed. Day by day I am introducing new foods to my system and I feel there has been no side effects while on my medications. Also, eating fruits is fine but you should not eat the skin of fruits. I bought a book "What to eat with IBD" and it was a really good resource for what to eat and why to eat it. But in general, fruits should be eaten because of the vitamins, just don't eat the skin. I would eat melons, bananas, and apples with the skin peeled off. Of course, everyone is different but the author is a Registered Dietitian and she's had IBD for about 17 years.

I started to introduce more healthy foods when I felt comfortable and my stools were solid. Hope this helps!
Posted 4/25/2008 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
Just an FYI too....Colazal can give you lo0se stools (think soft serve). Mine got better once I had been on it a while and now they are mostly formed.
Posted 4/28/2008 12:58 PM (GMT 0)
I was wondering howlong it took once you were taking the canasa suppositories to see a change in your symptoms.  I have been flaring for almost 3 weeks 6-7 + loose stools a day and horrible pain and have been on canasa at night 1000mg for 14 days now with no real improvement.  Just wondering if the end is near or not!

Thanks!

Posted 4/28/2008 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome jeg.

I would say you need uch more than just Canasa to treat a flare. go back to the doc and request at least oal 5ASA such as Asaco as well as retention enemas such as Rowasa.

quincy
Posted 4/28/2008 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
Quincy

I'm also taking the colazol 3 pills 3x a day but that's it.  So I would just need to ask him for a Rowasa enema?  You probably know how frustrating it is, and I just want it to ease a bit or end completely!  Thanks for your help, I'm so glad I found this website!

Posted 4/28/2008 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
My doc puts me on a 14 day course of canasa during flares. It gives me some gas and there's some weird (dark, purplish) colored "mucus" or small stool in the morning as a result (i think) of the canasa. I don't know if it works for me. I just do it, because people say to treat both ends. So far, the only thing that's worked for me is prednisone.

I took colazal when I was 1st dx'd. At first, I sung it's praises, because it worked and I felt (got) better. Then, I switched to lialda, because I lost control of my bowels (very soft stool). I'm convinced it was from the colazal. Now, tjf confirms that colazal causes loose stool. Since the switch from colazal, I've been battling for remission. 2 lialda/day is the maintenance dose, and i got sick again after my first course of prednisone. So, I'm on 4 lialda/day + 20 mg pred + canasa.

On this site, you'll hear again and again that the meds work differently for everyone. It may take some time before you find the right ones. I'm still trying to figure out my proper dosage. Good luck!
Posted 4/28/2008 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
I'm pretty sure my next step according to the dr. will be to go on pred. but I'm a little concerned b/c I'm 5 1/2 mos. pregnant.  I'm assuming that is why this flare is so hard to treat!  I've only just been diagnosed in Dec 06 and since then had been in remission.  For the last 3 weeks though I've had multiple 6-8 x a day D (blood/mucus) and have developed a hemerrhoid (which makes the frequent bowel movements almost unbearable).  I'm up day and night with it (at least 2 x a night) and am afriad to go on pred b/c I've heard of all the nasty side effects it can cause (gestational diabetes, etc.) I have another dr. appt on Friday and hopefully my blood tests will show signs of improvement even though my symptoms haven't really eased.  Any other ideas?  Thank you so much.  I feel better already knowing that there are people to talk to about this.  I feel like the husband and other fam/friends probably get's tired of it!  Thanks again!
Posted 4/28/2008 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Wow. It's hard enough just managing the illness without being pregnant on top of it! I hope that you and your doc can find something that works for you. Congrats on your pregnancy!

This forum is very welcoming and informative. You can be comfortable here to ask questions.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply