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A Better Way To Use Rowasa/Retention Enemas?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/10/2008 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
I recently tried something new when using Rowasa retention enemas. The instructions indicate best results are acheived having a BM before applying the med and to stay on your left side for at least 30 min. Since I cannot always have a BM a night I started using the Rowasas in the a.m. right after my morning BM and then returning back to bed and lying on my side for about 45 mins then starting my day. I have been able to hold in the med until the next morning's BM and have found this method to be very effective in reducing/eliminating a rather stubborn flair as the med stays in my system for a full 24 hours vs. 8. I will do this now every other a.m. going forward vs. every night as before.  24 hours of retention sure beats 8 hours for the medicine to treat the affected areas.

I hope this can help others as it has helped me. :-)

Posted 8/10/2008 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
Good for you! Sometimes a tweak here or there with meds is the right way to go. Or as my gastro (who subspecializes in IBD treatment) says: "Use what works for you!" / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC;currently on 3 Colazal daily for maintenance of remission)
Posted 8/10/2008 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
Absolutely!
Posted 8/10/2008 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the tip. I may try this because I hardly ever have a BM at night before using Rowasa either.
Posted 8/11/2008 4:43 AM (GMT 0)

I'm so glad it may help others here :-)

My method offers 3 distinct advantages over the recommended usage:

1) It can stay in your system a full 24 hours until the next BM the following morning.

2) You get to use it after a BM which although may not be necessary, is still the prefered method.

3) Since it stays in your system for 24 hrs you can use it less times per week.

Posted 8/11/2008 11:54 AM (GMT 0)
I'm glad you found a system that works for you. The instructions with these meds are mostly guidelines and sometimes we have to switch them a bit to better fit our needs.
Posted 8/11/2008 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
I just started using the measlamine enima I am having problems keeping it in through the night. It seems like I get an urge to go shrtly after I insert it. Is the foam easier?
Posted 8/11/2008 4:27 PM (GMT 0)

Socalsd said...
I just started using the measlamine enima I am having problems keeping it in through the night. It seems like I get an urge to go shrtly after I insert it. Is the foam easier?

Are you having a BM right befiore using the enema as sometimes its best to wait an hour as if your sphincter is having mild spasms after a BM it could cause an increased urgency.
Posted 8/11/2008 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
The only problem I see with this is that I usually have my morning BM around 10:00 or so, while I am at work! Ahhh... if only I could lay down on the floor of my office for 45 minutes each day. If I thought I could get away with it, I would try it! :-)
Posted 8/11/2008 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks BBC,

I will try waiting longer before using it. It has seemed to make things less painfull even though I have not been able to hold it for the full 8 hours.
Posted 9/13/2008 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
Wait, I'm a little confused here. I haven't used Rowasa yet, but am planning to give it a try in a few days. Are you saying you only have one BM a day? That would be marvelous! But that hasn't happened to me in weeks...
Posted 9/13/2008 5:02 AM (GMT 0)
This wouldn't work for me unless I was able to lie in bed for most of the morning. Walking around is what really gets me started with the trips to the bathroom. I mean a lot of walking at once like a couple of blocks at a time. Short trips are ok. I quit going to the mall because I spent all my time in the bathrooms and none of it shopping but my husband was happy about it - lol!
Posted 9/13/2008 12:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hello there Kay Kay29-- I was diagnosed in 1978 - but I was 28 and a new mum at the time. Fortunately for me was absolutely symptom free 1994-2008 -- following mis-advice from a new consultant in 2007I showed symptoms in June this year. Having 2/3 days symptom free at a time. Trying to pick up a routine again following a colonoscopy on the 5th Sept - as this set me back again after a week free of symptoms prior to procedure.I must say that my UC is confined to the last few cms of the rectum ( I hope this is still the case ) What I find now is the feeling of "belonging " within these forums - whereas 30 odd years ago I felt very isolated and no one seemed to speak about UC. Do you tend to find that we are more open about it these days ?
To ALL who read these comments--- Happy Healing !
Posted 4/10/2013 12:04 AM (GMT 0)

I've had UC/Crohns for 30 years.  Believe it or not, I use an inversion table and find it works great.  And, hanging inverted for 5 minutes seems to distribute the good stuff further up (or in this case down) into the colon.  My GI says he sees the demarcation line farther up the colon than normal when he does my colonoscopies.

The table can be in any room.  Once you hang for 5 minutes you can walk around with no problem.  I do my treatment before bed.  I lay on floor and insert on my side per the instructions.  I let things get settled for 2-3 minutes and then hop up and get on the table.  Going inverted takes a little practice.  Follow the instructions.  After you get comfortable with 1 minute or so you'll get used to 3-5 minutes.  That's all you need. 

BTW, going inverted provides a great stretch especially for the lower spine and hips.

Right now I'm controlling symptoms with this technique about 5-6 nights per week, 3-4 VSL#3, and Lialda.  If symptoms crop us, I will up the dose to 2 enemas. 

Good luck everyone.

Posted 4/10/2013 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
ya, im a wonderin if you only havin 1 boomer a day, why you needin them roassa's ?

er wait, maybe there's the answer itself -

hmmm !
Posted 4/10/2013 6:15 AM (GMT 0)
I'm assuming you mean crohn's colitis....not UC/Crohn's...

so much trouble for a teeny little enema.
OK, i'll admit this one is enema overkill.

q

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