Just a few questions about my condition...

Hi AJ A-
It's my understanding that proctitis involves irritation of the rectal area.
Perhaps the suppositories are not reaching the entire area that's affected.

Canasa is a mesalamine product, right?
I don't pretend to have any expertise, however I'm thinking you might ask your GI doctor about using a mesalamine enema that would reach further up. There are generic mesalamine enemas available in the U.S. I've used them in the past.
Hope this is helpful.

I am similiar as I really have to hit my condition daily to keep it at bay. I would love to have remission periods where I can lighten up on meds and than hit it again if/when it returns. So far, no go. If I don't use my meds every day (2 Lialda/1 Rowasa) I start to have problems. It sometimes flairs up more where I need steroid supps and sometimes I do fine w/ the usual combo. However I can't ever ease up. I am hoping that will change but for now seems like it is chronically annoying. Let me know if you come up w/ anything.

When I was suffering from UP, I never had any luck getting it into "remission". I had to use the Canasa very regularly to get my symptoms to remain at bay. After a year to 2 years, my UP spread. I was unable to afford Canasa and I didn't use it regularly. I don't blame the progression on that though, I think it would have progressed regardless ot whether I continued using Canasa.

There is a cheaper option available throughout the rest of the world called salofalk but it's not available in teh US unfortunately. When I was unninsured I purchased salofalk from Canadian pharmacies. After a while, I learned about the Canasa PAP program and I got enrolled. It was $5 a monthf or one box. They have since changed the program and it's $20 for a box but that's way better than paying retail. I think a box is about $700. My insurace now covers it for $20 so the PAP doesn't help me.

www.canasacare.com 

 

Sorry to hear you're having trouble, but you've come to the right place. One thing you will learn here(besides the fact that everyone is very helpful)is that every person has a different case. What will work for one person may not for another, but you'll get many ideas to arm yourself when you talk to your doctor.

I was first diagnosed with UC years before I was told that I had UP. A suggestion here about Canasa and I was asking my doctor about it. Good thing because it worked. A few months into taking it and I'd noticed a huge difference. about the same time my insurance company didn't want to pay for it anymore and had sent me a letter. I brought that in to my doctor and he writes a note on that page and faxes it over to the insurance company pretty much telling them that I need it to continue my care. They have paid for it ever since.

Have you had a colonoscopy? That will show where the ulceration is for sure and how best to care for your troubles.

Hi AJ A I was prescribed A5acol suppositorys ( I live in Uk, but think it is same thing). Took one in morning which I always had problems keeping in, and then one at night. My Dr wanted me to reduce them and as soon as I started to the bleeding would return the next day. I really was not improving and had other symptoms too.
I then changed Dr's with for me wonderful results. He said I was under medicated and prescribed Salofalk enema 2g nightly and Mesalazine 800 mg. 3 x twice daily. This has made all the difference and all symptoms have dissapeared and I am now going to try and taper them off. I wonder if instead of reducing your suppository, you may need the enema's and/or the tablets too.
Good luck.