Cortenema as my 2nd medication

So I was diagnosed with ulcerative proctitis and put on Salofalk (mesalamine) 1000mg nightly. It made my symptoms worse and I know Salofalk was the culprit because when I stopped taking it, my worsened symptoms were gone. I was prescribed Cortenema by my specialist and I have a few questions to ask about the medication. If you're wondering, my appointment with the specialist is on July 10th. My dad spoke to him over the phone about my worsening condition and he said I could be mesalamine intolerant(?).

Should I be taking Cortenema nightly as needed or regardless of my need for it? I don't feel like I need it because my abdominal pain is no longer cramping but its kind of dull-achy and not following a pattern. I also have less blood in my stool by a large amount. Went three times today and there was no blood...

In addition, should I empty my bowels before I use Cortenema? I can't force myself to empty them so that situation is kind of difficult for me.

Thanks.

edit: The reason I'm asking if I should use it regardless of need is because it has a sticker on the box indicating to use when needed. I won't know anything though until my appointment and I don't want to follow my specialist around having to call him everyday asking these questions. I also have Proctosedyl, how is that compared to Cortenema? For UP only.

Post Edited (dontscopeme) : 6/27/2012 10:23:00 PM (GMT-6)

dontscopeme,

I use cortenemas and hycort and yes make sure your bowels are empty or the enema wont stay in.  It is best to use it at nightt time so that you can hold  it in till morning. If you feel that your not empty get a empty enema bottle and fill it with warm water an insert that first, so if there is any stool it will help move it along.  Then insert cortenema.  I would use it nightly until all symptoms are gone.

When you use it sqeeze botle first to get air out, then insert and squeeze medicine out and slowly pull enema out while still squeezing medicine.  This way the cortenema goes right to the end it might feel like its gonna drip out but if you have proctitis you want this area coovered.

 

Thanks for the help. I'll start using the enema tonight. The box came with good instructions and I'm going have to read it over since this is my first time using an enema.

This question isn't really about medication but the proctitis itself. When do I call it a remission? I have been having symptoms of colitis/proctitis for over 2 years but only in the past 2 months I was passing blood. Is remission considered when there is no blood nor mucus, no pain, and lessened frequency to empty bowels? I feel like I can go days saying I'm healthy but then there is just a spec of blood that ruins it for me. It's so random and keeping up with my symptoms is tiring.

My first diagnosis was UP and I had blood and mucous for a year prior to diagnosis and then a few years after. I haven't seen blood in a long time. But the last time I was scoped, in 2008, my rectum was still inflamed. At that time I had no blood or mucous, but a lot of tenesmus and odd wind, so to speak, so I considered those symptoms as well. I haven't had that in a while, but I'm on the alert and will use my mesalamine enemas if those symptoms reappear.