I CANT DO THIS!! enemas

Well, it's a personal decision as to what medications one is willing to use.

You see, I'd be freaked about using prednisone.

There have been a few here and there that refuse to do the enemas for various reasons. Personally, I have no problem with them....

Just consider that UC starts at the rectum and heals lastly there...

It's really no biggie.

Maybe you haven't suffered long or hard enough to want to use them?

q

I never imagined that i would be sticking these things up my bum everynight a year ago. All i was thinking about was getting married! Once i was diagnosed oral meds didnt work nor did Cortifoam resulting in a course of steriods. Id been on prednisone before for asthma with no porblems but i knew once i needed a longish course of pred them my bum was really not well.

I asked about Mesalamine enemas as i hear good things and didnt want to stay on pred and wanted a maintenance med. first few times were rough and because my flare had died down it was tolerable and im now doing really well (touch wood) if you can get things to settle down you might be able to hold the enemas a little easier - it really is worth sticking with it if possible.

good luck

I hated doing the enemas too but I just wanted some relief. I had such severe urgency and diarrhea that I couldn't hold them in so I never got the benefit from them. I gave it a good try though.

It may really help you so try to just think of it as getting yourself better. Prednisone is nasty stuff so if you can avoid it....do so. Good luck with it!

And don't forget to squeeze out the air before inserting the tip into your bottom!

    I agree with most of the posts.  When first diagnosed in 1998, I was placed on prednisone, Asacol and Rowasa enemas.  Not exactly a big fan of enemas, but when you are desperate for relief, ya do what ya gotta do.  Over the years, and countless meds with a deteriorating condition, the time arrived when I could not hold in the enemas at all, they just oozed right on out.

     If the idea of enemas freaks you out, ask about Canasa suppositories.  They aren't bad at all.  They didn't work for me, but do work for others.  You need some medications up that butt.

Thanks, fruitgirl and everyone else. I didn't get much of the enema left in me last night so today might be a mess of a day. Monday, I went to the washroom 11 times since Sunday's enema didn't stay in. I better go to the pharmacy and pick up Imodium, haha. Again, thanks for the all the advice on enemas. I hope Cakes&Ale, you do well with enemas if you choose to use them :)

Someone should volunteer here and do a video showing how to use the enemas. Showing different options, the preparation, the angle, the position.

When I first tried them all I had was a piece of paper with a drawing showing a man how to use them. It did help but its not like someone is next you like you have an enema coach!

Very daunting to do at first, very uncomfortable as well. Its not like we can relate to any experience in the past that included half a cup of liquid and a bum.

Don't be afraid of them. The body has a great deal on how to adapt to new situation. Might sounds and feel weird now for you but the anus is a muscle and if you do the enemas on a regular basis your anus will ajust. Let it glide naturally as well. Don't force any angle that isnt natural. Make sure you have enough lube and if you cant keep all the enema dont worry. It will still do you good.

I consider the enemas like a pepto bismol for the colon. So if the enemas do you good you are going to end up feeling like you need one that you need to coat your colon with it.

When you are going to see some improvements it;s going to give you a positive vibe and in life we get used to many things we thought impossible!

And make sure you start by doing them before bedtime. Personally i do my enemas in bed while watching a documentary and pass out a few moments after. Good luck!

thanks so much for your responses and stories. i still dont think i can do it, and i dont know what that means for me :(
IS IT AT ALL POSSIBLE TO GET YOURSELF OUT OF A FLARE WITHOUT enemas or pred???

quincy- you are right when you said i havent suffered enough to use them. ive had it pretty easy compared to most the people on here. i just find enemas to depressing

ditto!!!!!

I do spend many nights uncomfortable, HOT, and gassy from the enemas...especially if I use them every third night and have any gas at all in my colon.

OH WELL....it'll be out by morning. bit deal.

We have choices in what we want and don't want. I'd never do a long course of pred...my mental state wouldn't survive. I'll do a short one of no longer than 2 weeks tapered to 0. I'd never do immuno meds, i'd never do biologics. That's my list, so I persevere with the enemas.

I remember the first night like it was yesterday, my husband did it for me...only time. I figured it out for myself. I've never had an accident with them, but have let 4 go during the middle of the night over the 23 years.

It's a choice...and if you don't want to do them, put it in your signature so that we don't nag you about it.

q



Probiotic....Regarding UC starting elsewhere in one's colon...it's probably not UC. It works/flares/heals like a thermometer and has a fairly predictable pattern. If you're basing it on symptoms you feel rather than visible via c-scope, then it should be confirmed as to what's really going on visibly,

oh well, I'm sure we'll get lots of excuses during that video...

I nominate tournevice since it was her suggestion..lol.

q

Or maybe I should do it in February, when I'm big, giant pregnant. Because that'd be hot, yo.

To me they aren't a big deal. I still some nights don't retain them well but 90% of the time its all night. Right now I am again doing every night and after only two nights the mucous I was having is gone. Cakes&Ale I find running to the bathroom to only toot out mucous or being on pred and gaining 20 pounds again WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY more depressing then doing an enema. Or having to stay home from whatever event is going on because I'm in the bathroom every hour or whatever is more depressing. Your not there yet. Then you may change your mind. Good luck.