Walking the tightrope & Rowasa question

If I take enough Lialda to supress the symptoms I get chest tightness that is hard to live with. (I know this is weird and I am seeking a second opinion.) Thinking comfortable breathing is highest priority I decrease the Lialda until the amount of blood inspires me to increase those pills from 1 or 2 up to 3 or 4 per day. Then it all starts over.

Never thought I would be popping the champagne cork over this one, but I saw the GI a month early and have a prescription for Rowasa. Yay? I have been reading all the threads that give advice on how to use. What is the reason for lying on your left side? The GI says it does not matter! Wish me luck--I have never had cramps that go away with time, deep breathing or whatever. The GI says to use every day, and some people use Rowasa twice a day. Is that right? I was hoping for less often.

I am not asking for much. I would just like to take a 2-day road trip in August, attend a baseball game and stay off of pred.

From the rectum, your colon runs up the left side of your body before making the turn across the top of your torso, so if you lay on your left side, it reaches higher up in the colon, as gravity isn't working against it so much. The instructions say to not get up for 15 minutes or whatever, but my GI said it was fine to get up, wash my hands, and hop into bed. My guess is that it spreads back out when you lie back down.

Argh, that makes sense!

Thanks fruitgirl - and thanks naturalcurl for asking

You should see minor improvement within a week or so. Healing is a progressive thing, can be kind of confusing.

The longest I was on nightly enemas was 4 months.

You do have to taper, that's another process...

Where in the colon is your UC...throughout or limited?

how often have you been on pred?

q

Hi..yay, another user! lol
yes, the proactive aspect is given from the doc to you...especially when on the rectal meds. Some arrogant doctors don't allow it...you have to make sure the refills are available and ask the doc how often he requests to see you, etc. It's a relationship of trust as well...not only desperation and problem solver. That's freedom to me...

The first year and just into the second, I was at the GI's office a LOT...eventually, he realised I'd be a med-lifer, I know when I'm flaring, and to up the meds accordingly, then to taper to maintenance.
I tried many types of tapers, and eventually realised that the "butt rules" and will respond accordingly. Can't hurry a flare or healing...sigh.

It takes time...I'm still learning after 23+ years, but my doc will retire some day...hope the next one is equally supportive.
q