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Sigmoidoscopy Friday - enemas as prep?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/30/2012 5:45 AM (GMT 0)
Fleets can be very irritating if one has inflammation; I think they're full of salt. Before a sigmoid polypectomy I had in early 1980s my doctor directed the nurse to give me so-called "high" enemas using just plain water. It took about 6 of them to get my mucosa squeaky clean-- where the fluid comes back out totally clear: ugh! And that was after a day on clear liquid diet ... I felt pretty drained by then so it was actually a relief to have the nurse administering them & dealing with the bottles, lube tube, etc. Did you find a new gastro, Sara, or is the WI doc going to do your flex-sig? / Old Hat (31 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 8/30/2012 1:23 PM (GMT 0)
The WI doc is doing my flex sig. I have a few recommendations on doctors in this area that I'll call when I get back. I was going to northeast Iowa this weekend for vacation anyway and my WI doctor said he could fit me in so it kind of worked out well.

I actually feel like I'm getting better now though, but I guess I'll still go ahead with the scope since I haven't had one in five years. I actually feel really good today so maybe the Rowasa was just taking a while to work this time around.
Posted 8/30/2012 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
It could just be the "bringing the car into the mechanic" phenomenon too though so you might as well go ahead with the scope! Good luck with it, hopefully it confirms that things are getting better.
Posted 8/30/2012 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
True. Thanks, Serenity Now! :)
Posted 9/2/2012 10:21 AM (GMT 0)
Let us know how you're doing. Hope you have a good weekend after all. / Old Hat (31 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 9/4/2012 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
Scope went well. Thanks for asking. A nurse administered the fleets but it wasn't bad. I actually felt completely better the day before and the day of my scope, but then symptoms came back Saturday night through Monday. Mostly just really bad urgency and then nothing really comes out when I try to go most the time. Doing pretty good today.

My doctor gave me hydrocort enemas and said to do them nightly for one month. How long does it usually take for the hydrocortisone enemas to work? I'm still on my 12 Asacol per day as well. I was too out of it from the anesthesia to remember to ask any questions about the extent of the inflammation but will call in a few days. I know it's higher than the rectum because otherwise he was going to give me Cortifoam, and I know it's not too bad because otherwise he was going to put me on pred. He did take biopsies but I don't have the results of those yet.

Posted 9/4/2012 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry, not sure where all I posted during my pseudo-drug induced state. Surgery went relatively well and the surgeon said my colon "definitely needed to come out." I just had the colectomy and end ileo thus far. Too sick/ too many steroids to start jpouch construction. I had moved on to liquid food but I'm partially obstructed now so I had to move back to a clear liquid diet.

Speaking of prep - this was probably the worst prep I've ever done. I had to do miralax with 64 oz of gatorade, then an hour later I took 4 dulcolax, and then two hours after that I had to take two really strong antibiotics (two doses two hours apart). The Miralax and dulcolax were definitely manageable. The antibiotics made me sooooo sick! I vomited numerous times. Not fun when you can't have anything else.
Posted 9/5/2012 5:14 AM (GMT 0)
Sara-- the hydrocort enemas usually work fast, like within 3 days you should feel better. If doc RXes a 1-month supply you should taper off during the final week. / Old Hat (31 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 9/5/2012 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I'm already feeling a lot better! Like better than Rowasa ever got me in the last 5 years. Should I taper to every other day the last week? He did give me one refill on the prescription. Do you think I should I go back to the Rowasa after these or just ask my doctor?

ActiveUCer - So happy your surgery went well! I've been thinking about you. Sorry the prep sucked though. That sounds pretty bad.

Posted 9/5/2012 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad you're feeling better! I think I'd use them nightly until you're 100% better, then maybe alternate nights with Rowasa, then maybe use Rowasa every other night for a while, then drop to twice weekly Rowasa.

But there are probably 1000 other options, too.
Posted 9/5/2012 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks. I kind of doubt I can drop to twice weekly Rowasa anymore because every time I tried to even do them every other day lately, my symptoms would come back. I don't know. I just feel my symptoms will just keep coming back and it's like I feel fine one day and then horrible the next so I really don't have much hope right now of ever feeling normal. And I'm really crabby because I hate Indiana and want to be back in Iowa.
Posted 9/5/2012 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
I see.

To be honest, I'd hate living in that area of Indiana, too. I don't mind short visits, as that's where my extended family (that I'm pretty close to) lives, but I'd probably go nutso living there. Now the Indy metro area, I could do for sure.
Posted 9/5/2012 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
It sucks. Hard.
Posted 9/5/2012 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
Are you in Bloomington, or ahead south of there? Would it be feasible to live in Bloomington? From what I've gathered about you, I think you'd enjoy the vibe in Bloomington more.

Or is it more of an issue of missing family and such?
Posted 9/5/2012 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
eh, Bloomington is allright. I live 25 miles south of Bloomington. Nothing in this state compares to where I used to live. Thanks for trying to help though. My job is virtual and I could probably move back to Iowa but my bf lives her so I don't know...
Posted 9/6/2012 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
RE hydrocort enemas: you should definitely taper at the end of use. The package insert will likely advise on that. I haven't used them for many moons, but the insert used to state that if you take them nightly for over 3 weeks, taper off by alternating nights. I personally would NOT alternate them with Rowasa. You'll likely do fine for a couple weeks after quitting the hydrocorts; the question then becomes whether you resume supplementing your Asacol with Rowasa, or quit it because it no longer works for you. That's something you can ask your doc about, but he may not have a flat-out answer. (I found out that it no longer worked for me after 14 yrs-- when it clearly made a flare worse. Then my gastro said to stop it immediately!) Another question is whether your big problem is now left-sided, or do you still have pancolitis. That would have a definite bearing on your medication. RE Indiana: you have my empathy there; I would hate it. Once you accumulate a respectable amount of experience on your job there, do you become eligible to transfer to another govt. post? That might be good to investigate since you need to hold on to your benefits. All best wishes!!!!! / Old Hat (31 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 9/6/2012 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info., as always, Old Hat! I put a call into my doctor this afternoon for instructions on tapering and re-starting Rowasa. I had pancolitis when first diagnosed but have not had inflammation throughout the whole colon since then. I've mostly just had mild rectal inflammation these past five years. Now it must go up to the left side though, but I will ask him that question when he calls me back. Re: my job, it's actually virtual so I can move pretty much anywhere and work from home as long as it's within an hour of a Forest Service office. I just have a boyfriend with a job here...that is really the only thing keeping me here at the moment. Thanks for all your advice, as always, it's much appreciated!!
Posted 9/6/2012 7:32 AM (GMT 0)
You're welcome! Wondering if you could benefit from Apriso-- since it works well for Fruitgirl, who also started out with pancolitis, I think. Maybe she'll weigh in on that ... / Old Hat (31 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 9/9/2012 11:55 AM (GMT 0)
Received a call back my my doctor on Friday. I had about 40 cm of "mild to moderate" inflammation extending up the left side, no further. I guess he had told me that after the scope but I just didn't remember because of the anesthesia. I kept asking the same questions over and over to the nurse and my boyfriend that night and had no recollection I had already said those things; it was pretty funny. My biopsies confirmed UC. Anyway, he said to do the hydrocort enemas for a month and that I didn't need to taper. I am going to taper though. I need to ask him if I should go back on Rowasa after that.
Posted 9/11/2012 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
So I have gained 10 pounds in a week. My stomach is super, super bloated and uncomfortable and I look like I'm pregnant. What the heck is going on? Could this be related to the hydrocort enemas or what?
Posted 9/11/2012 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
Gaining weight quickly sometimes happens when you are recovering from a weight-losing flare, but with the bloating that sounds like something else is going on. Are you not having any bms? Could it be a buildup of gas?
Posted 9/11/2012 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't lose any weight with my flare. I'm having BMS - 3-5 a day...my "norm" since getting UC. I think it was a ton of gas because the pain is gone now but I'm still super bloated...and fat (for me). I've never weighed this much in my life! I ate like 5 cups of swiss chard yesterday so maybe the gas was from that...lol.
Posted 9/11/2012 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
It's amazing how much pain gas can cause...! 5 cups of swiss chard... you must like the stuff, LOL.
Posted 9/11/2012 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, it's pretty yummy. :) And it was 5 cups raw...it shrinks a lot when cooked. :) Yeah, I felt like my tummy was going to burst open last night. I'd like to know why I gained 10 lbs though in one week...that is scary.
Posted 9/12/2012 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
Your body may retain more water while you're taking the steroid enemas. A lot of members watch their salt intake when on Rx steroid for that reason. / Old Hat (31 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
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