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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/16/2013 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
I saw the doc again today...he wanted to put me on 6MPs but when I asked about Enemas he said that's a better option IF I was willing to do them....so I got a mesalamine enema.

I'm pretty nervous about administering it....toilet paper is pretty much the only thing I've ever stuck up there.

I'm pretty anxious to start them because I want to get some relief from this flare already....so I'll probably start tonight if I can get myself to do it. Without exposing the forum to gruesome details...any tips for me? :)
Posted 7/16/2013 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
Relax
Posted 7/16/2013 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
i find they are easier to retain if i warm them up a little bit first (even holding it in your hand for a while so it absorbs the body heat).
also try lubing it up with some vaseline to make it easier on your tush!
Posted 7/16/2013 3:27 AM (GMT 0)
I use organic coconut oil as a lubricant.. Anti fungal,Anti viral, Anti bacterial
Posted 7/16/2013 5:27 AM (GMT 0)
you can also use a little nupercanal ointment at first, but truly relaxing is best

if you experience any irritation or increased bleeding, consider the sulfate free enema formula
Posted 7/16/2013 10:01 AM (GMT 0)
Expel any air in the container before taking the enema.
Posted 7/16/2013 12:18 PM (GMT 0)
Ditto Petah as to the "relax." Enemas are really as only as big of a deal as you make them.
Posted 7/16/2013 12:22 PM (GMT 0)
The first and foremost thing with enemas is don't get discouraged and give up. It is going to take some practice before you get good at it. It might take a couple weeks.

1.) As others have said, heat the enema to your body temperature for best results. You can put it in a pocket for a while or under an armpit until it warms up.
2.) Squeeze all of the air out of the enema. As, if you inject air up your bum then it is going to be very uncomfortable to retain the enema.
3.) Administer the enema near a toilet. I say near a toilet, because they can come up unexpectedly (you may not be able to hold it long), especially when you are first doing this.
4.) Inject the enema slowly and steadily. If you inject the enema too quickly it is going to be uncomfortable.
5.) I recommend injecting half the bottle at first as it is easier to retain. If you cannot hold it long, then you can try the remainder of the bottle.
6.) You are going to feel an urge to expel the enema, ignore that urge, and it should go away with in a couple minutes time.

Ideally, you should hold the enema throughout the whole night. Although that isn't possible sometimes, either due to lots of inflammation, or the frequency of your bms. As long as you hold it for a couple hours then you are getting some benefit from it.
Posted 7/16/2013 12:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hey thanks guys! I actually did it... I did heat it up a little by just leaving a bottle on the bathroom while I showered and did the enema after. If sucked at first but wasn't TOO bad, I wish I got the release the air first tips last night, but I'll do that tonight. I kind of found it hard to figure out when there wasn't any liquid (or whatever it is in there) left in the bottle so I ended up trying to hulk squeeze what probably was an already empty bottle...
Posted 7/16/2013 12:39 PM (GMT 0)
awesome hater - give that bottle a good ole ufc beatdown !
Posted 7/20/2013 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
Question for you guys...typically how long before mesalamine enemas kick in? My bleeding seems to have improved quite a bit but I still have urgency and I still go a lot during the day. Yesterday was really bad, but the day before was great (only 6 times or so). I did cheat on my diet on thursday so that might have had something to do with it maybe.

Just wondering if the enemas work how long before urgency and frequency improves, especially if bleeding is already improving (I think)?
Posted 7/20/2013 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hey UChater whats your diet look like currently just curious, it seems im going through the exact same thing you are, with my first enema every tonight ugggg
Posted 7/20/2013 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
I'm following (trying to follow) the SCD diet. I've been pretty good about it, but it's tough. We have to make dinner every night at home, and usually a variation of that dinner is what I have for lunch the following day. Mainly just proteins....chicken/fish/meat/etc...I'm really missing bread so I think today we're going to try to make some bread from almond flour...see how that works out.

The enema sucks at first....It took me a long time to build up the nerve to administer it to myself the first two nights...and you have to go to bed right after, if you start walking around you'll end up running to the bathroom. I'm on my 5th night now I think and I've gotten better but I still don't look forward to it. :)
Posted 7/20/2013 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
"I'm on my 5th night now I think and I've gotten better but I still don't look forward to it. :)"


good thing - if you did look forward to it, some folks might think you a little strange :-)
Posted 7/20/2013 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
No one looks forward to using them..lol...but they will turn into your very best friend over the years.

You should relax your expectations, however. The med is "kicking in" already since you see improvement. If you mean marked improvement or quiescence of symptoms...could take weeks to months.

Basically, here's the ditty.......your butt rules the show. Depends on how bad the flare is, how much inflammation you have and how you heal. Just because the bleeding is gone, it doesn't mean you're still not flaring.....so choose to use them and let them do their thing. Patience is what you'll need. The fact that they're already helping is good....remember the symptoms as you improve, for they will change and possibly become confusing.
There's a tapering process that I strongly suggest...and don't plan to go off them completely...taper to a maintenance dosage.

Hang tough...congratulations on using them!

Keep us posted.
q
Posted 7/20/2013 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
The urgency is always the last to go. You've seen improvement so keep it up!!
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