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How do I use Rowasa??

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/9/2014 1:39 PM (GMT 0)
You started a great thread and glad you had a happy "ending" using an enema.

Many people who will never post and wanted to know about enemas will read this, now and in years to some, and it will help them get over their fears. Many doctors don't Rx enemas because their patients don't want to use them due to "ick" factor. Hope your thread gets the word out it ain't that bad.
Posted 12/9/2014 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad to hear it went well - I definitely thought you were letting it freak you out! Enemas really aren't a big deal!
Posted 12/9/2014 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for those positive posts!

One lingering question, though: the prescription says to administer twice daily for the first week. I tried doing that today, but couldn't hold it in past a few hours. Last night was fine, as I slept through the night but over the course of a given day, I'll eat/drink something, move around and whatnot that makes it very difficult to retain. Are there any tips on how to keep it in during the day? Is it even feasible?

I called my GI and he said if I can't keep it in, I could do Canasa during the day. I guess that works, though ideally I'd like to follow his exact prescribed order. If anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate it. Thanks again!
Posted 12/9/2014 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
if you can retain it for a couple of hours, you're doing well and receiving adequate benefit - some shoot that stuff out in 2 MINUTES !
Posted 12/9/2014 11:34 PM (GMT 0)

sfc425 said...
Last night was fine, as I slept through the night but over the course of a given day, I'll eat/drink something, move around and whatnot that makes it very difficult to retain. Are there any tips on how to keep it in during the day? Is it even feasable?

Yes, you can administer an enema during the day, and then go about your day as normal. I did that for a good long while, administered the enema around noon each day (as i knew I had completely evacuated my bowels by then). The key is you got to have all the liquid absorbed before getting up. I'd lay on my left side for 40 minutes, just to make sure. I found 20 minutes to be insufficient in an inflammed bowel. Afterwards, I've done cardio, weights whatever without issue. If you still have liquid still sloshing around down there you cannot retain it.

You can take the enema and then go to bed, much easier than during the day administration.
Posted 12/10/2014 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
What should I be looking for as far as results with the Rowasa? What should change?
Posted 12/10/2014 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Everything should start to feel better pretty soon. Less urgency. Less frequency. Less mucous. Less blood.
Posted 12/10/2014 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
I wasn't really feeling sick before the flex sig, though. I guess my frequency was high but beyond that I kinda felt fine.

I suppose I'll see if anything has changed by next week and assess the efficacy of this treatment for me then...
Posted 12/10/2014 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
Rowasa works fast especially when used nightly, within 3-4 days I see improvement. You should see at least some improvement of one or more of the following: less blood and mucus (if any before), decreased frequency, urgency, and/or better stool formation/consistency. I'd give them a week or two and then access.
Posted 12/10/2014 5:48 PM (GMT 0)

iPoop said...
Rowasa works fast especially when used nightly, within 3-4 days I see improvement. You should see at least some improvement of one or more of the following: less blood and mucus (if any before), decreased frequency, urgency, and/or better stool formation/consistency. I'd give them a week or two and then access.

I've now used it 2 nights and 2 days so far, with tonight on the docket. I did notice yesterday that I felt less urgency but the frequency today was no different than before. I had 4 BM within the first ~3 hours of waking up, and then I administered the Rowasa for the day. I wasn't really having issues with blood, mucous or formed BMs - probably because I was taking Canasa.

I was told to do this twice a day for a week, so I'll adhere to those guidelines and I guess see where I am after that. I'm glad to hear it can take 3-4 days, as that gives me hope that the best is still yet to come.

Honestly, right now I don't feel like the Rowasa is doing anything that the Canasa didn't do. But again, it's only 2 days in.
Posted 12/10/2014 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
Rowasa is 4 grams of meslamine per dose, whereas canasa is 1 gram per dosage. A lot stronger stuff in rowasa and it goes further in distance to.
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