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Canasa - Ulcerative Proctitis/Colitis

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/8/2015 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all -

First many thanks to all who suggested that I contact my doc to ask him to add Canasa... I had simply been "upped" to 4 Lialda's a day for about 2 weeks - and simply saw the blood increase.

It's a full week today that I've been on Canasa. I'm still seeing blood, but it's definitely reduced. Just curious how long in your experiences till it's gone. My doc had said to do this for 2 weeks and if I still see blood, to come in again - which I'm kind of anxious about.

Thanks again everyone - hope you're healing/feeling well
Jim
Posted 2/8/2015 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
It has taken longer than 2 weeks for me. The key here is whether you are continuing to see improvement, not whether all symptoms resolve within an arbitrary number of days. If improvement plateaus, then you probably need something more.
Posted 2/8/2015 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
Meslamine works pretty fast, a couple weeks sounds fine.
Posted 2/8/2015 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
I would also consider using it 2x a day before moving on to anything else. I usually keep taking it and don't stop after 2 weeks. It's fine for long term use and unless you're 100% stable, taping off canasa is probably not necessary. if you're going to do it, I would go to every other night, then every third night. If you're 100% stable, you may be able to just use the oral Asacol to stay in remission, if not, keep using the canasa a few times a week.
Posted 2/8/2015 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
I'd suggest the mesalamine enemas 4g dosage sooner than later.

In the meantime, the Canasa could be used up to 3x daily, but if your prescription doesn't state that, it might be difficult for you go get refills (as per the pharmacy "rules").

While mesalamine can show improvement fairly soon, it doesn't mean it will completely deal with your flare in a specified time period.

You're not on a high enough dosage of rectal meds.

What exactly is the extent of your proctitis (inches or cms)....and do you have any inflammation in the rest of your colon?

q
Posted 2/8/2015 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for your feedback

Notsosickly and quincy -
Thanks for your suggestions - just to re-iterate, I had been on 4 lialda a day for what will be a month this Tuesday. Only been on the Canasa (1 a day at bedtime) a week today. I still see blood, but definitely less than it was and usually just the first bowel movement of the day -(as opposed to everytime - and the frequency is down to usually just in the morning now too which was my regular routine when I was in remission for 2 years)

Still just getting adjusted to dealing with a major flare. When I had a minor flare two years ago, the 4 lialda a day kind of ended it pretty quickly. This one the lialda seemed to do nothing which really got me anxious. (That's really not true, since the stomach cramps/pains definitely subsided - it just was that the bleeding got worse rather then better) The canasa seemed to help after one dose. I guess I was hoping that by now it would've stopped completely.

Never imagined I'd be looking at going to the bathroom and my TP like I'm looking at a lotto ticket to see if I won!
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