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Colocort Enema

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/13/2015 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
After the forums recommendation, I called my doctor today to send a prescription through for a steroid enema. Colocort enema is the one that they decided. I have bathroom urgencies all day along with constipation and abdominal pain, should this enema help and how is it best used? Waiting for my mother to pick it up still. Thanks for your help
Posted 7/13/2015 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
I used them at night, I found that was when my urgency was least present. After about 10 days of using them for the first time my urgency was almost gone. I hope they help, they were a lifesaver for me.
Posted 7/13/2015 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
Any side effects? First time enema user
Posted 7/13/2015 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
My body is very sensitive to steroids so I got night sweats after the first few days and started to experience hair loss (not severe, just enough for me to notice) after 2 months. Once I stopped them the side effects went away pretty quickly. I am so glad I used them, I felt so much better pretty quickly and it was nice to feel like myself again. I hope they help you as well.
Make sure you squeeze out the air in the bottle before you use them. I also let the bottle sit in a cup of warm water to bring the enema up to body temp before I used it. This makes it easier to retain it for me.
Posted 7/13/2015 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
I have used a steriod suppository and had no side effects. Best to do them at night when you can hopefully retain it all night.
Posted 7/13/2015 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
It took foam steroid enemas a week or so before I saw any change
These may work quicker but I don't know
Good luck and feel better
Posted 7/14/2015 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
If you're not sensitive to steroids, you shouldn't have any side effects. Approximately 5-8mgs of steroid actually enter your blood stream. If taken short term, the usual course is 6-8 weeks sometimes with a taper, then you shouldn't have any issues. I was on them for a year and I started getting the insomnia, jitters, moon face etc associated with steroids and since then I am very sensitive now to all types of steroids.
Posted 7/15/2015 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
I've had results from those enemas within days. They can work miracles.

Agree with the tips above and also suggest lubricating the tip with petroleum jelly (even it already has lubricant on them) and find the position that works best for you to get the enema in. For example, I was never able to do an enema lying on my side. Once I read that someone on HW did them standing up, I tried it and now it's so easy for me.

You can search this site for more suggestions.

Let us know how it goes and if they help.
Posted 7/15/2015 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
I just tried my first one. I laid on my side in the bathroom and kept it in for an hour while watching Netflix on my phone for a distraction. Is an hour long enough? With my urgencies, keeping it in all night isn't possible
Posted 7/15/2015 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
Great! An hour while flaring is really good, especially considering it was the first time.

Your body will definitely get benefits from the hour.

Tomorrow, you might try half a bottle, wait 30 min., then do the rest of the bottle and see if that helps you retain it longer.

The one you did tonight might make tomorrow's easier by reducing the inflammation.

I know what you're saying about Netflix in the bathroom!. My first bad flare was before I had a tablet or Netflix and I don't know how I survived without it. Second flare wasn't fun but the consolation prize was that I got to watch every episode of West Wing. 😀
Posted 7/15/2015 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
So how did you do? I would suggest you do it in bed, however, rather than kn the bathroom floor. Have a garbage bag next to the bed, kleenex to wipe your butt after insertion, and a disinfecting cloth for your hands afterward. Relax and hopefully retention won't be a problem....and you'll start to see some improvement in a few days to a week.

Keep us posted.
q
Posted 7/15/2015 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
Held it in for an hour yesterday. No difference today is noticed as I didn't expect, hopefully by the end of the week I see improvement. My current symptoms prior to the medicine are all day urgencies with a little blood, only little liquid coming out, gas, mucus and constipation, cramping, extreme fatigue, increased heart rate, night swears, weight loss and loss of sleep due to bathroom runs. Quite a list but I'm hoping between the remicade, the enema and the entocort I can see relief soon. It's been a month of symptoms with no improvement but I just started the enema and this Saturday is my second remicade infusion so hopefully I start seeing these symptoms lessen.

Ill keep you guys updated.
Posted 7/15/2015 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
It's a good plan. Please ask your doc for an antispasmodic...low dosage to start. I have only used dicyclomine...started with 10mg....eventually upped it to 20mg.

thanks for the update,
q
Posted 7/16/2015 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
Update:
Last night could only hold the enema in for 15 minutes, I tried longer but it just wouldn't happen. Today is similar to the days prior to medication. I'll update more throughout the week
Posted 7/17/2015 6:28 PM (GMT 0)
When you use the enema, are you still on the bathroom floor? or doing it in bed?

After you do it, clench your butt sphincter, but relax as best you can to get past the urgency feelings. I used to groan through it...lol.

Ask your doc for antispasmodic or...there is one over the counter called Buscopan which many here use. I use Dicyclomine (Bentylol in Canada, Bentyl in US).

q
Posted 7/17/2015 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
I've been doing it in bed now. Last night I held it in for 25 minutes which was tough as it is. Hopefully I can still notice a difference at these numbers; 1hr 15min 25min. No difference today with the enemas yet.
Posted 7/19/2015 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
No improvement yet on day 5. Do you guys usually get the whole enema tip in, it's a couple inches at least? I can only get enough of the tip in to squeeze the liquid inside, just a tip of the tip. I wonder if this makes a difference.
Posted 7/19/2015 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
My goal is to get the whole tip in. I add a bit of extra lubricant to the tip to make it easier. Ideally you want to get the whole tip in and aim it towards your belly button.
Posted 7/19/2015 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
I also put the whole tip in. Agree with mom2boys to add more lubricant (I use a qtip to apply a ton of petroleum jelly) and aim at the belly button. Also, try blowing out when you're inserting it to relax the muscles back there.

I couldn't get them in correctly until I tried while standing up.

Have you tried doing half, or less, and waiting 10-15 minutes, then doing the rest? Even if you do the second half after you've expelled the first half, you might be able to hold it longer after the second try.
Posted 7/19/2015 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
Yesterday I held it in for an hour, still no sign of any improvement though. What's the first improvement you notice with these enemas typically?
Posted 7/19/2015 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not an enema expert, never actually done one, but is it possible to just practice with the tip several times without having the actual enema fully attached and functional? Of course you don't want to go to the ER by losing the tip only, just wondering if it was possible to practice before the main event.
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