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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/4/2016 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
I'm trying to figure out if I have a sensitivity to rowasa. I need to get off steroid enemas.

What does the rowasa do to you in the morning? Meaning what's your first/second bm like after using it? Is the enema absorbed? Do you pass some of the liquid first? Is that normal??
Posted 6/4/2016 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Ok, here are my thoughts and my experience with sfRowasa:
- you could be sensitive to the sulfites that are used as a preservative in regular rowasa.
-the morning after i use sf rowasa I usually have much smushier poop that is covered at first in the rowasa (the sf is white).
-I usually have to go twice after using the enema instead of once, and I have a little bit more urgency some of the time.
-sometimes I feel a bit more irritated the next day, but this might be because of going more than on off days.
-lastly, I find that sfRowasa is harder to retain than steroid enemas. I get some serious cramping most of the time with rowasa for a minute or so after I use it and I almost never experience that with the steroid ones.

I hope this helps you!
Posted 6/4/2016 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
I've taken rowasa at bedtime and at noontime. If you lay on your left side for 20-40 minutes then most of the liquid is absorbed. There's always some liquid that isn't, but less liquid is left when you lay on your side longer. I find that the rectum is pretty poor at absorbing liquid, if you stand up it pools there. Tge sigmoid colon and higher is pretty good at absorbing.

Your first bm is often accompanied by a little white or tam colored liquid. Your bm might be a little looser and a little more urgent than usual. It's only 60ml of liquid total, so it shouldn't really cause diarrhea unless you have an intolerance of mesalamine or sulfates.
Posted 6/4/2016 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe I've been misreading how rowasa works compared to the steroid enemas. I need off the steroids. Maybe I'll give rowasa another shot.

How long do you guys suggest for a trial run on symptoms and if they are being effective?
Posted 6/5/2016 10:42 AM (GMT 0)
I would say at least a week or two. For now, start alternating rowasa and steroid enemas, then increase to 2 nights of rowasa for 1 night of steroids until you are off the steroid ones. It took me two weeks of every other day with the steroid ones and 2 weeks of every third day before I felt OK switching to only rowasa.
Posted 6/5/2016 12:05 PM (GMT 0)
I'd give rowasa at least 2 weeks. Pretty fast working, if they're going to do something.
Posted 6/5/2016 5:12 PM (GMT 0)

TotesMagotes said...
I'm trying to figure out if I have a sensitivity to rowasa. I need to get off steroid enemas.

What does the rowasa do to you in the morning? Meaning what's your first/second bm like after using it? Is the enema absorbed? Do you pass some of the liquid first? Is that normal??


Can be softer or even mush depending on what/how much fibreous foods I eat the day before...yes, sometimes it's the enema first (is that the liquid you are talking about?), because that's what's in the rectum first.
Second bm will have enema through it...normal.

When I'm flaring, i will have rectal discomfort and a different urgency than when jot flaring.

What's the schedule of steroid enemas with rowasa at this point and for how long?
q
Posted 6/6/2016 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Quincy. I've definitely been reading the side effects from the rowasa wrong.

I've been given a script for Uceris foam. It goes 40 cm up. And the steroid enemas don't go up that far. At least for me. My 10 cm of inflammation is between 15 and 25 so this should hit it no problem.

I'm going to give the Uceris foam a week to get off the steroid enemas and then see if I can switch directly to rowasa. If there are issues I'll rotate between the two nightly. Then stay on rowasa until my symptoms are gone then hopefully taper.

Guess time will tell. I think the foam goes higher than both the steroid and rowasa enemas? Do you know how far they are supposed to go?
Posted 6/6/2016 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
FWIW: hydrocortisone enemas are the most effective medication I have taken in four years of UC. Mesalamine enemas did not help at all. So Rowasa may not help in getting off steroids.
Posted 6/6/2016 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Casey. At this point it's not even about my symptoms. They just aren't reaching my inflammation per my scope and flex sigs. So I'm trying to get off to not be on steroids. I'm hoping the rowasa and remicade will keep it from spreading.

It's been a year of the exact same inflammation in the exact same spot so the remicade has healed everything but a 4 inch insanely stubborn patch. Arrrrrgghhhh.
Posted 6/7/2016 4:17 AM (GMT 0)
FWIW: hydrocortisone enemas are the most effective medication I have taken in four years of UC. Mesalamine enemas did not help at all. So Rowasa may not help in getting off steroids.
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