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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/30/2007 2:13 PM (GMT -6)
I keep reading about rectal meds and how effective they are for certain people.  My only experience with them is with with Salofalk enemas.  I don't know if they work or not, since the longest I have been able to keep them in my body is about 10 minutes.  Then my colon said "time to get rid of this stuff!".  Can anyone tell me how they were able to overcome this problem.
Posted 8/30/2007 2:19 PM (GMT -6)
when I was first dx'd they gave me Rowasa and took me a few tries (did them at night) laid on my side and was able to keep in most of the night but it was awesome, really, since my uc affects the rectum it totally helped me.

I don't know why my doc would not give them to me for this flare (I am coming out of it) but I will demand it if I am still flaring in a couple of mos or get a new doc. I have just decided I am not going to put up with it. I want Rowasa!
Posted 8/30/2007 3:00 PM (GMT -6)
It gets easier over time. Once the inflammation lowers in your rectum, the easier it will become. If you can only hold them in for 10 minutes, the next night try your hardest for 15, the next 20 and so on. Try to resist the urge to expel them as long as you can.
Posted 8/30/2007 3:03 PM (GMT -6)
I used breathing excercises to help keep my mind off of it. I seem to be able to keep them in longer this way. But i agree, try to hold it a little more each time. It does get easier. Good luck!
Posted 8/30/2007 4:25 PM (GMT -6)
I do alot of kegals but besides that point, personally I've always had much more success with rectal foam meds like cortifoam compared to suppositories, at least the foam penatrates faster into the tissue and makes it further up as well...and it's always best to administer rectal meds when your bowel activity is at it's quietist, often easier said then done but with the right type of rectal meds it can be accomplished.

:)
Posted 8/30/2007 4:27 PM (GMT -6)
PBrown49..welcome to the forum!

How many Salofalk enemas have you used so far?

q
Posted 8/30/2007 5:54 PM (GMT -6)
I forgot to mention that it helps sometimes if you warm the bottle a little before dispensing. Try rolling it around in your hands for a few or run under warm (not hot) water.
Posted 8/31/2007 3:24 AM (GMT -6)
the easiest way to retain the enemas is to use gravity to help. Go upside down, or as close as you can (put your legs on the edge of your bed, and get on the floor), and inject that way... it will get past the ennervated region and you won't have that explosive, miserable urge to expel.
Posted 8/31/2007 6:49 AM (GMT -6)
Some really good hints up above. My husband holds them from 2 hrs to 4 hrs. Usually around 2 hrs due to gas requiring him to get up. By that time it appears most of it has absorbed and he definitely has improved with them.

I like the warming up part of it - I'll have to try that and see if it makes a difference.

He lays on his left side - I help administer - I let him insert while I support it due to the hemorrhoids and don't want to hurt him - when inserted I gently squeeze it in. It is such an awkward thing to do yourself so if you can have some assistance that may help.

If you have that tough a time then maybe that position might help in the beginning to try to get as much of it inserted and maybe it may stay in longer. Good luck - they do seem to help most people so try to stay with it.
Posted 9/2/2007 11:04 PM (GMT -6)
I squeeze out the air before I put it in.  The air always gets to me and makes me want to expel.  Also, if I am in a bad flare, I try to take my time squeezing it in(I usually just want to get it over with so I just squeeze it really fast), so you might want to try slowing it down a bit.  I do lay on my left side and once it is all in, I don't move a muscle until the urge to expel passes(usually only around a few min. for me now).  Good luck!  They do work wonders for me.  Though now I am on Asacol and haven't needed any for months.
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