question about salofalk supp. - Bowel Disorders Message Board

CD1234 · 01-11-2005, 12:41 PM

Hi, can somebody explain to me how to properly take the salofalk supoositories? I tried for the first time last night but I'm not sure if im doing it right?

How far deep do you have to push it? I kept pushing it in, but if i removed my finger it would slip back out.

Can someone that has taken this explain to me the proper methods?

thanks

quincy · 01-12-2005, 02:29 PM

Hi,

The suppositories should be placed in with you either laying on your left side, with your butt in the air, or while you're sitting on the toilet.

You don't have to really push them up that far. But, if it consistently slips back out, you might try squeezing your sphincter muscle tight just when you're taking your finger out.

Are you using them at night or during the day?

Do you have UC? If so, what other meds are you on?

quincy

CD1234 · 01-12-2005, 05:56 PM

hi quincy thanks for responding and shedding some light to this for me.

from what i understand i just push it in and then hold there by tightening up my 'butt cheeks', right? thats good, cause i did not like the idea of having to stick it even deeper there it already was ...

its at night only (2 of them)...

I was 'diagnosed' with UC about 3 months ago...i have bizarre symptoms i guess. i have failry consistent blood in my stools (but far less then before since I've changed my diet). now ill have blood about 1 in every three bowel movements and usually have 1-2 bowel movements / day. when the stools are hard i'll have blood, when the stools are soft there is no blood.

I take a probiotic everyday (Bio-K). it helps to keep my stools soft. I also take aloe vera juice once to twice / day. In addition i take 125ml of organic yogurt mixed with two teaspoons of flax seed oil every day.

i stay away from liquor, booze, and fried food. i avoid wheat as much as possible and sugar only on special occassions. I'll keep my body fluid with as much water or juice, and when im not lazy ill juice vegetables.

I have no stomach pains what so ever, i never had diarrhea at all, gas is regular (some of 'healthy' freinds let out way more gas then i do). so the only major symtom is blood. The colonscopy showed an inflamation of the colon (they said the intenstine was clean).

I've seen a natu***th and she is conviced we can get rid of the UC with a detoxification. I beleive so too, with my own logical diet plan i've seen tremendous improvement, but i do still have blood on occasion, and that does bother me emotionally, i guess in the back of my mind when i see the blood i keep thinking im a high risk of potentially getting something much worse than UC....

Do you have UC also? What have you done to treat yourself and the symptoms?

quincy · 01-12-2005, 11:18 PM

Hi,

No wonder it's slipping back out...two? Yeah...I'd tighten those butt cheeks really hard for sure. I've only used one at a time, not two.

You won't get rid of UC through a naturopath. Aloe vera juice is contraindicative (it's a laxative) and there's no proof it works on UC. If it did, the pharmacutical companies would be all over it. To me...it's a waste of money..but that's only my opinion. It won't hurt you unless you're allergic to it.

if you still have blood on occasion...you're still flaring, but flares can last a while.

UC isn't just a colon disease....it's an autoimmune disease that can affect other organs in conjunction with it.

Yes, cancer is higher in UC patients past the 10 year mark...that's why having regular colonoscopies is a must. Cancer is higher in UC patients who have more of their colon involved than with distal (lower portion) UC. There are always exceptions.

It's great you have no diarrhea...that shows it's just in the rectum.

5ASA meds are still the best treatments for UC. They treat as well as help to keep inflammation down. I would suggest you try the Salofalk retention enema rather than the suppositories. Don't you find they leak???? I used them for a while, but refuse to use them now.

I was diagnosed 16 years ago with UC (rectum/sigmoid). I had explosive bloody razor-like diarrhea 15 times a day. Finally....got diagnosed and was put on 5ASA (Asacol 6 daily and Salofalk retention enemas..at this time nightly and will start tapering to a maintenance).

I take a probiotic...in the process of trying a few different ones. I'll check into the one you're taking. I also take vitamins and an Omega 3 (hempseed oil). The carob covering of the capsules are definitely giving me gas tho. I do get gas from foods...and eat them according to my activities and want of comfort level.

I don't really avoid any foods, other than ones that have always bothered me such as high fibre foods, raw veggies such as broccoli..etc. fried foods, alcohol...
I love chocolate and sometimes overdo on sweets. I also drink coffee with milk.

Food symptoms aren't flare symptoms nor will food cause flares.

My suggestion is to really get to know your symptoms and understand that you can control them well with 5ASA.

STAY AWAY from prednisone and only use it as a very last resort....VERY last resort!!

Consider the retention enemas...they come in 2000mg and a 4000mg dosages (suppositories are 500mg each) The enemas treat all of the rectum and beyond up into the sigmoid. The reason I'm suggesting them is because UC spreads upward. If the medication isn't reaching all of the inflammed area..it will still be flaring.

Suppositories are great for maintenance...but I wouldn't suggest them for a treatment.

Something for you to consider when you talk with your doc.

Use your "gut instinct" with the naturopath. Be cautious, because there have been some who only went naturopath and ended up with pancolitis where they only had proctitis when they started. A big risk from my perspective. The red flag to me is when someone claims to know how to get rid of something that has no known cure aside from surgery.

Just be reallly smart about UC and do a lot of research. Know your symptoms. Take care of yourself mentally and physically. It's lifelong and flares happen throughout your life...or only a few times.

My UC hasn't spread at all...as a matter of fact I only flare in the rectum as of many, many years. I haven't bled in 13 years during any of my flares.
I do find that stress triggers flares...but it's usually the calm after the storm and when I'm on maintenance meds.

It seems you're on the right path tho. I congratulate you for using your meds, and for looking after yourself physically. It sounds as though your mental state is in the right place.

You do have other forms of 5ASA options to try as well if you're not getting your flare controlled. Make sure they're tapered properly once your flare symptoms lessen. I can explain that to you at another time (don't want your eyeballs to fall out).

I hope you get over your flare soon!

Be well

quincy

CD1234 · 01-14-2005, 08:11 AM

Hi quincy.

Hope all is well.

I think you misunderstood, when I said "I take two" I did not mean two at a time! lolll couldnt imagine putting two at a time!

For the aloe, i take it because it's good for my blood type. I try to diet based on foods that are beneficial for my blood type (you can check out charts of these foods on the Internet if you're interested). I find that staying away from the Avoid foods helps me. Even though there isn't enough sceitific data to backup the blood type theory in practice it works very well (for me at least, but the human body is soo complex that everyone is different and reacts to things in different ways).

you right about the autoimmune diease. my liver and kidneys are weak too. my immune system as a whole is 'weak'. I've read about Transfer Factor (and that it boosts the immune system) have you every heard of it, or even tried it or know people that have tried it? Does it work?

Sorry if this sounds stupid, but what is 5ASA? Im guessing it's a medication, right?

I take omega 3's too everyday. i dont ebelive they give me any extra gas then i already have? i do know that when I eat prunes ..stay away!

Ill ask my doctor about the enema instead, it sounds like its more viable for what I have too...

Just to be sure, how do you know when you're having a flare? I have blood from time to time does that mean Im flaring?

I guess im still confused and 'new' at UC...

question for you? do you find you get tired 'quickly'? meaning, ur endurance is just not 'all' there. I find i cant play sports as well..my ednurance is low...and it sucks cause sports i used to be good at i can barely compete anymore cause im just too tired to move!

also, have u ever got any skin rashes? ive had a chronix 'rash' on a small patch of skin that just wont leave! cortozone gets rid of it (but so does polysporin) and then it just comes back after a month or so...the longer it ever left is when i did a serious detox (fasting). during the detox my rash left and was gone for over 2 months. then when i started eating 'regular' stuff again the rash has come back as regular as it was before the detox.

ST