Rowasa enemas causing constipation - laxatives?

Mark, I just wait it out and try to eat fiber (I don't take supplements though many with UC do). Drink lots of water and exercise. I know you asked about laxatives and stool softeners, but I thought I'd stick my 2 cents in here just in case.

It's part of the healing process and that indirectly would be from the enemas. As your inflammation lessens, it will improve.

I would suggest you start a fibre supplement, but a lower dosage to help bulk the stool.

I did use Docusate years ago, and they helped a lot, but you should make sure you're eating enough foods to begin with combined with the above suggestions.

How is your diet normally at this point?

q

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

My diet for the last several days has been very high in fiber (lots of raw veggies and salads), but it doesn't seem to be helping a whole lot. Part of me wonders if it's good to be constipated - maybe it gives the inflammation down low more time off to heal? At the same time, it's concerning to barely go for days at a time and I feel bloated.

I'll try the spinach trick with coffee. If this continues, is there any risk in using docusate with mesalazine? Seems like I read somewhere that certain laxatives can be dangerous while you're taking it.

No, it's not good to be constipated....it's part of having UC that many miss regarding those symptoms.

As imagardner stated, the colon/rectum signals are miscommunicating...like saying I'm having a hard time here..please hold back. The only problem with this is that if you have IBS as well, that can encourage those symptoms and you won't take action thinking it's good for healing.

The colon can get very, very lazy...you need to make sure you're keeping on track. If your stools are harder, you need to soften them up.

My doctor prescribed the docusate for me, so I wouldn't suspect any problem there...I wouldn't hesitate to take it if I needed, but since using the fibre supplements, I've not had a problem. My eating habits have changed a lot since those early years of flaring and healing.

Are you eating balanced as in meat, carbs, grain fibres?

Oh, honey is also a stool softener, mild laxative...you might consider that on toast or in coffee.

Hang tough...try not to create a knee-jerk reaction to this. But do recognise these symptoms, for they will probably be the beginning symptoms of your next flare. That's the time to start treating nightly again.

Oh, and don't stop the enemas abruptly, do taper following a schedule (your butt will supply nicely for you), and intend to use the enemas for maintenance maybe twice a week.

q

don't unnecessarily blame the meds is the point I'm trying to make..and try to get the colon working in a more balanced fashion. 

The different reactions from the colon should encourage some changes in meds.

Forgot to add when I was more constipated...or more formed harder stools with only lower rectal inflammation...I increased my vitamin C. Looser was much easier to go through the chute.

q