Advice please on rectal steroids?

[Lizzie]

I'm having a nasty UC flare at the moment and went to a walk-in clinic today, where the doctor prescribed codeine. The relief from pain and diarrhoea is fantastic.

The doctor also offered me rectal steroid enemas, which I've never used before. However, I am going to wait a couple of weeks till I see my regular GI consultant at the hospital. I've just been googling rectal steroids and I see there are three types - enemas, sprays and suppositories. Enemas sound horribly messy! Could anybody tell me about their experiences with rectal steroids, in particular how difficult to use and how messy? Thanks a lot.

 

[Lizzie]

Could anybody tell me how long it takes before rectal steroids start to help? I've been using Prednisolene for five days now and the diarrhoea is still appalling (I spoke too soon about the codeine, it made me feel very sick and I had to stop taking it almost immediately). I am feeling a bit desperate, I've had three weeks of uncontrollable diarrhoea. I'd be really grateful for a reply.

 

[DJW]

Hi Lizzie,
I'm sorry you're not getting any results. I have no eexperience with it.
My assumption would be 5 days should be enough time to see some improvement... But I'm no expert.

Sending you my support.

 

[Lizzie]

Thanks. It's been seven days now and I don't feel there's much progress. Still, another week to go.

 

[Carrie]

Hi Lizzie, I started hydrocortisone enemas last week, and I saw results in two days, albeit, I don't think my disease or inflammation is super terrible. I had to stop them for now because the steroids were giving me terrible side effects.

 

[Lizzie]

Thanks for the reply, Carrie. I'm on day 12 now and I'm seeing some improvement, I have managed to go five hours and then seven hours through the night without needing the toilet, so I'm feeling better in myself because I'm getting some rest and I'm less dehydrated. I'm probably only going about ten times a day right now, so I'm going to persevere with the treatment (but counting the days till I see my specialist next week).

I was really worried about possible side-effects but so far I'm not experiencing many, maybe slightly blurred vision but that's all. What were your side-effects that made you give up? And by the way, did you find them really uncomfortable to administer - I do!