10 Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Ulcerative Colitis

UC and Crohn’s disease both belong to the larger umbrella of IBD. However, treatment protocols may differ between the conditions, so it is important toget an accurate diagnosis— especially if your symptoms are not resolving with your current treatment.

People with UC will likely need testing to confirm their diagnosis, check their overall health status, and develop a treatment plan. Some tests you might want to ask your doctor about include stool testing and blood work. In most instances, physicians will need to biopsy the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to get an initial diagnosis and establish the severity of inflammation, according to theCrohn's and Colitis Foundation. Be sure to ask how frequently testing needs to be repeated as well.

Treatment options can vary from person to person with UC and often depend on the severity of symptoms, other treatments you’ve tried, and additional health concerns. Medications like biologics, corticosteroids, aminosalicytes and even surgery may bepart of your treatmentfor UC.

It’s important to discuss your medication with your physician. Things like generic options, side effects, how long the medication takes to work, and whether the medication conflicts with any of your current prescription or over-the-counter medications are all important to know. Your physician and pharmacist can be excellent resources to get these questions adequately answered.

Many people who have UC also have other health conditions to consider. Some can be related to UC. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH),UC symptoms beyond the gastrointestinal tractcan include fatigue, joint pain or soreness, eye irritation, rashes, and anemia. Additional health problems that are not related to UC must be discussed with your physician to ensure that there are no medication interactions and to properly treat each condition.

We know thatdiet is unlikely to be the cause of UC, but some changes may be needed during flare-ups and to improve overall health. Talk with your physician about specificdiet changesyou may need to make, and consider asking for areferral to a dietitianfor additional resources.

Family practice physicians or primary care physicians (PCP) can be excellent in managing mild cases of UC. However, most people willneed to see a specialist, typically a gastroenterologist (GI), if their symptoms are severe, if there is a question about the diagnosis, to receive specialized testing, or to make medication decisions that your PCP is uncomfortable making. Do not be afraid to ask for a referral to a specialist if you have any concerns about your UC that are not being addressed.

Listen — it can be hard to ask your doctor if their initial approach is best, but knowledge of other approaches can help you determine what will work with your lifestyle. A good specialist will be able to address any of those concerns, and should they be unwilling to do so, there is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion.

There can be emergencies involved with UC. Talk with your physician about what symptoms should warrant a visit to the emergency department and when it's OK to wait and be seen in their office. Be sure to ask about who to contact after hours or on holidays because emergencies are rarely convenient.

Sometimes it can be hard to get enough time to ask the questions you need to ask about your UC. Calling ahead to let them know you have a few additional questions when scheduling an appointment can help the doctor’s office allow for enough time during your appointment. Be sure to write your questions down and take notes so that you can remember the answers clearly. If you are too sick to ask these things yourself, bring someone with you who can be in charge of getting the answers you need.