Working with Your Doctor
A better doctor visit
Do all your questions seem unimportant or embarrassing as soon as you get into the
examination room? Getting the most effective treatment for your ulcerative colitis
(UC) means making the most of your doctor visits. Preparing for your visit might
help you bring up even tough subjects with your doctor.
To your doctor, symptoms are just symptoms, but people with UC are often embarrassed
by their illness and reluctant to talk about it. This can cause a communication
gap between patient and doctor. A study of UC patients and doctors helps illustrate
just how patient perceptions differ from those of their physicians.
For example:
- Thirty-four percent of respondents said they were sometimes reluctant to tell their
doctor about flare-ups and 27 percent reported they discussed fewer than half of
their flare-ups with their doctors.
- UC patients reported they had an average of 5-8 flare-ups per year. Gastroenterologists
who participated in the survey said that three flare-ups per year were typical among
their patients.
- Only 21 percent of patients said they felt they had their UC completely or mostly
under control, while gastroenterologists reported they thought that number was closer
to 48 percent.
- While gastroenterologists believed that about 28 percent of patients felt living
with UC was a daily struggle, in reality, it's a whopping 61 percent as reported
by patients.
- Additionally, 84 percent of patients said they worry about the long-term health
effects of UC.
Doctors understand symptoms. Try these tips and conversation starters to make sure
you're effectively communicating your needs with your medical professional.
Write it down
- Make a list of your most important questions or concerns — especially those difficult-to-ask or embarrassing ones — and prioritize
them. Having your questions written down will make them easier to ask.
- Bring a list of all your medications and supplements, including vitamins, over-the-counter
remedies or prescriptions.
- Even if you're used to your symptoms and try to think of them as no big deal, your
doctor needs to know about them. It's common for UC sufferers to under-report their
symptoms, but telling your doctor about all of your symptoms is crucial to your
treatment plan.
- Bring your symptom tracker. This simple tool
will help you have a real picture of your condition to give your doctor everything
he or she needs to know about your symptoms.
- Bring a note pad and pen to take notes during your appointment.
Bring it up
- The answers you get depend on the questions you ask. Whether it's about your diagnosis,
prognosis, side effects, managing your symptoms or diet and exercise that might
affect your UC, your questions could hold the key to the most effective treatment
for you. For example, you might want to ask:
- Should I be concerned about the amount of medication that I'm taking to treat my
UC?
- Are there any medications that I can take just once a day that will continue to
provide relief throughout the day?
- Are there UC medications that I can take with or without food?
Review
- Repeat back to your doctor some of the key points from the visit. It will help you
both clarify things and make sure you haven't gotten confused.
Take action
- Make sure you understand what you should do when you leave the doctor's office —
such as talking your medication as prescribed. Even make a note of when you should
follow up with your doctor.
- Don't leave the office without a clear understanding of the potential side effects
of your medication and what warning signs you need to look out for. It'll just reassure
you.
Reference: Rubin DT, Siegel CA, Kane SV et al. Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Impact of Ulcerative Colitis from Patients’ and Physicians’ Perspectives:
Results from the UC: NORMAL Survey. 2008;00:000–000.