Some questions to ask your doctor about your condition

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease or colitis, chances are that you have lots of questions, as well as concerns about the future. The impact of these conditions varies enormously from person to person, and also within individuals over time.

In advance of meeting with your doctor, you may find it useful to have prepared a list of questions to ensure you get the information that’s most important to you.

You may wish to use the list below to assist you in preparing for this meeting:

• Do I have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis? What exactly is the difference? Is one worse than the other?

• Could anything other than Crohn’s or colitis be causing my symptoms?

• What medicines am I likely to be taking? Will I have to take steroids, and if so, are there bad side effects? What do I do if I experience bad side effects?

• Should I expect relief from my symptoms soon?



• What about alternative medicine, does this have anything to offer, or could it in fact interfere with my treatment?

• What parts of my digestive system are affected at this point? Is the damage permanent or can it be reversed?

• Am I likely to need surgery in the future?

• What aspects of my lifestyle are likely to change? Will I for example be able to go swimming, jogging etc.?

• What happens if my symptoms flare up again? Which symptoms should I get urgent medical assistance for? Is there any point in my going into A&E if my symptoms flare up again?

• Would you recommend that I take nutritional supplements or change my diet?

• What are the chances of my condition being stabilised and my being able to lead a fairly normal life? Can I have a normal life expectancy?

• How soon should I book in for a follow-up appointment?