Page 60 - Harnett Life Winter 2020

How to Be an Effective

Partner in Your IBD Care

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(Family Features) A lifelong diagnosis like inflammatory bow- about these issues with a friend or family member before ap-
el disease (IBD) may feel overwhelming and confusing, but pointments and consider bringing a loved one to appointments
by working closely with your health care providers, you can for support.
work toward managing the disease and improving your quality
of life. Work with Your Health Care Team to Set Goals

Consider these recommendations from the Crohn’s & Colitis Goals, or targets, will be different for every patient based on
Foundation to partner with your health care team to manage the type of disease, severity, progression and a variety of oth-
your IBD. er factors. Finding the right IBD treatment can take time, so
it’s important to balance your present priorities. Start by tak-
Be Upfront About Your Symptoms ing an honest approach to your personal preferences regarding
medications. Consider if you have time in your schedule for
Being honest with your doctor about your symptoms is an lengthy infusions. Or perhaps you prefer administering self-
important first step in your journey with your IBD diagnosis. injections. You may have short-term goals, such as attending
Oftentimes, this starts by sharing exactly what you are expe- a family wedding in two months, as well as long-term goals
riencing on a daily or even weekly basis, such as frequency of related to the future course of your disease, like reducing IBD
bathroom visits, pain, blood in your stool or fatigue, so your inflammation and achieving remission, which is considered
health care team can gain a better understanding of how you mucosal healing. This process is often called “treat-to-target”
are feeling. One way to help ensure you’re managing your di- in the medical community and helps avoid complications and
agnosis properly is to keep a journal, which offers a simple minimizes long-term disease risks as much as possible.
way to track if symptoms have improved or worsened since
your last visit and help you remember questions that may arise. This goal-oriented approach to managing IBD is much like set-
If you find it difficult to discuss certain topics, practice talking ting a target and trying to hit the bullseye. It can’t be done by