You and
Your Doctor:
A Dynamic Team

Patient discussing treatment options with her doctor

Partnering with your doctor is crucial to your treatment plan.

Your doctor and care team are there to help you manage your condition. And your relationship with them is essential to your treatment. It’s important to feel comfortable discussing your concerns so your team can be as helpful and supportive as possible.

Patient discussing treatment options with her doctor

You and Your Healthcare Team

Each member of your healthcare team has a valuable role to get you the care you need—including yourself. Being open and honest about your condition will help you advocate for your health to work towards your treatment goals. You can be prepared with materials, like a personal action plan, to help you and your care team.

Find out about a treatment option for moderate to severe ulcerative colitis and moderate to severe Crohn’s disease.

 

Your team may include the following people:

Gastroenterologist
A gastroenterologist is a doctor who specializes in diseases of the digestive system (who sometimes also specializes in inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD) and that leads the healthcare team, performs exams and tests, makes diagnoses, administers treatments, and prescribes medications.

Nurse
Some nurses may specialize in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis; registered nurses can give medical advice, do wellness checks, and give vaccinations.

Nurse practitioner (NP)
These are nurses with advanced training and education, who work in collaboration with doctors. NPs can manage overall care, order and interpret tests and procedures, and prescribe medication.

Nutritionist or dietician
Both offer advice on therapeutic nutrition, but a nutritionist may or may not have university qualifications, while a dietician does and is usually licensed.

Physician assistant (PA)
PAs are supervised by physicians. They manage overall care, order and interpret tests and procedures, and prescribe medication.

Caregivers or others who help support you

How to Have a Constructive Conversation With Your Team

To help communicate clearly with your team and have more productive appointments, you can:

Prepare for your appointments by tracking your symptoms and using the Doctor Discussion Guide.

Set treatment goals and check in on them with your doctor at each appointment.

To help remember what was said at each appointment, consider bringing someone along with you.

Doctors have lots of patients–you have to take all of this in your own hands. Nobody is going to be an advocate or push for you. You have to do that for yourself.

JOE | Real UC Patient

Real Crohn's patient

Helpful Healthcare Tips and Appointment Resources

Are you making the most of your visits?

Coming prepared and having open, honest conversations are ways to make doctor visits more productive.

Are you looking for a doctor?

Search for a doctor in your area who specializes in IBD.

Advice from a GI specialist

Learn about your condition, how to talk with your doctor, and how to meet treatment goals.

Helpful tools and support

Explore different tools and get support for managing your Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis (UC).

Want help describing your symptoms?

It's not always easy to talk about IBD symptoms. Here's a guide that can make it easier.

Make your personal action plan

Find out how much time your disease is impacting your life. Answer 5 quick questions to get 3 personalized, actionable steps.

QUESTION FOR YOU

How long have you been diagnosed?

"I'm not diagnosed"

It’s still important to be open about symptoms you might be experiencing.

Partner with your doctor>

 

"Under a year"

Always stay positive and be proactive. Make sure you know the facts about your condition.

GET THE FACT SHEET>

"1 to 3 years"

Make the most out of every appointment with your specialist.

GET THE Doctor Discussion Guide>

"3 to 5 years"

Do you know how inflammation affects you inside the body—and impacts your symptoms?

See Inside Inflammation>

 

"Over 5 years"

Keep treatment conversations open with your specialist and have more productive visits.

Get The Doctor Discussion Guide>

 

Man holding abdomen in pain

QUESTION FOR YOU

How often do you experience symptoms?

“Daily”

Schedule an appointment with your specialist and make the visit even more productive.

GET THE Doctor Discussion Guide>

“Weekly”

Have an open conversation with your specialist. Make the most of your next visit.

GET THE Doctor Discussion Guide>

“Monthly”

Make sure that you’re telling your doctor everything they need to know to help you.

GET THE Doctor Discussion Guide>

“Rarely”

Did you know that inflammation can affect you—even if you don’t have symptoms?

SEE INSIDE INFLAMMATION>

Know the basics of Crohn’s or UC

See an overview of facts on Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (UC)—all on one downloadable page.

Person sitting at a desk viewing inflammation inside the body on a laptop

Understand your inflammation

Explore and learn how inflammation affects you with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (UC)—from inside the body.

Restroom Access Card | Mobile and Printed

Get a Restroom Access Card* and helpful info

Have a discreet way to ask for access to restricted restrooms if you have symptoms. And get updates, resources and more sent to your inbox.

Person sitting at a desk viewing inflammation inside the body on a laptop

Understand your inflammation

Explore and learn how inflammation affects you with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (UC)—from inside the body.

Person looking at map on mobile phone

Looking for a gastroenterologist?

Find a gastroenterologist—a doctor who specializes in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC)—near you.

Woman going over her doctor discussion guide with her doctor

Make the most of your appointments

Our doctor discussion guide can help you talk effectively with your doctor during your visits.

Stopwatch

Is it time to make a personalized action plan?

See how much time your disease is impacting you. Answer 5 quick questions and get 3 customized, timely steps to help you and your doctor take action with your disease.