Friends and Family

Who do I tell about my disease?

The easy answer is “tell whomever you want, whatever you want,” but that isn’t always easy to figure out. You have to decide how much to tell the people around you about your illness.

Some people, like your parents, guardians, and the school nurse, will need to know details. If you are away from home, maybe at college, someone needs to be your health care point person for when your doctor’s not available. They need to know your history, symptoms, and the emergency care that works.

Others, like your teachers and your boss, only need to know some details to understand how your IBD symptoms can affect your daily life.