Preparing for your visit

Written by Sneha, age 18 --Crohn's and Colitis Young Adults Network

 Ask yourself the following questions. Have you been taking your medications without your parents reminding you? Do you know when your next GI appointment is? When will you have to refill your prescription? 

 If you answered “no” to any of those questions (which most teenagers do), then it is time to take charge of your disease! As a teenager it is becoming your responsibility to manage your IBD, and begin by preparing for your next GI appointment. If you have not started leading your appointment, let your parents know that you will be spearheading the appointment. When I started my major flare-up in sixth grade, it was increasingly my job to speak up at the doctor’s appointments. The sooner you start, the easier it will get! Create your own game plan for a doctor’s appointment and discuss it with your parent or guardian beforehand. 

 Points to think about beforehand:

• How many times have I used the restroom today…yesterday...etc.?
• On a scale from 1-10 how bad my pain was these past couple of months. 
• Am I having any weird symptoms? Anything as simple as a rash?
• Have my allergies changed?
• What medications am I on and what is the dosage?
• Is there any documentation that my doctor needs to sign for camps or school? 
• Do I have any other concerns I would like to address with the doctors or nurse? 

 There are more questions that you can ask based on your specific IBD case, and feel free to speak up if you need a further understanding. If you are going to college soon, get accustomed to knowing everything about your disease.