It can depend on what symptoms you’re experiencing, how much inflammation you’re experiencing, and what your quality of life is, says Tauseef Ali, MD, FACG, a clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of Oklahoma, director of the Saint Anthony Hospital Crohn’s and Colitis Program in Oklahoma City, and author of Crohn’s and Colitis for Dummies. “It’s key for patients to understand and spend some time with their doctor, learning more about the disease, the disease process, and the goal of the treatment,” says Dr. Ali. Even if you don’t need to change your treatment altogether, there are some ways to optimize your regimen. “Take medications regularly as prescribed,” says Ashwin Ananthakrishnan, MBBS, MPH, an associate professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “Check in periodically with your doctors for lab work, stool tests, and colonoscopies.” Ananthakrishnan also stresses the importance of regular physical activity, adequate sleep, stress management, and a healthy diet that includes vegetables and fruits and limits sugars, processed foods, and unhealthy fats. Determining whether you’re on the right path with your treatment will require an ongoing, open dialogue with your gastroenterologist and paying close attention to any changes in your symptoms and the way the condition is impacting your life. Take this 10-question quiz to find out how well your current treatment plan is working. This assessment is part of a series aimed at helping you check in on your ulcerative colitis before your next checkup with your doctor. Take more assessments.
