Your medical team is awesome, no doubt! However, they are very busy and I’m sure overwhelmed at times with this work. It’s important that you utilize patient portals, send messages, pictures (for example of inflamed joints) or information about increased symptoms on a regular basis. Also – send good news if a medication change did the trick! Share your depression or anxiety as well. Ask for referrals to other care providers as needed. And attend those appointments, take those meds, stay on top of your blood work, etc. Nobody can take care of you better than you.
If your treatment team is not awesome, get another one. It will take some time but ask around. Find a health care team that is leveraging technology for increased access to care and then don’t be afraid to use it. If you or a loved one with IBD has trouble speaking up or using technology then find a health care partner (parent, partner or friend) that can come along side for the IBD journey.
For more information and tips on living with inflammatory bowel disease from the medical and patient communities, download the Gali friend for IBD mobile app and she will create a personalized feed of articles just for you!
