Crohn's disease - Kids & Teens
Treatment plan for Crohn's disease
What is a treatment management plan?
A management plan is a special map just for you about Crohn's
disease. It helps you understand your illness and what you can do to
keep it under control. You can use it to keep track of how you are
doing and to know what to do if you have a problem. Your doctor
creates the plan with you to include instructions such as:
Your medicine and how and when to take it
When to check back with your doctor to tell him or her how you
are doing
What signs to watch for, and what to do if you have any of them
What your doctor will do if you become unwell
What else you can do to help - such as change what you eat, get
more exercise or take medicine for any other problems caused by
your illness
How to find other people who can help, such as a nurse or
support group in your area
Your
plan should be written down so you can keep it with you and read it
any time you want. Your doctor will probably look at it and change
it from time to time if anything changes.
Other people may also help create and follow your plan, like a
nurse, nutritionist, surgeon, general practitioner or pharmacist.
Your parents, and possibly other people who are also involved in
your care, such as your teachers, childminders or other carers will
also know about your plan and help you follow it.
Your turn to create a map!
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Click here to draw a map of your route to school. Start with
leaving the house. Do you walk or do you take the bus? What if you
have to go a different way? Draw signs with reminders along the way.
Add in anything that might happen to make you change your plans, and
what you would do differently if that happens. Can you see how a map
can help you plan ahead and know what to do if you have a problem?
For parent information
click here
Drawing a map can be used to help your child understand the
purpose of having and following a plan. Point out how reminders
can help you get past difficult tasks, and how you can make
decisions ahead of time so you know what to do when the time
comes. Talk through the map with your child and then explain how
a management plan works in a similar way to help manage your
child's Crohn's disease.
How will my management plan help me?
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Think about the map you drew in the activity above. Imagine you are
on a bumpy road, with twists and turns and maybe a couple of hills
to climb. What sort of problems might you run into as you go through
your day? What can you do to get past them?
Your management plan is sort of like your map. It can help you and
your parents and carers get past the bumps in the road as well as
the smooth stretches along the way. Most importantly, it shows how
you and your doctor are working together to get you feeling better
and stay better as long as possible. It can also help you remember
why you need to take your medicine and take good care of yourself.
You and your doctor make a great team
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Your doctor is there to make sure you get the right medicine, and to
look after your health and well-being. Sometimes this is your family
doctor or paediatrician, and other times this might be someone who
cares for people with Crohn's disease, called a gastroenterologist.
Some hospitals also have nurses who care for people with Crohn's
disease and are able to answer your questions and look after you
too.
You and your family should work with all your healthcare team
members - your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, surgeon - to make sure
your management plan is right for you. The more questions you ask,
and the more open and honest you are about your needs and wishes,
the more helpful the plan will be for you.
Take care of yourself
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Once you have a management plan, you have an important job - to keep
it and follow it. Your family can help. Here are some things you can
do to help:
Understand that you play a role in keeping your Crohn's disease
under control
Know when and how to take care of your own health
Follow your plan and take your medicine as your doctor tells you
to
Ask questions if you are worried about anything
Let someone know if you have any problems
Your turn!
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Write down some more things you can think of to do to help keep in
control of your illness. For example, get enough sleep, get regular
exercise and take your medicine every day. If you need help thinking
of more things you can do, ask your mum or dad for some more ideas.
For parent information
click here
The control list activity is designed to help your child
understand his or her role in managing Crohn's disease and focus
on what can be changed rather than what cannot. Examples include
general healthy living: for example, getting enough rest,
regular exercise and taking medicine as prescribed. In general,
children should get about 60 minutes of exercise a day. Eating
healthily, getting enough rest and taking medicine as prescribed
by the doctor are just a few more examples.
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