Your IBD consultation
- Kids & Teens
A parent-child guide - Introduction
Hello and welcome!
This guide is meant to help you understand your IBD doctor visit -
why you are visiting the doctor, what will happen while you are
there, and what you can do to get ready and work with your doctor to
take control of your IBD. The more you know, the less frightened you
will be and the more you can play a part in taking charge of your
IBD.
Most importantly, this guide is for YOU - so please print it
out, write in it, add your own thoughts or draw pictures all over it
if you want to. If you wish, you can read it with your mum or dad so
you can ask questions as you go along.
Are you ready to start? Let's go!
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis affect different people in
different ways. It is possible for one person to have a very mild
case and another to have very severe symptoms.
What does my doctor do? Why am I going to see a doctor about my IBD?
Having a problem with your bowels can get in the way of all sorts of
things children like to do - like going to school, playing with your
friends, playing sports or going out with your family. You may feel
embarrassed, scared or angry about being sick. You didn't ask to
feel this way or to have these problems and it probably doesn't seem
fair.
 The
best way to get better and stay better is by working closely with
your doctor. He or she can help by finding a medicine that works
well for you, checking on how you are doing from time to time, and
giving you instructions for what else you can do between visits.
This may be your family doctor, also known as your general
practitioner, or it may be a gastroenterologist (GAS-tro-ent-er-AHL-o-jist)
- a doctor who is specially trained to help people with IBD.
Your turn to have some fun!
Click here to draw a picture of something you like to do for
fun. For example, do you like to play football or go see a movie?
Play in the sand at the beach? Why do you enjoy it? How does it make
you feel?
For parent
information
click here
For the parent: Picture drawing - fun!
This activity can be used as a discussion point with your child
regarding the impact IBD is having on his or her life -
specifically, what was he or she able to do before that he or
she cannot do now because of IBD? This will serve as an
important measure to discuss with your child's doctor in the IBD
consultation.
Both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are types of IBD,
which stands for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. A doctor who helps
people with either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis is
called an IBD specialist.
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