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Ulcerative Colitis - Kids & Teens
Treatment plan for
Ulcerative Colitis
How can I tell how I am doing?
Your doctor will
want to check on how you are doing from time to time. In general,
here are some things you can do on your own:
-
See your
doctor from time to time, even if you are feeling well.
-
Ask
questions and tell your doctor if you are worried about anything
when you visit.
-
Tell your
doctor if there have been any changes since your last visit. Try
using the symptom self-assessment (below) before you go.
-
Take your
medicine, even if you're feeling well. If you want to change
your treatment, discuss this with your doctor before doing so on
your own.
-
Talk to your
doctor about your medicine and how you are taking it. Be sure to
check with him or her before taking any over-the-counter
medicines (eg, NSAIDs or painkillers), herbal remedies or
dietary supplements, as these may affect how well your medicine
works or may affect your symptoms.
-
Exercise
regularly and eat a healthy diet
In between
doctor visits, it is important that you follow your management plan
and know what to do if a problem comes up.
If you have any
of these problems, contact your doctor as soon as possible:
-
Blood in
your poo
-
Changes in
poo that last for more than 10 days
-
Strong belly
cramps or pain
-
Very runny
poo (diarrhoea) or bloody diarrhoea
-
Weight loss
with no known reason
-
Unexplained
fever lasting more than 3-4 days
-
Feeling very
tired (fatigue)
-
Not feeling
hungry (loss of appetite)
-
Feeling sick
to the stomache, dizzy or throwing up for no known reason
(nausea or vomiting)
Parent-child
activity
It
can be hard to put into words exactly how you have been feeling,
especially when you are sitting with the doctor answering questions.
You may find it helpful to go through this worksheet with your mum
or dad before you go to see the doctor, so you are ready to answer
your doctor's questions during the visit. You can print it out and
bring it with you. Remember, it is important that you tell the truth
so your doctor can make the best decisions possible about your care.
How are you
feeling?
1. Overall,
how have you felt?
Pretty good /
A little worse than usual / Bad / Very Bad /
Terrible
2. Have you missed
school/sports/other activities?
Yes / No
How many days in
the last week?
How often has
your illness kept you from going out with friends or family?
Have you had to
spend any days in bed? If yes, how many?
When were you
last unwell from your Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis?
3.
Symptoms - have you had any of these problems?
Not eating
Yes / No
Feeling sick to
the stomach Yes / No
Throwing up
Yes / No
Very tired
Yes / No
Sores inside the
mouth
Yes / No
High temperature
(fever)
Yes / No
Pain or soreness
in joints Yes / No
Loss of weight
Yes /
No
Feeling very sad
or down
Yes / No
4.
Belly pain?
None /
Mild / Moderate / Severe
If you had belly
pain, how often?
Where is the
pain?
Tips to try
for cramping/ gas/ wind:
-
It may help
to adjust your diet and avoid ‘gassy' foods such as baked beans,
onions, cabbage and whole grains. Also try cutting out hot spicy
food and fruit or vegetable skins. Think about any food
intolerances such as milk or wheat. It may also help to eat less
high-fibre foods such as nuts, seeds, corn, popcorn and various
Chinese vegetables. However, it is important to eat a balanced
diet. If cutting out a food doesn't help, then reinstate it
later.
-
Try eating
smaller meals (5-6) throughout the day rather than fewer (2-3)
larger meals.
-
Try to take
a 30-minute break after eating to digest your food.
5. Poo
Number per day
Solid
Yes / No
Runny
Yes / No
Tips to try for managing runny poo (diarrhoea):
-
Try not to
eat high fibre foods or spicy, hot or refrigerated foods, unripe
or dried fruit or fried food. Try not to drink anything with
caffeine in it.
-
Try chicken
and rice soup, carrot soup, zinc and vitamin A supplements as
they may also help.
-
Your doctor
may suggest trying other medicines such as anti-diarrhoeal drugs
(eg, loperamide), antispasmodic drugs, bulking agents or bile
salt drugs to help slow down your bowels. If you are feeling
unwell, however, check with your doctor before taking any
medicines, even those available over-the-counter.
-
Remember to
drink as much as possible.
Any blood?
Yes /
No
Do you have to
use the toilet at night?
Yes / No
Do you feel the
need to go but can't?
Yes / No
Have you had any
mistakes?
Yes / No
6. Medications
What medicine(s)
are you taking?
Yes / No
How often do you
take your medicine?
Yes / No
Has it helped?
Yes /
No
Have you had any
problems with your medicine?
Yes / No
How often do you
miss taking your medicine?
Yes / No
How happy are
you that your medicine is helping you?
Yes / No
Are you taking
any over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, herbal remedies
or complementary medicines?
Yes / No
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