How Much Is Ulcerative Colitis Affecting Your Life?
If you have ulcerative colitis (UC), you’ve probably missed out on an occasional dinner with family or friends. But how do you know if that signals a bigger problem? Is UC truly interfering with your quality of life, or are your symptoms under control for the most part? The truth is, the answer may not be the same for you as it is for another person.
“It’s going to vary by person [what] their ‘normal’ is,” says Jessica Philpott, MD, PhD, a gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic. “Ulcerative colitis doesn’t limit some people at all. They take their medicines and they feel fine. But a good portion of them will have ongoing mild symptoms.”
If you, like many people with UC, commonly experience symptoms such as diarrhea, fatigue, pain, and food intolerance, you don’t have to settle for “just okay.” There are plenty of things you can do to live a full life — if you know when to ask for help.
Take this quiz to gauge how the condition may be affecting you physically, emotionally, and socially.
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.
Question 1
How often do you avoid social activities because you don’t want to make an emergency dash to the bathroom?
- A. At least once a week. Sometimes, I feel like I can barely leave my house!
- B. I only cancel activities when my symptoms are bad.
- C. Hardly ever. My condition is pretty well controlled.