Talking to your health care team

You will probably have a lot of questions when starting a new therapy or thinking about switching to another. Here are a few potential questions to ask your provider:

  • How well does this drug work?

  • How does it work?

  • What are the side effects?

  • How do I take it?

  • How soon will it start working?

  • How will I know if it’s working?

  • Will my insurance cover the cost?

  • What if I miss a dose?

  • How will it make me feel?

  • What are the short- and long-term benefits?

Listen to the About IBD Podcast Episode 111

You can find additional questions and resources here:

The following tools can help you get prepared to talk to your provider, share your UC symptoms, and get answers to any questions you may have.

This Facebook Webinar, co-hosted by AGA and The Mighty, captures Dr. Ha and patients discussing UC treatment and having useful conversations:

Navigating difficult conversations

The resources provided in this toolkit can help you prepare and assist with discussions about your UC with your health care provider. But there may be times when you feel that you are not getting the best care or that you do not have a good working relationship with your provider. Sometimes, it might be time to find a new health care provider. This is not an easy decision, and the following articles can help you understand your rights and next steps:

In this article sponsored by AGA and posted on The Mighty, two patients with UC discuss how to self-advocate for your care:

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