Of course, decoding what your symptoms reveal about your condition is important, but for gastroenterologists, it’s only one part of the equation. “Most of the time, we supplement the symptoms that patients are describing to us with some kind of objective evidence,” says Tauseef Ali, MD, FACG, a clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of Oklahoma, director of the Saint Anthony Hospital Crohn’s and Colitis Program in Oklahoma City, and author of Crohn’s and Colitis for Dummies. “That includes blood work or stool tests, [which can] show that the markers of inflammation are elevated.” The goal of ulcerative colitis treatment is to control or resolve the underlying inflammation in your colon. “Uncontrolled, long-standing inflammation puts patients at risk for surgery and [other complications, including] cancer,” explains Dr. Ali. Gaining control of that inflammation should in turn help reduce your symptoms and lead to longer periods of remission. But since there’s no cure for ulcerative colitis, keep in mind that managing it is an ongoing process. “You can’t just take a medication and forget it,” says Ali. “You need regular follow-ups and continuous assessment and reassessment.” Take this 10-question quiz to get a better understanding of your symptoms and whether your ulcerative colitis is truly under control. 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.
