Well Spouse Frequently Asked Questions

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

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Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Well Spouse Frequently Asked Questions

Part 4: Doctor Visits and Flare-Ups

More of this Feature

• Part 1: Social Issues
• Part 2: Surgery & Procedures
• Part 3: Sex, Intimacy, and Body Issues

Related Resources

• Book Review: Freedom from Digestive Distress
• Fighting Dehydration

From Other Guides

• Communicating With Your Doctor

Elsewhere on the Web

• When Your Spouse Doesn't Believe You Are Ill

Doctor Visits

Is there anything I can do during doctor visits?

Your spouse may not be in the best condition to ask questions, so bring a notepad and writing utensil. Some doctors don't like the Internet because of the amount of inaccurate or misleading information that's out there; so you may not want to tell your doctor where you heard the conflicting information. Ultimately, you should ALWAYS get a second opinion from another doctor -- NEVER rely exclusively on one opinion for answers!

Should I ask questions?

Write down your questions ahead of time, and write down the answers the doctor gives you. Doctors are people with jobs, and they make mistakes. You have the entire Internet at your disposal, be sure to make full use of it. Do your research. If the doctor doesn't tell you anything you didn't know already, then you did a good job. If the doctor does tell you something that doesn't make sense, be sure to verify with a reputible another source.

Flare-Ups

How can I help my spouse get treatment?

Education, education, education. Know all about your spouse's condition. Then, communicate, communicate, communicate. With your spouse, with your spouse's doctors, with the online community, with anyone who may have the condition, with family, with whomever may be able to give you some insight.

Most important is history. Be aware of how your spouse is, and how your spouse was. If your spouse suddenly takes a turn for the worse, it may be a flare up. That's when it's time to seek medical help.

Whatever you do, use common sense. There's nothing heroic about not seeing a doctor.

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