Question: How Can I Help My Spouse with IBD When a Flare-up Hits?
There are many things you can do to help your spouse when he or she is having a flare-up of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A strong support network is important in helping to recover from such an episode.
Answer:
Finding Restrooms
When you're out and about, finding a restroom in a hurry can become a priority. Make it your job to find the restrooms wherever you are going. When you go shopping, get a map or find an employee who can tell you where the facilities are located. When you go out to eat, make a note of where the restrooms are located (such as in the front or the rear of the restaurant).Be Prepared to Stop
While traveling, be prepared to make "pit stops" for bathroom breaks. When driving, this means you'll need to be flexible about taking a detour off your route. Plan extra traveling time - and some patience! - for these frequent stops. Even with the best planning, remember that you might still end up arriving at your destination later than you intended.
- Finding a Bathroom While Traveling Internationally
- How to Travel by Car with IBD
- Top 5 Portable Toilets
Staying on Track with Medication
People who have IBD have a less-than-stellar reputation when it comes to taking medication. There are many reasons why people with IBD don't take their medications on time (or at all). But the truth is that sticking to a treatment plan is the best way to get out of a flare-up. As the closest person to your partner, you can help with reminders about taking medications on time. The two of you can work together to come up with a system for remembering medications.- Organizing Your Medications
- Remembering to Take Your Medication
- Readers Respond: Do You Take Your Medications on Time?
