The impact of IBD on a person's life is not just physical
Physical aspects
• diarrhoea, urgency, blood in stool and pain
• loss of appetite and weight loss
• night sweats and fevers
• nausea and vomiting
• joint pains, eye problems, skin rashes and mouth ulcers
Impact on everyday life
• spending more time in the bathroom
• impact on studies and work
• absence and choice of job
• restricted food choices
• relationships /sex life
• family planning
• pregnancy
Psychological aspects
• fatigue and mental exhaustion
• anxiety and depression
Long-term complications of the disease
• hospitalisations for flares
• surgical interventions
• stoma formation
• malignancy
• infections
• VTE
Complications of drugs
• non-response (primary and secondary)
• steroid side-effects
• infection, VTE, etc
Unpredictability of the disease
• will the drugs work / be tolerated?
• how soon will I reach remission?
• will I need surgery?
• when will I flare?
• & much more