IBD and the NHS

Talking to your doctor or nurse

Having IBD means that you are likely to see your GP and consultant more frequently than other people and so your relationship with them may be somewhat different. You may perhaps find your doctor saying things you’ve not heard before, like: “We’ll try this, but I don’t know if it will work.” Some patients find this honesty refreshing; others feel rather unnerved by it, or even angry. They think: why don’t the doctors know? If this is a very different approach from your previous experience it may take time to get used to it. Talk to your doctor about it if you continue to feel worried or unsure.

They're here to help, so don't hold back!

You may also be asked to take more responsibility with your medication. For example, your doctor may encourage you to experiment a little, to see what suits you. So it’s worth asking the doctor or nurse exactly what limits you can go up to, what you can take with what and so on. Our booklet Drugs used in IBD and our more specific Drug Treatment leaflets give more information about the different medications that are available for your illness.

Before you see the doctor, think of the important questions you want to ask and make a note of them. Make sure you include any changes in your symptoms or in how you are feeling. It’s amazing what you can forget when you’re actually in the surgery. 

Finding the right words

Some people with IBD feel embarrassed talking about their symptoms even to their doctor, but remember that doctors and nurses are used to discussing all bodily functions. Here are some words you might find helpful to use when talking to the doctor or nurse: ‘Motion’, ‘stool’ or ‘bowel movement’ are quite clear and straightforward. 

But they will be used to every other word in the book, so use what you feel comfortable with. If they ask you to describe your stools, you could describe them as ‘like toothpaste’, ‘like a cowpat’, ‘like sheep’s droppings’. Other words and phrases you might find useful are: ‘urgency’, ‘having an accident’, ‘fear of not getting to the loo in time’, ‘explosive diarrhoea’, ‘gas’, ‘flatulence’ or ‘wind’. These are just suggestions – if you think out your own descriptions in advance it can save possible embarrassment in the surgery.

There's no right or wrong. Getting your point across is the main thing here. Don't hold back!