Living well with ulcerative colitis (UC) typically entails consistent monitoring of your diet and general lifestyle. Depending on your responsibilities, it’s easy for that to become overwhelming. That’s where apps can help. When you find the right one, it can become an excellent complement to your medical routine so you can manage your UC effectively.
The severity of your symptoms can vary over time and certain triggers can make them worse. Some common triggers include stress, spicy food, fatty foods, caffeine, and poor sleep but your list can be different. Apps that let you log your symptoms and possible triggers daily can expose important trends. A few apps even focus entirely on specific symptoms such as the appearance of your feces and how often you go to the bathroom.
There’s a lot to learn when you’ve been diagnosed and you might not be able to ask your doctor all your questions. Apps that connect you with experts in the field can help with that. It’s common for these apps to provide you with scientific papers and advancements in treatments for UC as well. Some apps also establish a connection with your doctor so you can submit questions to them outside of a visit.
While UC can be painful, the pain level isn’t always the same. Even when it’s not significant enough to disrupt your day, it’s still helpful to note what you’re feeling. That’s because you may find that you’ve adapted to feeling a certain amount of pain each day when it’s a sign that something’s wrong. If you see that your average pain level has increased over time, you need to talk to your doctor.
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Though there are suggestions for ideal diets for those who are dealing with UC, many doctors will tell you that it’s not that simple. For example, some people might be asked to avoid whole grains, others are told to add more fiber to their diets for a short period. UC apps that focus on diet changes can help you track what you’ve eaten to meet your needs while making helpful suggestions.
Studies show that many people with UC deal with anxiety and depression. A good support structure can help to ease those issues. Some apps will connect you with others who are living with the condition, which can be an integral part of your treatment program.
As you might expect, UC doesn’t look the same for everyone so it’s best to approach choosing an app in the same way. You may even find that combining apps gives you the coverage you need. The best place to start is to document what your main concerns are. For example, if you have regular flares, it might be helpful to track your triggers and symptoms. If you have trouble remembering to take your medication, then having an app with a reminder will be helpful.
Some people find that encouragement helps them stick to lifestyle changes such as a different diet or increased fitness. In that case, you should look for apps that have motivational or reward programs. It’s also good to remember that you’re not tied down to whichever apps you choose. You may need to switch things up if the issues you need to focus on change.
Doctors can play an integral role in how you use the apps as well as which ones you choose. Once you’ve been diagnosed with UC, it’s a good idea to ask your doctor if there are any specific areas you need to focus on. Some people need an immediate change in their diets that calls for scrutiny of what they eat every day. Others need to pay close attention to their triggers because of the frequency of their flares.
Your doctor can also tell you which information they would like to see from the app. Whether you’re tracking your diet, symptoms, or triggers, your doctor can use the data to determine what’s going on with your condition. Consistently worsening symptoms may indicate that your regimen needs to be modified or that your UC is getting worse. Additionally, it can be easier to see the correlation between different events and your body’s reaction to them.
Finally, reviewing the app’s data with your doctor can indicate that it’s time to shift your focus to something else to manage your condition.
When you’re living with UC, many things in your life change. The good news is that apps can help you manage the condition well while facilitating better communication between you and your doctor.
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