Day-to-day life
Controlling symptoms and reducing risk of complications
There are some things you can do to help keep symptoms of ulcerative colitis under control and reduce your risk of complications.1
Considering your diet
Most people with UC will be advised to follow a healthy diet and to drink lots of fluids, to ensure they get all of the necessary nutrients and avoid dehydration. Some temporary changes may be recommended post-surgery or to help control symptoms during a flare-up. These include:
It can also be helpful to keep a food diary to document what you eat, and when, along with any symptoms, to identify foods that you can tolerate, and others which make your symptoms worse. You should always discuss any dietary changes with your healthcare team.
Bowel cancer screening
As mentioned above in Complications, the risk of bowel cancer is higher if you suffer from UC. As the symptoms of UC and early-stage bowel cancer have a lot of overlap, you may not notice symptoms as early as someone without UC. It is therefore important to have regular bowel cancer screening, so that any cancer can be identified early, which may make the cancer easier to treat.
Work and study
If you have UC or any form of IBD, it can significantly impact your school or work life. Requiring frequent bathroom breaks can impact productivity, while fatigue and abdominal pain may make it difficult to concentrate or complete tasks. On top of this, when you suffer from a flare-up, you may need to take time off for medical appointments or recovery. According to a survey by Crohn’s and Colitis UK,2 more than one-third of people with IBD have had to take time off work due to their condition. A recent review3 of studies published between 2004 and 2019 suggested that on average…
Although you are not required to tell your employer about your UC, doing so can help you to feel more supported at work. Your employer may be able to make changes to the workplace to help you to do your job – this is known as making “reasonable adjustments”.4 Crohn’s and Colitis UK has lots of advice for both employees and employers, as well as students.
Impact on schooling for children, young adults, and students
School and university life can be difficult if you have UC.5 Young people may find that they fall behind in their classes, as well as miss out on spending time with friends. They may also feel embarrassed or worried about having to rush to the toilet, having an accident, or being teased by their classmates. Working with the young person to develop a plan which ensures that their needs can be met is key. This may mean:
There is a lot of information provided by Crohn’s and Colitis UK tailored to children, young adults, and students, which can support young people with their diagnosis.2
Travel
Living with UC should not prevent you from travelling abroad if you would like to! However, you may wish to make certain choices to ensure your journey and holiday are as comfortable as possible.
One of the key things when travelling with UC is to plan ahead. Crohn’s and Colitis UK6 suggest the following to ensure that your trip runs smoothly:
- Plan your trip 6-8 weeks before you go
- Ask your IBD team to provide a flare-up plan, so you are prepared in case your UC flares up while you are away
- Shop around for travel insurance, ensuring that your insurance covers UC
- Pack enough medication or stoma supplies to cover the whole trip, where possible, plus extras in case of delays
- Take a copy of your prescription with you
- Check the available facilities both on your journey and at your destination, and be sure to tell your travel agent, airline, rail or coach company if you need extra support, or have any particular dietary requirements
Things you may want to consider when packing include:
References
- NHS – Living with ulcerative colitis. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ulcerative-colitis/living-with/. Last accessed April 2025.
- Crohn’s and Colitis UK. Available at: https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/. Last accessed: April 2025.
- M. Sporck, J. Carlson. The impact of ulcerative colitis on work productivity: a systematic literature review. Value in health, 2020. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jval.2020.04.376. Last accessed April 2025.
- Crohn’s and Colitis UK – A guide for employees. Available at: https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/info-support/information-about-crohns-and-colitis/all-information-about-crohns-and-colitis/employment-and-education/employment-a-guide-for-employees. Last accessed April 2025.
- Crohn’s and Colitis UK – Employment and education. Available at: https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/info-support/information-about-crohns-and-colitis/all-information-about-crohns-and-colitis/employment-and-education?parent=23191&page=1&tags=&category=23191&sort=newest.. Last accessed April 2025.
- Crohn’s and Colitis UK – Do you work with children or young people? Available at: https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/media/pwga1bs5/edge-hill-do-you-work-with-children-or-young-people_v4-jan-2025.pdf?_gl=1*9ethra*_up*MQ..*_ga*NDIzNzAxODM1LjE3NDU4MzYyODA.*_ga_5THF1XE73Q*MTc0NTgzNjI3OS4xLjEuMTc0NTgzNjc5Ny4wLjAuMA. Last accessed April 2025.