How to Manage a Career and Family During an Ulcerative Colitis Treatment Switch

Switching your ulcerative colitis (UC) medication can help you manage the condition more effectively. But while your body adjusts, working and managing a family can be a major challenge.

"Making a change in ulcerative colitis treatment usually happens when the condition is not being well controlled, which means there is likely already difficulty with navigating responsibilities at home and at work," says Ashkan Farhadi, MD, a gastroenterologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. "It's important to acknowledge that a treatment switch often won't instantly make all of that smoother."

Here's a look at some tactics to make the transition period less disruptive to your professional and family life.

When you’re making a UC treatment switch, it helps to understand whether your new medication will involve going to infusions, what kind of side effects you can expect, when you might see symptom relief, and what follow-up appointments and monitoring you’ll need. The more insight you have into these areas, the less overwhelmed you're likely to feel, says Dr. Farhadi.

"One of the biggest challenges with ulcerative colitis is the sense that it's happening to you, like an outside force you have to tolerate, and that can give you a sense of dread," he adds. "Any strategies that help you feel like you're taking charge can help counteract this."

You may experience a different set of side effects with your new medication, but if you know what to watch for, you may be able to deal with them before they become a serious disruption.

"Some of these side effects are mild and even those that are intense may be temporary as a result of changing your treatment, because your body needs to adjust," says Farhadi. "Knowing that in advance, and planning for that transition period, should be part of your UC management."

Let your family members know how the transition may affect you and how they can make things easier.

For example, you can tell children that you may need to rest more as the new medication starts working, and that will mean more household responsibilities for them. Ask your partner or other family members to take on tasks you don’t feel up to, like grocery shopping, cleaning, childcare, cooking, and errands.

"You may feel guilty or conflicted about taking on less or asking for help, but consider reframing this as an investment in your health," says Rudolph Bedford, MD, a gastroenterologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California. "The more you listen to your body during this time and get the support you need, the easier the transition will be."

Planning ahead can make your work time easier during your UC treatment transition, says Alreen Haeggquist, a managing partner at a law firm in San Diego, that specializes in employment issues, discrimination, harassment, and accommodation for disabilities.

As someone with UC herself, she understands that workplace accommodations are sometimes necessary. She says you should plan to initiate the conversation with your boss or human resources department — don’t expect them to check in and see what you need. She recommends you learn about your rights before that talk takes place. There are two protections that will figure most prominently for this.

In general, Haeggquist recommends understanding what type of accommodations you might need and discussing them with HR before you change medications to ease any concerns about work performance.

• Deep breathing exercises
• Consistent, gentle physical activity such as walking or yoga
• Mindfulness and meditation
• Establishing better sleep habits

"In general, it's helpful to have the perspective that you're making this change as a way to improve your health, and that it may come with an adjustment period," Farhadi adds. "Communicating that to the people around you can be helpful, so they can offer support at a time when you need it most."

• Although treatment changes can make for more effective ulcerative colitis management, those can also come with a transition period as your body adjusts to the new medication.
• Talk with your doctor in advance about what to expect, including side effects and the timeframe for relief, so you can feel more in control and arrange for help from family and colleagues.
• You can set up work accommodations in advance to prevent some disruptions, no matter what your profession.