Getting Facts about UC
One of my patients recently diagnosed with UC became quite tearful during her last office visit. When I inquired what had upset her, she replied that she had been seeking information about UC on the internet and was frightened by some of the stories she read. She encountered uncensored websites with postings that did not contain medically accurate information, as well as patient stories that seemed to indicate to her that a surgery was inevitable so she should start planning now. We had a long discussion about the wide spectrum of disease severity in UC and how "you should not believe everything you read," particularly on the internet. While the World Wide Web has opened new avenues to obtaining information about almost everything you could want to know at any given time, it is important to review medical information from the internet with your doctor to verify its validity. Below are a few internet sites that contain reliable information and resources for patients regarding UC and Crohn's:
General Resources
The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America
http://www.ccfa.org/
The American Gastroenterology Association
http://www.gastro.org
The American College of Gastroenterology
http://www.acg.gi.org
National Institutes of Health
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ulcerativecolitis.html#cat10
Living with UC
http://www.livingwithuc.com/livingwithuc/home.html
Pediatric IBD Resources
Boston Children's Hospital
http://www.experiencejournal.com/ibd/
American Pediatric Surgical Association
http://www.eapsa.org/parents/resources/ulcer_coli.cfm
Ostomy Resources
United Ostomy Associations of America
http://www.uoaa.org/