No matter which method you choose, it’s important to track the following Crohn’s disease symptoms and triggers, so that you and your healthcare team are aware when changes occur.
Dietary Triggers There’s no universal set of diet-related triggers for Crohn’s disease symptoms. “Each person seems to have something different that sets symptoms off, but if it can be determined that a person has the same negative response with repeated exposure to fatty or spicy foods, for example, steps can be taken to eliminate the triggers,” Dr. Swaminath says.
Bowel Movements The number and consistency of bowel movements — and whether you experience urgency — are important to record, Marion says. “Your doctor needs to know if you get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, because that’s a sign that the bowel is significantly inflamed,” he says. This information can help guide treatment decisions.
Medications “When people feel well, they aren’t [necessarily] as good about taking their medications, so a journal could show that noncompliance caused a flare,” Swaminath says. He points out that a flare might happen months later, however, as opposed to soon after missing or stopping the medication.
Keeping track of symptoms and triggers can help you better manage your Crohn’s disease by clarifying which triggers you might be able to avoid. It’ll also give your doctor valuable information they need to help you achieve remission. If tracking things closely adds stress to your life, however, it’s okay to modify how you go about it — being aware is important; keeping a perfect record isn’t.
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