When you’re managing ulcerative colitis (UC), dealing with bowel urgency is common, and it can catch you unprepared, like when you’re away from home. But packing an emergency kit with supplies to handle such situations can give you peace of mind.
“This condition can significantly affect quality of life and emotional well-being, because it often comes with feeling worried and anxious about sudden flare-ups in symptoms,” says Ashkan Farhadi, MD, a gastroenterologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.
“Unfortunately, that kind of stress can often make the issue worse, which is why it’s important to find ways to feel more in control,” he says. “Having an ’emergency kit’ that you have close at hand is one strategy that can be helpful, even if you never have to use it.”
Some people with UC might have several emergency kits like this, he says. For instance, you might keep one in the car, one at work, and one in your carry-on bag when you travel. Not only can it make an urgent situation easier to deal with, but it may also help you feel comforted and empowered, says Dr. Farhadi.
Here are five items to consider when putting your UC emergency kit together.
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