Preparing questions in advance can help patients to have more meaningful discussions with their physicians regarding their conditions. Patients may wish to ask their doctor the following questions related to Crohn’s disease:

1. Am I at risk for Crohn’s disease?
   
   
2. At what point should I be concerned about my symptoms?
   
   
3. What kind of tests will you need to take to determine the cause of my symptoms? How should I prepare for these tests?
   
   
4. Could my symptoms be a sign of some other type of inflammatory bowel disease?
   
   
5. Where exactly is the inflammation in my body? How severe is the damage it may have caused to my digestive tract?
   
   
6. Is something I’m eating or drinking causing my Crohn’s disease, or aggravating its symptoms? What about smoking? Or stress?
   
   
7. What type of treatment do you recommend?
   
   
8. What medication is most appropriate for me? How long will I have to take it?
   
   
9. Are there over-the-counter medications I can also take that would help?
   
   
10. Are there over-the-counter medications that I need to avoid because they could worsen my symptoms or increase the risk of complications?
    
    
11. Will I need surgery?  What are the risks and benefits of surgery?
    
    
12. How will I need to change my lifestyle once diagnosed with Crohn’s disease?
    
    
13. Are there complementary treatments (e.g., nutritional supplements, acupuncture, meditation, etc.) you would recommend that may help prevent the symptoms of Crohn’s disease?
    
    
14. What symptoms or changes should I immediately be reporting to you?
    
    
15. If my symptoms subside for a period (remission) do you want to be informed when and if they resume?
    
    
16. Will I need regular follow-up visits or testing? How often?
    
    
17. Are my children at higher risk for Crohn’s or other inflammatory bowel diseases now that I have been diagnosed? Should they be evaluated for the condition?