by Akhil Shridhar (India)
A cream colored background with graphics of doctors and patients having discussions.
For many of us living with IBD, saying “I’m fine” has become a habit, something we were taught to say to avoid worrying others or causing trouble. But managing a chronic condition means we can’t afford silence. Doctors need us to describe what hurts, what’s changed, and what’s not working. At first, that shift feels unnatural. How do you speak up about pain when you’ve spent years trying to hide it? Learning to explain what’s wrong isn’t just about getting better care, it’s about breaking the silence, challenging stigma, and making sure our needs are heard. Speaking up is advocacy, and it starts with learning to complain. Many of us were taught to downplay pain, brushing off discomfort to seem strong.
This kind of silence runs deep, shaped by family, culture, and a society that equates quiet with resilience. But for people living with IBD, staying silent can be dangerous. It leads to delayed care, isolation, and missed warning signs. Although, learning to speak up about symptoms is just a part of it. Especially in developing countries like India, where systems often lack the integration, communication is not just helpful but essential. For most, the responsibility of managing appointments, tracking medical records, logging test results and prescriptions, consulting different specialists, and coordinating insurance doesn’t fall on an organised platform, it falls on the patient.
A cream colored background with graphics showing the many different effects of IBD. There are a series of graphics showing a cartoon person dealing with urgency, cramping, nausea, fatigue, hiding symptoms, taking medications, struggling to eat, and mental health. These graphics are circling an image the human body, to convey the multi-systemic nature of IBD.
Living with IBD means your body goes through changes that aren’t always easy to explain. Symptoms come and go, and sometimes they’re hard to put into words, especially if you’ve spent years being told not to make a fuss. When you share what you’re feeling clearly and honestly, you’re helping your doctor understand how to support you better. It’s not complaining, it’s communication. And with a little guidance and the right tools, you can learn to speak the language of your symptoms in a way that leads to real care and understanding.
Doctors rely on clear, consistent information to track how IBD is affecting your body, and that’s where accurate symptom-sharing becomes key. The table below outlines the kinds of details that help build a more accurate picture of your condition.
Living with IBD often means navigating a maze of symptoms, appointments and uncertainty. But the ability to speak clearly and communicate will go a long way in getting the care that we deserve. That’s why this table isn’t just a tool, it can help you bridge the gap between what you feel and what the doctor needs to know. Remember, this guide is meant to serve you, so feel free to adapt it, add to it, and make it your own. Bring it to your appointments, refer to it and use it to shape your care in ways that truly reflect your needs.
This log table is for you to document your symptoms and experiences in a structured manner. Save a copy and take notes or just use it as a reference for your next appointment!
