UC Pain & Fatigue

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Managing UC Pain

Abdominal pain can happen for a variety of reasons. When it comes to UC, pain may often be related to the degree of your active inflammation.

Take note of these questions. When discussing UC pain, your doctor may want to know:

  • How long have you had pain?
  • How long does the pain last?
  • Where specifically do you feel pain?
  • What seems to trigger the abdominal pain?
  • How frequent is the pain?
  • What seems to help ease your pain?
  • How does your pain feel, both in sensation and intensity?
  • When pain occurs, does it occur after eating?
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Develop Healthy Sleep Hygiene

Sleep is how your body recharges itself. There is an association between lack of sleep and risk of UC1,2.

Establish a Nighttime Routine

  • Stick to a consistent sleep schedule

Avoid Eating Close to Bedtime

  • When your body is trying to digest food, it could be harder for you to fall asleep

Talk to Your Doctor About Medications

  • Some UC medications (like steroids) could make sleep a bit more difficult. Let your doctor know of any issues

Find an Optimal Bedroom Setup

  • Keep your bedroom quiet, cool, and dark

Try Different Sleep Positions

  • Sleeping on a different side or even on your back could make you more comfortable. Find the right pillows that help support your preferred sleeping position

Manage Your Stress

  • Stress can lead to sleepless nights. You may want to track your emotions and talk to your doctor or a mental health professional to find ways to cope

Shared Decision-Making

Shared decision-making (SDM) is a collaboration between you and your doctor. By working together, you can develop a care plan that balances your preferences, goals, and lifestyle with the expertise of your doctor.

New App Coming Soon:

LivingWith™ UC

Our LivingWith™ UC app is a personalized experience to help you navigate your health and everyday life with UC.

  • Ananthakrishnan AN, et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014;12(11):1879-86.

  • Yuan S, Sun Y, Tan X, et al. Sleep duration and daytime napping in relation to incident inflammatory bowel disease: a prospective cohort study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2023;57(5):475-485.