How Much Is Ulcerative Colitis Affecting Your Life? 

How Much Is Ulcerative Colitis Affecting Your Life?

Take this quiz to find out if UC is holding you back. Then, learn what to do next.
By
Updated on June 24, 2025
Medically Reviewed by

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How Much Is Ulcerative Colitis Affecting Your Life?

Rabia de Latour, MD, a gastroenterologist at NYU's Grossman School of Medicine, walks you through an assessment designed to help you determine how much ulcerative colitis is affecting your life.

If you have ulcerative colitis (UC), you’ve probably missed out on an occasional dinner with family or friends. But how do you know if that signals a bigger problem? Is UC truly interfering with your quality of life, or are your symptoms typically under control? The truth is, the answer may not be the same for you as it is for another person.

“It’s going to vary by person [what] their ‘normal’ is,” says Jessica Philpott, MD, PhD, a gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic. “Ulcerative colitis doesn’t limit some people at all. They take their medicines and they feel fine. But a good portion of them will have ongoing mild symptoms.”

If you commonly experience symptoms such as diarrhea, fatigue, food intolerance, and pain, you don’t have to settle for “just okay.” There are plenty of things you can do to live a full life — if you know when to ask for help.

Take this quiz to gauge how the condition may be affecting you emotionally, physically, and socially.

Question 1

How often do you avoid social activities because you don’t want to make an emergency dash to the bathroom?

  • A. At least once a week. Sometimes, I feel like I can barely leave my house!
  • B. I only cancel activities when symptoms are bad.
  • C. Hardly ever. My condition is pretty well controlled.
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Waseem-Ahmed-bio

Waseem Ahmed, MD

Medical Reviewer

Waseem Ahmed, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine in the Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and serves as Directo...

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Erica Patino

Author
Erica Patino is a freelance writer and editor, content strategist, and usability specialist who has worked for a variety of online health outlets, including Healthline, Sharecare, ...
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Rabia de Latour, MD

Rabia de Latour, MD, is a therapeutic endoscopist and gastroenterologist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, where she serves as the director of endoscopy and chief sustainability ...
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