Dr. M specializes in the treatment of young patients
"You need to have a physician that you're comfortable with, someone that you can openly communicate with."
Dr. Uma Mahadevan, or Dr. M, is the director of clinical research at the University of California, San Francisco Center for Colitis and Crohn's Disease. She has over 11 years of experience in the research and treatment of Crohn’s disease.
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In her career, Dr. M has treated many young Crohn’s patients and has found that many of them have the same problem. She says that they have a hard time grasping Crohn’s as a lifelong illness and their need for constant medication. Because of this, many teens go off their medications and put their Crohn’s and overall health at serious risk.
Dr. M has three pieces of advice for young Crohn’s sufferers as they look for the right physician:
- You MUST be able to comfortably communicate with your doctor about flare-ups and reactions to treatments.
- Your doctor should be not only an IBD specialist, but also specifically a Crohn’s disease specialist.
- The best doctor understands the long-range impact Crohn’s can have on your body, like osteoporosis and fertility issues.
Dr. M says that following these guidelines will be a great step in managing your Crohn’s disease.
