WHAT YOUR DOCTOR WILL WANT TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOU ON MEDICINE FOR IBD

Since many of the medicines for moderate to severe Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis decrease the body's overactive immune response in the intestines, you should tell your doctor if you  

• Have an infection, are being treated for infection, or have symptoms of an infection
• Get a lot of infections or infections that keep coming back
• Have an autoimmune condition or disorder
• Have TB or have been in close contact with someone with TB, or were born in, lived in, or traveled where there is more risk for getting TB
• Live or have lived in an area (such as the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys) where there is an increased risk for getting certain kinds of fungal infections, such as histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, or blastomycosis. These infections may happen or become more severe if you use any of the antiTNFs.
• Have hepatitis B or have had it in the past
• Have diabetes (diabetes can lead to more infections) or any other condition that increases your chances of having infections
• Have recently received or are scheduled to receive a vaccine (immunization).

Your doctor will want to know about other medical conditions

• Are you scheduled for major surgery
• Have you had any major surgery or IBD surgery in the past
• Do you have cancer or have you had cancer in the past
• Do you have numbness or tingling or a nervous system disease such as multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Have you had heart failure
• Are you allergic to rubber, latex, or any ingredients in any of the medicines
• Are you pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed
• Do you have a newborn and you were using one of these medicines during your pregnancy. Tell your baby's doctor before your baby receives any vaccines

Your doctor will want to know about

• any medicines you are taking, 
• if you have been on any IBD medicines in the past and how you did on those medicines
• your immunizations (vaccines) and are they up to date. 
• diseases or conditions that run in the family
• any stresses that affect your life and your overall health.