The impact of IBD on a person's life is not just physical Physical aspects • diarrhoea, urgency, blood in stool and pain • loss of appetite and weight loss • night sweats and fevers • nausea and vomiting • joint pains, eye problems, skin rashes and mouth ulcers Impact on everyday life • spending more time in the bathroom • impact on studies and work • absence and choice of job • restricted food choices • relationships /sex life • family planning • pregnancy Psychological aspects • fatigue and mental exhaustion • anxiety and depression Long-term complications of the disease • hospitalisations for flares • surgical interventions • stoma formation • malignancy • infections • VTE Complications of drugs • non-response (primary and secondary) • steroid side-effects • infection, VTE, etc Unpredictability of the disease • will the drugs work / be tolerated? • how soon will I reach remission? • will I need surgery? • when will I flare? • & much more