Managing Healthcare- I'm Afraid Of My Doctor

One of the biggest pieces I have been managing medically since being diagnosed with IBD is that I have to make a decision about if I go on a specific medication. The issue I am running into is that this medication is an immunosuppressant, and I have seen recovery with functional medicine approaches. This week, I want to share my journey trying to get my medication when I wanted to take it, and the issues I am running into now that I am debating all of my treatment options.

When I was in the hospital in January 2026, my first interaction with a GI doctor was a man walking in with a lab coat and coffee, who immediately looked at my mom and barked that I should have been on a biologic medication. He then scowled at us and left the room. Luckily, his hospital rotation was ending, and I had a new GI specialist for the rest of my time there. However, the messaging was clear- Western medicine GI doctors wanted me on a biologic to put my Crohn's/Colitis in remission. This treatment works by suppressing specific parts of the immune system, which differ depending on the type of biologic, to reduce inflammation in your body. However, this treatment is not able to address why your body is attacking itself, and once on a biologic the assumption is this treatment plan will last for life.

When I was in the hospital, I was open to being on a biologic because I was in a flare, not recovering on my own, and it was recommended by my doctor. However, you cannot get a biologic at the hospital I was in, so I had to wait until after I was discharged and could get into the GI office of the second GI specialist I saw there to even begin the insurance approval process. Then something interesting happened. By the time insurance approved my biologic, I recovered from an ear infection, and started my nutrition and new supplement protocol, I was recovering on my own. I was going to the bathroom regularly; external bleeding lessened; the pain was not increasing; my appetite increased; my energy is improving; and even as I taper off the steroid, I am maintaining these results. I am not using GI-approved purely western medicine, but I am having success. I do want to note that my functional health coach, my nutrition doctor in NYC, and my primary care physician are all overseeing this plan and agree with what I am doing.

There are many reasons I personally am not rushing out to be on a biologic. First, I read studies and confirmed with my GI doctor that the more times you go on a biologic or fail a biologic, the longer it takes for the next one to work. I don't want to waste a tool that could help me later in life if I ever have a flare again, which is entirely possible. Secondly, I don't want to be dependent on insurance. Insurance can stop covering a biologic, put you on a biosimilar that could change results, and otherwise make it harder to take the biologic that my doctor recommends. It is not affordable to pay for a biologic out of pocket, and my body is sensitive to medication changes, so not having control over what is approved through insurance stresses me out. In addition, I would rather use functional medicine to address why my body is attacking itself due to things like viruses or mold, just to name a few, rather than shutting down my immune system. This leads me to my last point- once on a biologic, many GI doctors recommend lifelong usage. I don't want to be immunocompromised my whole life; that really scares me. However, I will note there are risks of chronic inflammation, such as needing surgery and ileostomy bags, and I want to be mindful to avoid that too. This is why I am currently shopping around for second opinions and consulting with multiple medical practitioners, as shared earlier.

Now that I have shared why I am debating between biologics and other forms of treatment that have shown success in scientific studies but are not mainstream, I want to share the battle I have found myself in. I keep getting phone calls from the infusion center, the medication services team, and people related to getting started with a biologic because my GI doctor is trying to be helpful and rush the process. Except now, I am not sure what I want to do; the medication is approved under my current GI, and this GI doctor is not open to alternative or functional medicine. So, here I am, at 25 years old and a disability advocate, afraid of my doctor.

I share this story to say that advocating for yourself or others is not always easy. If it were, this blog would not have any readers because there wouldn't be a space for me. But, I am proud of myself that I am truly considering all of my options using science, referencing second opinions, and am not using fear as the only reason to do things. And if somehow that doctor sees this, no, you didn't. I am grateful I have been recovering in the way I have and hope to continue to do so.

Thank you for reading about how I'm navigating making a tough medical decision while being afraid of my doctor. If you have any questions or comments, please comment on the blog, reach out at @Anniekrollblog on Instagram or Facebook, or email me at Anniekrollblog@gmail.com. I hope to see you next week!