Thanks for the response Solomon.
Sorry to hear that things haven't been going well for you - if you ever need someone to vent to, feel free to send me a PM. Whether it's life in general or specific to this, I know it can be tough talking to people about this stuff.
I think this is exactly why I posted here. I needed a different perspective. I have looked into other methods of controlling UC. I've tried an elimination diet to figure out my "trigger foods", i've tried natural supplements to get the dysbiotic bacteria out of my system etc etc.
At this point, I'm going to keep my options open. I think I need to realize losing my colon should be the last resort - it's not just an easy way out to get my a "normal" life back.