Surgery

"GET THAT BITCH OUT!!!"  I think was one of the first things I said upon meeting my surgeon, terrified that my colon would blow any second.  The recommended surgical remedy for UC is J-Pouch surgery.  The surgeon removes the colon and rectum, creates the J-Pouch, a substitute reservoir for waste products, with the end of the small intestine.  It is kind of folded up and sewed together, resembling a J shape.  The pouch is then connected to the anus.  The procedure is usually done in 2 surgeries.  In the first, the surgeon removes the colon and rectum, creates the J-Pouch and a temporary loop ileostomy, which is part of the small intestine that is diverted to the outside of the abdominal wall.  A cherry-tomato-sized piece of the intestine, called a stoma, releases waste into an external bag connected to the abdomen.  This allows the pouch to heal properly.  The second surgery occurs about 3 months after the first and is called a 'reversal' or 'takedown.' The surgeon sews up the diverted small intestine and closes up the stoma.  Voila!  Waste again exits the body the way nature intended.

More info about surgery mechanics: 

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/lp/j-pouch/index.html
http://www.j-pouch.org/illustratedpouch/index.html
http://www.j-pouch.org/Illust.html

Because I was so sick, my procedure would take 3 surgeries:  the first to remove the colon, the second six months later to remove the rectum and create the J-pouch, and the third three months following the second to do the takedown.