i have had uc since 2003 my gastro has tried all meds available for this disease including steroids and nothing helped and am now on 4 colozide tabs per day for the past 6 months and now experiencing aching in my bones/joints/muscles,especially knees is this a side effect of the colozide tabs...my surgeon's/gastro latest suggestion is to remove most of my colon and have a stoma (bag) which am fighting hard to avoid - the ulcers in my colon seems to have calmed down a bit but my anus always feels like its on fire with my diarrhoea of 6/7 times a day(from 13 times) and like throbbing in my anus...i am soooooo desperate for help just dont know what to do..i really dont think i could handle living with a stoma although i appreciate lots of people out there have them...someone please reply to this would very much appreciate hearing from you and any advice/help you can provide will be very much appreciated. thanks. mischief xx