when to call the surgeon?

Just so you know, I'm 26yrs old and diagnosed with pancolitis (UC) in Jan 2006.  I've been in and out of flares trying Asacol, Rowasa, Prednisone, and Remicade.  All these things aren't working any more.  I'm trying Entecort and Colazal now just to try something different.  I am trying to avoid 6mp/imuran/cyclosporine.

Because of this, I have now taken about 3wks off from work.  Now, I'm having 3-4 bloody BMs/day with some urgency.  I have been flaring since Jan 5th.

I know it's a very personal decision, but what was the tipping point for many of you for calling the surgeon?  I know that many of you had emergent colectomies, and I'm sorry to hear that.  I just feel very frustrated and don't know what to do to get better.  I'm wondering if having an ostomy is going to be a lower quality of life than living with the mild-mod symptoms that I have now.

When it became apparent that I was non-responsive to medication. I was having 10-20 bowel movements per day, urgency, and I had lost a tremendous amount of weight. I decided to have surgery when I realized that it was my best hope for a somewhat normal life.