Am I getting "better"?

OK, over the holidays I moved from mild/moderate into severe flare. This means even if I drink water I gotta go - pretty much blood 6-8 times a day. Taking my meds/supplements, restricting the diet. This will usually bring me down to moderate, which is at least functional. Today I've been on the pot 10 times since I got up 4 hours ago, but it has included solids several times. This is usually a great sign, but it's been really painful. I think because the inflammation = swollen passage = pushing solids through a narrow space results in pain. Plus, I think the solids are dry due to dehydration. I have a tendency to stop putting anything in when I'm feeling this bad. So, I believe only a little can be forced out at a time, resulting in a bathroom visit every 20 minutes, because the rest is waiting there to come out.

Does this assessment sound logical? This is my 3rd flare and I'm still figuring this thing out. Any advice/input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

I actually have some Asacol, but my new GI doesn't seem to be a big advocate of it.

Yeah, nightly since about then. Every other or third night before that. My flare started in early/mid October for the third consecutive year. I was winning the battle until Dec 4th, when I got a 48 hour bug. No vomiting or D, just like a really bad cold. After that things got worse quick. Would you be able to explain physiologically why it left me flaring? I'll start back on some Asacol too.

Thanks Quince