Remission?

I am a 58 year old male diagnosed with left side ulcerative colitis in September 2005.  I have had various treatments, including Remicade, Imuran (unable to continue due to liver inflammation), Ascol, Pentasa, etc.  I keep reading about "flares" and "remissions" and wonder just how these are defined.  I have basically had UC symptoms for the entire 2 years since I was diagnosed.  Some days are better than others, but none have been without at least some symptoms.  I don't suffer from excessive bleeding or diarrhea, but I have from 3-8 painful bowel movements a day with various levels of urgency.  Can anyone enlighten me on this? 

evryone is different, its so hard to set a standard for a remission.. for me its:

-2/3 bm's a day.. (all within half an hour)
-well formed stool
-no blood
-no mucus
-no diarrhea
-no constipation
-no pain while emptying bowel
-no feeling of incomplete evacuation

I have been like that for 5 years now. Dont freak out if you get diarhea or constipation at one time or another. It may not be a flare up.. unless it lasts for a while.. im sure that 99% of people experience diarhea at some point! so just cause u have UC and you get diarhea doesnt mean you are sick. However, if you have blood then its a sure sign of a problem. For me my flare ups were likt his:

-countless bowel movements
-bms that are only gas or mucus or blood or very little stoool (very painful)
-extremely painful cramps that i have before having a bm and then they go once some mucus or blood or little stool comes out
-thin/small badly formed stool
-poor apetite
-tiredness
-waking up at night for bowel movement
-having extreme urgency for bms and now being able to hold it

etc.. those are the ones i can remember.. also doctors say that periods of remission can be periods of little symptoms which dont make you feel sick (ie a n extra bm a day etc). Also, remember that EVERYONE is different.. you have to compare yourself to how you were before having ulcerative colitis and add to that very slight discomfort (like an extra bm) and that would be your remission..

hope thath elps