Hoshi, I don't think you ever have to convince a doctor, you should be able to do research and find CR surgeons and consult. Do you have PPO insurance? HMO is a pain with the referrals...
I have to say that I feel a lot better the past few weeks and it came out of no where. I was doing terribly and now I feel great. It's time like these that makes me feel like surgery is unnecessary for me. What if a month ago when things were headed down the tubes, I went and had surgery and removed my colon? I would just be starting to get used to having an ostomy and desperately awaiting takedown. At the same time, you're right, UC wouldn't be looming over me like a black cloud every day of my life. I do worry that I have an inflated idea of the stability of my condition, I feel better than I have in years, even better than my last remission. I hope it stays this way but I have to remember that tomorrow could be the start of a bad cycle. I am hoping it's not but you never know and we live wondering what tomorrow holds. If that stresses you, maybe surgery is for the best. I have started taking medication for my anxiety and I feel like I have a slightly better handle on things now. I can't say I will forever but today, I feel like I can deal with what tomorrow holds and I want to hang on to my colon for as long as possible. Having surgery with children has to be tough too, it's a long recovery but I think I would wait if I could too. Never know, I have a friend who said her UC became much less severe after pregnancy. She now has minor blips that cause gas and a little blood but they are all rectified with enemas. Maybe you will have a similar situation.
I can say for sure that this week I have not missed out on anything I wanted to do. I went to the dentist, hiked a few miles, went out to happy hour, dinner... UC doesn't mean we can dow hat we want to do, so long as we can control it, it won't control us.