frequent ribbon stool

[boom5253]

I am a 62 year old male who has been diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, which is under control (no flare ups) for several years with the use of Remicade infusion every six weeks.  Stools are of "normal" texture/consistency, but are ribbon stools, about which my gastro-enterologist only shrugs his shoulders.    Recently, the frequency of my "urges" to go to the bathroom have increased dramatically, such that I went to the bathroom yesterday (for example) in excess of 12 times, only giving small "contributions" each time.  I recognize that any "stricture" in my bowel might not show up in a colonoscopy, because of the use of air in the colonoscopy process opening up where a stricture might be.  My annual colonoscopies show continued presence of U.C. rated as "severe" on the lower left side of the colon, but no polyps.  I recently read somewhere that the ribbon stools (as opposed to having a stricture in the bowel) might be occurring because of an "issue" with my sphincter/rectum.  A pharmacist friend of mine suggested  recently that my colon might be going into spasm.

If I can have my bowel/sphincter/rectum actually accomodate/compact larger amounts of stool before having to go to the bathroom, to my untrained mind, that would be an excellent solution.   However, my question is:  HOW DO I DECREASE THE FREQUENCY OF THE URGES, considering the fact that when the urges occur there is really very miniscule output???
Such frequent urges have rendered me a hostage to my bowels, and I would like a "normal" life, if possible.