Posted 3/25/2017 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
Ok so here's a bit of a doozy update:
I thought I'd get a second opinion from my long-time GI (who is out of state, so I don't see him anymore), just to get his $0.02. He was ASTONISHED that my current GI would jump right to Prednisone after a flare.
He said that would not be his recommended treatment. He suggested I try Canasa or Rowasa as the "front line of attack" and if they don't bring me into full remission within two weeks, he'd then consider stronger treatments but still NOT PREDNISONE. He suggested corticosteroid enemas, creams or foams would be something he'd prescribe ahead of Prednisone. He also mentioned Budesonide, as it is something I've taken and tolerated well in getting out of a flare in the past. He also said that if this is simply Proctitis, there is no feasible reason he can think of as to why Prednisone would be prescribed. He made sure to say "I don't want you to mistake this for my advice, it's just how I would treat the same thing. I don't want to get into a war of medical opinions with the doctor you're now seeing, especially since I can't treat you and haven't checked you out." But he emphasized how he wouldn't recommend Prednisone given the symptoms I described.
He concurred that people with UC don't tend to get abscesses and that it's possible I have Crohn's Colitis, but said that has nothing to do with treatment methods.
I then called up my Insurer and scheduled an appointment with another GI for Monday to get a second opinion. I'm going to relay my concern about taking Prednisone and reiterate what my past GI said, and make sure to let him know that I trust both doctors, but am inclined to listen more carefully to the one who has treated me for the majority of my time experiencing UC and express my hesitations with taking Prednisone.
So I suppose we'll see how that goes. Once again...it just never ends...