JJA,
Thanks for your input. My Doctor seems to want me to wean antibiotics down rather than Entocort. I have the opposite unshakeable feeling as you do, that I would be dead meat without antibiotics, but I would get by if I took antibiotics with no Entocort (as I did for 17 years, before going on Entocort in June).
Regarding your reporting of side effects of Entocort, I have some minor issues with acne which preexist Entocort but flared recently. I also went for an eye exam last week and although I have a diagnosis of CSR (Central Seruos Retinopathy) dating back to 2009, the retinal specialist told me that some fluid blisters noted in my right eye (which were not too close to the retina) may be due to the Entocort. He said the Entocort may not help the CSR situation I have. Other than these issues which may be non-issues, I have not had any problems with the Entocort that approach the issues I had with Prednisone.
My doctor's current plan is to keep me on 9 mg of Entocort daily, and wean me down (but not off of) antibiotics until next June's scope. The next step he wants me to do is go down on the flagyl from 1000 mg to 500 while taking 1000 mg cipro and then report back to him.
When I rotate onto xifaxin and then augmentin we will discuss incremental reductions of my dosages of those antibiotics.
Thanks again for your input.