Roseacea and Anti Biotic question

I just had the tetracycline refilled as he has been having a roseacea outbreak.  With the weaning of the prednisone I was hoping it would not get worse...no such luck.  He is a mess right now.  Twice before the tetracycline cleared it up within 4-5 days.  The dosage requires 2 capsules per day for 2 weeks then one capsule per day for 2 weeks. Both times he took the full 4 weeks dosage.

I'll call the dermatologist next week.  I know when you start an anti biotic you should take the FULL dose.  Any comments on maybe only taking it for a week or two instead of the entire 4 weeks?  Once it appears to have cleared up I would really like to see if we could stop it as I am so concerned with screwing up the good bacteria.  I really don't want to mess up anything that is progressing with the imuran and scared to death to put him back into a major flare.

The roseacea really should not go untreated for any real length of time especially with the point it is currently at.

He had a terrible day yesterday - extremely painful BMs with a ton of stuff eliminating.  Painful before, during and after but a relief of sorts when it was all done and over with.  Absolutely wiped out and fatigued.  He is obviously still flaring but nowhere near where he was that put him in the hospital in May.

I'm hoping that the weaning of the prednisone isn't wreaking havoc and starting to mess things up.  I hope Mayo Clinic calls me with a cancellation and we can get there earlier than Oct 1st.  I am at my wits end trying to do the right thing and hopefully not messing things up.  Of course it is Sunday and a holiday weekend and just going by what we have done in the past and hope it is ok.

We needed more acidophilus and the pharmacist said to take it 3 times a day to hopefully help.  My anxiety level is to the max right now...any suggestions.

---

60 yr old male~Colitis 1st diagnosed Jan '05-cleared up within a few wks. Flared again in May '06 ... left sided UC now, fully involved and trying to get in remission. Acute inflammation-pancolitis-tenesmus rectal pain-granulation is showing some healing started. Osteopena of spine from prednisone DX 8/07  July 07 good days & bad days 75mg Imuran 40  mg prednisone (tapering 8/07) 12 Asacol, Lidocaine Hydrochloride Jelly 2%,multi vitamin, iron 3X day, DanActive, chewable calcium, Prilosec 20mg, enalapril 10mg, glipizide 5 mg, zocor 20 mg, baby aspirin, (Fentanyl pain patch 50mg 72 hrs  Morphine Sulf 15 mg twice daily)Colocourt enemas at night. Fosamax and mthly B12 shots folic acid 1mg

Hi there Sherry.....When I posted the thread he had not started the tetra yet....he started it Monday at 4pm.  Just gave him his 4th dose.....yesterday rested, had an enema and retained it for 4 hrs - felt rather good yesterday - no additional pain meds - played cards with the guys last night and came home feeling ok.  Feels rather good right now.....go figure.

I took the advice and he agreed - I bought some Ensures and he is going to have one of those a day in place of a meal to try to not have the colon work so hard with the food.

Also a major thing happened these past few days.  He can SAFELY pass gas.  His BMs having more form is allowing this and not having an accident if he wasn't on a toilet to pass gas in case there was liquid to go along with it.  This is encouraging we think?????

It's so funny - I heard him the other day do this in bed and quickly commented as he hasn't done that for probably 6+ months. 

Also today before having this dose he got up and already the face, forehead and top of his head are noticeably better.  In 4/5 days as I said it is usually gone.  That is why I am hoping we can do a much shorter regime of the tetra.  I am dropping a note off to the dermatologist explaining in detail so I am hoping he says 10 or 14 days is ok in place of the 28 days.

This is so darn confusing to say the least.  We really don't want to up the prednisone unless things look like they are going backwards.

Maybe his discomfort off and on is some of the foods he is eating.  That is the only area I have a problem with him.  I can't watch him every second.  I can control what I cook and give him but if he has something here or there or experiments which he has done a little here and there that may be it.

With all the stuff I am keeping track of I figured 2 weeks before Mayo I will keep a log on the BMs, day, date, frequency, pain, type etc. and also a food diary to go along with it to see if there is any correlation and if it is important for the Mayo Dr's assessment.

I don't want to sound like a martyr but I am getting a bit worn out trying to keep track of everything and also doing everything.  While he is undependable helping me out it puts alot more strain on keeping everything together sometimes.  (That's where this forum is a really big help for me..............it has helped me keep it together more than once.  I appreciate all the help and guidance.)

---

60 yr old male~Colitis 1st diagnosed Jan '05-cleared up within a few wks. Flared again in May '06 ... left sided UC now, fully involved and trying to get in remission. Acute inflammation-pancolitis-tenesmus rectal pain-granulation is showing some healing started. Osteopena of spine from prednisone DX 8/07  July 07 good days & bad days 75mg Imuran 40  mg prednisone (tapering 8/07) 12 Asacol, Lidocaine Hydrochloride Jelly 2%,multi vitamin, iron 3X day, DanActive, chewable calcium, Prilosec 20mg, enalapril 10mg, glipizide 5 mg, zocor 20 mg, baby aspirin, (Fentanyl pain patch 50mg 72 hrs  Morphine Sulf 15 mg twice daily)Colocourt enemas at night. Fosamax and mthly B12 shots folic acid 1mg