@susiequeue, I'll let other members who have used prednisone weigh in with their experiences and thoughts.

My initial thoughts are to go with your rheumatologist's recommendation. She knows you the most thoroughly. The ER doctor is not as familiar with you.

I know you're upset and that you feel like all your careful and hard work tapering to 5 mg a day will be gone. But your will power and confidence that you can do it is not gone. You can do this.