Entyvio or other biologics?

Hi everyone,
I’m a 30-year-old male with a relatively mild case of ulcerative proctitis. Every time I’ve experienced rectal bleeding, I went straight to the ER and received treatment right away, so I’ve never had prolonged bleeding or gone weeks or months with active symptoms.

I completed a course of rectal hydrocortisone enemas, so the steroid acted locally, and I’m currently using mesalamine suppositories and mesalamine enemas.

My gastroenterologist doesn’t think Entyvio is a bad medication at all. His plan is to see how I do on the rectal mesalamine over the summer before deciding whether I need to escalate to a biologic, and I completely understand his reasoning.

The problem is that I’m honestly living in fear of another flare. Even though my disease is considered mild, I constantly worry about it coming back. I just got married and am leaving for my honeymoon from August 20th through September 2nd, so my anxiety has definitely been higher because I don’t want to flare while I’m away.

I’m considering asking my gastroenterologist again for his opinion on Entyvio because it’s gut-specific and seems to have a favorable safety profile.

I had a few questions for those of you with personal experience:
If you had a mild case like mine, would you have started a biologic, or would you have stayed on mesalamine as long as it was working?

For those on Entyvio, how has your experience been?
What do you consider the safest biologic for ulcerative colitis and why?

Did anyone experience side effects such as hair shedding/loss, acne, fatigue, headaches, weight changes, or anything else?

If you experienced hair shedding, do you think it was from the biologic itself, from the rectal hydrocortisone, or from the flare?

I also take Vyvanse daily for ADHD, and my gastroenterologist told me there are no interactions between Vyvanse and Entyvio.

I have been taking Nutrafol (for 5 years) and other vitamins because I try to stay on top of my overall health, and one of my biggest concerns is hair shedding. As a male, that’s something I really worry about.

I know everyone responds differently, and I’ll ultimately follow my gastroenterologist’s recommendation. I’m just hoping to hear real-life experiences from people who’ve been in a similar situation.

Thanks so much—I really appreciate any advice or experiences you’re willing to share.