Hello and welcome to YT.
I am sorry your boy has this, but take heart, many pups do very well. My Cookie has IBD and PLE (lymphangectasia). She was diagnosed in Dec. 2011 and is doing very well.
As for the steroid, it is very, very important! I understand your concern, but this is a very serious condition and if your vet feels he needs it, then he does!! I was told at first that Cookie would be on prednisone for the rest of her life. The dose was gradually reduced as she continued to show improvement in her albumin levels but then for somet time was on a low dose every other day. She has finally been taken off of it because she has done so well for so long.
The main thing (other than the medication) is diet. Proper diet is the key to these pups doing well. I was going to consider RC low fat diet but then, after speaking at length with the internal med specialist, decided to do a consult with a vet nutritionist. She is still on that diet and is doing very well.
You can find a nutritionist at:
American College of Veterinary Nutrition
Here is a link to Cookie's story:
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...ia-update.html
Feel free to message me if you have any questions or just need to talk with someone.