Suggestion:
 

Hey, Bizi... glad you are doing so much better now.

I have a suggestion for the doxy issue... instead of probiotics, why not try Kefir? I was pretty ill this summer twice with some bug or gall bladder thing or whatever and a friend suggested Kefir to me and within 2 days....I was instantly better...after lingering for weeks!

Kefir by Lifeway has TWELVE cultures in it, and now I am using 4 oz daily. I use the plain because of the sugar in the flavored ones I have to avoid. Typical yogurts only have 3 to 6 cultures in comparison. Kefir is a drinkable yogurt. It is quite thick so I rinse out the cup with a bit of water and drink that too...not to waste one drop!
Kefir history and science:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kefir

You would have to space your Kefir away from the doxy of course.

Here is Lifeway's website. Do try one bottle --I do confess it took me a few days to get used to it, but I was pretty ill and nauseous back then. Now I just have mine before bedtime.

http://www.lifeway.net/

Our Kroger's has it, in the health food section of the store.
Most quality health food places carry it too. It is kept refrigerated.

Oh boy bizi, I had no idea you had this trouble going on. I am glad it's getting better. I know just how good working out feels, I have missed a couple of days because of fighting this stomach bug but I am right back to it as soon as I feel up to it because it's just so uplifting to do it. How is your arm and shoulder doing these days? better I hope. :D

Thanks mrs D,
I will have to look into that. I just started on the acidophilus yesterday, that is what the derm reccomended. all of these things are not cheap. the align was $34 for a 28 day supply and did not work in my mind. the acid was only $10 for a 30 day supply so that is much cheaper. I would not mind drinking the kefer before bed time as long as I can still drink my hard ciders....hmmmm.

thanks pammie,
my shoulder is much better, have lost some range of motion and it hurts sometimes but I don't think that will go away. something to live with now.
but thank you for asking.
I did not work out last night, felt like drinking instead...
~sigh
bizi

Bifantis is only one organism. (the special patent, is part of the higher cost IMO).

But you know, you could take both...Kefir + Align.
A quart lasts me about a week, if I don't have it twice a day.
About $4.00, or $5.00 for organic version. I've used both so far interchangably...sometimes the store runs out.

what about the acidafolus? Do you think that is not enough? I am going to stop the align so switching/adding kefer is a great idea. I hope I like the taste.
bizi

You could probably do a flavored one.

I have to avoid the extra sugar, so I use the plain one.
It is just like unflavored yogurt, and it is a bit more sour plain, with a "bite" of sorts. The first 2 days I started it, I was sooooo sick with my GI problem, and I managed it. Now I don't even notice the taste.

If you go to the website I gave the organisms are listed there somewhere.

I've had terrible gas and cramping for months...and this stopped it cold. I only wish I had known earlier! ;) Burps and hiccups which were torturing me too, are all gone!

I think anyone on antibiotics would do very well on the Kefir.
(pronounced KEEE fur).

There is a general wellbeing coming now for me. I wonder if fixing the GI tract might help your acne issue too? maybe;)

Dear Bizi

BRANDL: a product with multiple cultures is likely to be most effective - and will almost certainly include l.acidophilus and bulgaricus the most common.

ORGANISM TYPE AND COUNT: the one i have has 10 cultures but i don't think it is an international product. so you'd have to hunt... Mrs D's recommendation sounds similar ... the other important thing to look at is the organism COUNT, and i'm sure she checked that out.

ALCOHOL: the hard ciders with it... not such a great idea i'm afraid. alcohol in general is detrimental to "good" intestinal flora. so if you already need to replenish yours.... :o i'm actually surprised they didn't say no alcohol with the antibiotic - i didn't see it in the cautions either but i didn't look specifically.... for the rest of your life would pretty well suck though... i'd say just keep the probiotics at a safe distance from alcohol intake and be moderate with cider or beer in general.

SCHEDULE: it really doesn't matter what time you take the probiotics - key is getting them down there "safely." so if the best time for you is say, in the afternoon, long before you drink anything... do that. do whatever works best and don't go crazy over it.

most people would probably take a fire-fighting approach to this (if it ain't broke don't fix it... no diarrhea, no probiotics idea) whereas

YOU are already taking a well-informed and wholesome approach.

keep up the good work. remember it's about quality of life in the end.

~ waves ~

Fyi
 

Align didn't seem to do anything for me either. Kefir has done fine.

well I have had diarrhea, really soft stools, can't remember when they started. I have had complete control so that is good. I usually deal with the other end of this spectrum...constipation...this has been a relief actually, in that regard.
There is such a thing as an acne diet.
The paleo diet....like the cave mans diet...is too restrictive:
no sugar, no dairy, no legumes, no grains, nothing processed...
Only vegetables, meats, fruits, nuts, seeds, only sweet potatoes.
I can't give up my cheese!
kefur must be dairy....I think I have seen it in my grocery store.
my cider is gluten free....but the sugar content is sky high!
I believe this is also an anti inflamatory diet...i think.
Think I will run to the store to get some kefir.
thank you for your continued support.
bizi

Lifeway Kefir is 99% lactose free. And gluten free.

I really have not had such a wonderful response in my whole life!

All those 60 yrs of antibiotics were not fixed by eating traditional yogurt or Stoneyfield yogurt.

Try one bottle...you will see. I had results in 2-3 days. It was dramatic.

Only $4.00 for that experiment...and your life may change!