HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Fecal Transplant Advancements

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/23/2011 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
This is for C-diff, but if they make it more and more acceptable, then maybe we be able to "medically" have this done for UC in the future.

www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/183/5/541
Posted 3/23/2011 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
Is the reason that fecal transplants haven't taken off related to the fact that the procedure is, prima facie... sort of gross? Or is it a little bit dangerous, too?

Everyone seems to swear that it's the best way to go yet I've never heard a doctor even so much as mention them. I brought the procedure up to a doctor last year and he audibly sighed and went on to the next thing which embarrassed me a bit.
Posted 3/23/2011 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
They are done in US but only for C diff, not UC.
Posted 3/23/2011 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
I am not sure. I can't imagine it is the ick factor because when you have had a bad flare you are pretty much willing to do anything to make it stop, or reoccur.

My GI said that there is not enough research with regard to UC, and that it was all based on one single small (7 participants) in Australia - which is true. His words "if it was really effective, then there would be more studies on it".

I understand his point, but don't really agree with him. In the article, the Toronto Dr said that there are very few - if any - hospitals that will fund research studies because of the concern over liability and communicable disease. That sounds right.

I am on Remi right now, but I am considering the "home version" since I have no idea how long the Remicade will continue to work.
Posted 3/23/2011 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
I was going to do a fecal transplant, with my gi doctor's support (I have Crohn's colitis)..... he thinks it's promising, and fairly low risk, and he'd like to research it but is having trouble w/his Institutional review board (non gi docs just reject immediately....). Unfortunately, in my case, I developed a lot of bad complications and then he said my immune system was too compromised.... I ended up having an ileostomy, so it's not an option for me any more.... but there are definitely some gi docs who are very interested in this treatment (mine is at a major teaching hospital and is very prominent in the ibd field).
Posted 3/24/2011 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
'Success rate is not that high and you think your going to get it right in your garage' ?

That is what my GI said to me.
Posted 3/24/2011 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
Borody had a very high success rate in his study in Australia.... it was a small sample, but all six patients with UC achieved remission for over a year .... 100% success rate, at least initially.....

And let's face it, there's a lot more money for the pharma companies in things like remicade than in recycling poop (or in the helminth therapy either).... so there's not a lot of incentive for them to fund the research, and they do fund most of the research.... so the fact that it's not more researched does not imply that it's not effective (doesn't mean that it is effective either, definitely do need the research to happen)..... I know my doctor is having trouble w/the IRB because of the ick factor and that it just seems so wrong initially to do something like this, so the other doctors on the panel balk at it.... and there is a big risk of liability if something goes wrong....
Posted 3/24/2011 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I'm trying it! I let my GI . know what I was going to do...and he sorta gave me his blessing:) as he knew I would do it with our without. I am going to have my husbands stool tested and will get an antibiotic.  I am not thrilled about an anitbiotic at all but I understand that is the way it should be done. Hubby can't get checked till April 8th. So, I won't even start an antibiotic till i find out results of tests..which I would be shocked to find out something is wrong with him.  I will start antibiotic for 10 days then we start! I would sooo rather try this before Remi and Humira...Will let you guys know what when I start...I found the protocol online..

Donna

Posted 3/24/2011 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi pupluv, before you try FT, read this article:

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100823172331.htm

A few of us on this board have had success with FT (including me), without the antibiotic pretreatment process.



Thanks for posting the article mom2panda!
Posted 3/24/2011 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
There are a lot of great old posts on this forum, with lots of detailed advice, that's how I found this forum in the first place.

Good luck and keep us posted.
Posted 3/24/2011 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Runcycle...looks like I may be rethinking the antibiotics which I'm scared to do anyway.  Will let you know if my donor is good and I can proceed after April 8th!

Donna

Posted 3/24/2011 11:01 PM (GMT 0)

Wavefunction said...
Is the reason that fecal transplants haven't taken off related to the fact that the procedure is, prima facie... sort of gross? Or is it a little bit dangerous, too?

Neither.

The pharmaceutical industry is only going to support fecal transplantation if 1) they can make a pill out of it, and 2) they can make money from it.

I paid less than $5 for mine, and I didn't need to convert the feces into a pill first. Not very promising.

The medical industry is only going to support fecal transplantation if 1) it is a treatment that could be done in their office, and 2) the insurance industry covers it.

There is a possibility for a need for the medical industry's services because the donor's feces should be tested, the ick factor is reduced, and the feces could be implanted farther into the colon if medical equipment is used, which might result in higher success rates than if the procedure is done at home.

As of now, the medical industry doesn't have insurance support because not enough studies have been done showing the success of fecal transplantation. I doubt the pharmaceutical industry is going to undertake any studies. There isn't any money in it for them. In fact, they will probably do their hardest to keep it from becoming a valid procedure. Some doctors and medical facilities might conduct studies on their own. Thus, the procedure is increasing but hasn't "taken off."
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply