Fecal Transplant - think I'm going to try it

I think trying with antibiotics is a good idea, even if you were on flagyl recently. It clears a lot out and makes room for the new bugs. I am constantly in a flare with my colitis and its hard for me to keep it in too, I feel you.... but Im doing what I can and its getting better each time.

Yeah its hard to say. After my successful F.T yesterday, I did not use the restroom the rest of the day (very rare for me). Today I had more solid stools, but still mucus. I think it might be working. I will start my 4th f.t in 5 days.

Im sure if the doctors in Sydney who do this on a daily basis recommend the antibiotics prior, then there is probably more evidence that it helps the process than doesn't.

7007, What antibiotics were you on?
Im no expert, but when I talked to Sharyn about a donor, she said to use someone who eats lots of fiber and goes to the bathroom consistently once a day. Maybe you can try your husbands or someone else's if your daughter isnt going every day?
I wish you luck.

I understand. Makes sense with your daughter. My mom is my donor, we both got tested for everything b/c sometimes you cannot detect parasites etc. I would say if it doesnt work with your daughter, maybe try one of your friends. It does not have to be a family member and it can be just as beneficial.

Do you think that this is making you better yet? It seems like you're back and fourth a little.

The specific antibiotics you go on (flagyl, vancomycin and one other) are specifically for this and plus are supposed to be taken right before you start the f.t's. DId you do a colonoscopy prep before your first f.t?

It seems like you're improving.  this can take a long time for the little guys to multiply.  i had a spasm last night (went 3 times in 20 minutes) which isnt horrible, but not good either.  its def not part of my plan to go once a day :)  i have had a little more mucus than usual.  i think this might be because part of the intestinal wall is healing from inflammation.  it has to leave my body some way.

i understand a colonoscopy preps flare you, they have done so to me in the past. 

how many infusions are you at now?  How much do you get in you and how long do you keep it?

when i start my fourth next week i will do hopefully at least 3 in a row so i will have a better idea if its working. 

I wonder about the idea of favoring a blood relative as a donor. If there is a genetic component to bowel disease, then might it not be possible that an unrelated donor would be preferable?

In any case, it seems that both related and unrelated donors have contributed to successful transplants. Seems that the tricky part is getting the required tests done.

ceekat said...
I wonder about the idea of favoring a blood relative as a donor. If there is a genetic component to bowel disease, then might it not be possible that an unrelated donor would be preferable?

In any case, it seems that both related and unrelated donors have contributed to successful transplants. Seems that the tricky part is getting the required tests done.

There was an article that recently came out showing that people can be divided into three bacteria types. I would think that if you use a blood relative, there would be a greater chance for the bacteria to take hold and for you not to have any negative side effects from the feces (although the only negative side effects seem to be worsening of the flare, which is not so bad in comparison to negative side effects for many UC drugs). If UC runs in your family, then I would think the you would also have less chance of getting the right kinds of bacteria for helping your flare. I'm just guessing here. There haven't been any studies to-date. No one knows for sure.

My GI says that the medical community is finding out more that bacteria plays a strong role in this disease. The problem is that they don't know enough yet about how it plays a role.

I used a blood relative. I'm the only one in my family who has digestive issues. It's from abusing antibiotics. Fecal transplantation saved my colon. Chances are that I got the right bacteria (due to no one having colon issues) and easily took hold (due to using feces from a relative).

Thanks. Yesterday I could only hold in about 30 mil for 30 min, so it stinks. I have u.c that runs in my family, but the doc in Sydney said it was fine to use my mom as my donor since she is healthy. Ive done 6 infusions and its hard to say if its helping. I went off all my herbs and some meds and I think I would normally be doing worse, so maybe its working very slowly, I was told this could take months for the little guys to multiply since my colon is so inflamed. Im going to do at least 4 more infusions, hopefully i will see a difference by then.

Hey people! can anyone tell me how they are going now? thanks!

Hi - August 14 marks 2 months from my FT. Still taking it day by day but I am symptom free.

Stacy

sas, how long were u able to keep the fecal matter in you for and how much?

Thanks cureuc. I still recommend the f.t's even though it didnt work for me. I couldnt hold in enough long enough. Are you starting them?

Congrats Stacy! Im moving to Sydney next week so I might do it via colonoscopy too down the road.. :)

Do you have a guess how you got colitis? If it was lots of antibiotics or something like that?

Good luck cureuc! Mine is more genetic than from antiobiotics, which works in your favor... I see many people who get better from the f.t's get better if they had abused antibiotics previously. Im sure it will work for you. Keep me updated. Who is doing the colonoscopy for you?