floating stools post FMT - can anyone relate?

If you have had or are considering an FMT please share your experiences here.
hppyppy
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Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2016 9:28 pm

floating stools post FMT - can anyone relate?

Postby hppyppy » Sun Mar 06, 2016 9:37 pm

Hello all,

like many other people on this support group, I have had quite a long, up and down roller coaster battle with c diff. It started from being prescribed Clindamycin back in September for a UTI infection when the first antibiotic failed, and weeks later I developed the symptoms that I would later discover to be c diff. Long story short, after several months of several different antibiotics, I was becoming increasingly hopeless and miserable. Finally, after being referred to a Gastroenterologist, I was soon after referred to an infectious disease specialist who was able to perform an FMT on me via oral capsules using my mother as a donor. This was last tuesday, and 5 days later, I am feeling more normal than I have since this all started. My stools have been formed and once daily, with one exception of diarrhea yesterday most likely due to some minor lactose intolerance I developed while battling this for so long. I have noticed, however, that my stools continue to float in the toilet even after having the FMT. Is this the case for anyone else after having an FMT, and is it reason to worry? Or does my digestive system just need time to heal itself? Any experiences, knowledge, or thoughts would be incredibly helpful!

richlin
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Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2016 11:05 am

Re: floating stools post FMT - can anyone relate?

Postby richlin » Sun Mar 06, 2016 11:16 pm

I'm 4 weeks out of an FMT. I have non formed stools about 70% of the time. I still go about 3-4x a day, gurgling stomach, gassy, urgency. However, 1 week out my GDH and toxin test came back negative.

Unfortunately, from a symptom perspective I feel about 80% of the same as when I had c diff. Honestly, not sure if this is really recovery or that c diff is still in my system low grade.

beth22
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Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 2:23 pm

Re: floating stools post FMT - can anyone relate?

Postby beth22 » Mon Mar 07, 2016 3:35 am

Floating stools can be a sign of malabsorption, especially of fats. I would tell your GI if it continues. Some people, like me, developed pancreatic issues post c diff. There are blood tests to test for elevated pancreatic enzymes and also a fecal fat test to see if you are malabsorbing. I would give it a little time though.

I had a lot of IBS symptoms post FMT and it turned out to be SIBO. There is a breath test for that.

georgina
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Re: floating stools post FMT - can anyone relate?

Postby georgina » Mon Mar 07, 2016 6:47 am

Hi Hppyppy
Congratulation on FMt , it has a high cure rate, hopefully it's done the trick for you.I'm 14 weeks post FMT via naso-gastric tube and ever since i've had a lot of weird BM that float in the toilet but no more then once or twice a day.Recovery is nerve wreaking , you have to give it some time for you gut to heal.Try to stick to a non-fat ,low sugar diet ,maybe it will help firm up the stool.

Lisa33
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Joined: Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:45 pm

Re: floating stools post FMT - can anyone relate?

Postby Lisa33 » Mon Mar 07, 2016 11:50 am

STANDARD INTRODUCTION:
Welcome to the site. Read the first forum “All Users Read This First” and subtopics “Site History” and “Information and Guidelines for Posting to our Discussion Boards.” (Note limits on posting.) This will guide you in using the site and answer some of your questions. Read Dr. Borody's articles. Also see the topics under “CDI” – particularly Recent CDC Report, C. diff. Bible, Tests, Antibiotics, Hygiene, and Nutrition.
“Doctors” lists physicians our posters recommended and also a worldwide list of C. diff. specialists with contact information. (Many perform FMT's.) See the forum “FMT’s and FE’s” or “Media Reports” for new information on C. diff.
The majority of patients (about 70%) recover with one to two rounds of Flagyl, vancomycin, or Dificid. An unfortunate small percentage doesn’t and can suffer for months. Most recover unless there are factors such as advanced age or other severe health problems. New treatments include FMT's, which have a high cure rate. Other drugs and treatments are in the pipeline, and there is increased recognition of C. diff. 20l6 will be a year of many advances and HOPE.
Help us make others aware of C. difficle – which will lead to further advances in treating and/or preventing the infection. If antibiotics contributed to your C. diff, be careful about taking them. Some people tolerate them; some develop C. diff again. Don’t take medications for C. diff. unless you are tested.
For more information, see other support groups including http://www.peggyfoundation.org, Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI) Support Group, FMT Discussion, Fecal Transplant Foundation, C Diff Foundation, and the UK Support Site. There is also information on some of the better medical sites like Mayo's, Medscape, and WebMD, and the CDC website. Don't use "Dr. Google" to diagnose yourself.
This is a support site not a medical site. We can’t give you medical advice but can tell you what worked for us and offer support. The best protection for you and others is thorough hand washing (soap and water are preferable) and good hygiene by you, those around you, and your health care providers.
No one will understand what you are going through except someone who has/had this unpredictable disease. All of our moderators and frequent posters had/have C. diff. (or a loved one with it) and know how physically, emotionally, and financially disabling it is.
Again, welcome. Remember, the odds are in your favor. (End of letter.)

I just wanted to give you the official welcome letter. As the others said, it can take time to heal and get back to some sort of normalcy. I guess the best thing to do is to tell your doctor and see what he or she says. As Beth said, I also heard that floating stools can be a sign of malabsorption. I did not have an FMT, but did experience the floating BMs at times in recovery after c-diff. It can just be that your body needs time to heal though.

Lisa


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