DIY FMT questions

If you have had or are considering an FMT please share your experiences here.
Mmm
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DIY FMT questions

Postby Mmm » Mon Sep 02, 2019 5:29 pm

Husband and I are at the point where we are ready to give it a go ourselves. How should I have him tested? I don’t think my GI will order labs for him and I don’t want to put anything bad in myself.

I’m currently on vanco for c diff #3 but just developed a UTI and being treated with macrobid at the same time. I’m assuming I have to wait until I’m done the macrobid (5 days) and I will continue the vanco even more.

What are the next steps? Laxative, FT (how often?) and then stop all vanco?

Thank you! I have tried the ‘conventional’ route and after 10 days my hospital isn’t even giving me my records to go to a better specialist.

georgina
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Re: DIY FMT questions

Postby georgina » Wed Sep 04, 2019 12:45 am

DYI FMT should be done under a doctor's supervision. Donor needs to be screened for Cdiff , ova and parasites , culture for other pathogens , blood work for hepatitis , hiv etc . I have done 20 home enemas in the past with my husband as donor , screened of course . I have not done a laxative prep but did a micralax enema to empty the contain of the bowel before my first infusion. I did 5 infusions in a row , one per day and after that i did one every two or three days .
You can search for more info about home FMT with the search box.

Mmm
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Re: DIY FMT questions

Postby Mmm » Wed Sep 04, 2019 7:55 am

Thank you. I am going to ask my GI tomorrow but he’s all about ‘openbiome’. I’m hoping he’ll run the tests for my husband - I don’t know where else to get labs ordered for him but I feel it’s crucial. He’s in no meds, good health, etc but I won’t do it unless he’s screened. Thank you.

beth22
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Re: DIY FMT questions

Postby beth22 » Wed Sep 04, 2019 11:36 pm

I did home FMT as well and my donor had the same tests that Georgina mentioned. He should at least have his stool tested because you can be a carrier of a pathogen that won't affect the donor, but would to a compromised intestine. Some doctors don't test for HIV, syphillis, etc. for a spouse because if you are intimate with that person, you are exposing yourself anyway. But, I would discuss it with your doctor.

roy
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Re: DIY FMT questions

Postby roy » Thu Sep 05, 2019 4:23 am

Keep in mind that openbiome reject 19 out of 20 donors as unsuitable.
Most are rejected before they are even tested.

CindyP
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Re: DIY FMT questions

Postby CindyP » Sat Sep 07, 2019 8:46 am

I read that intimate partner's micro biomes are very similar to each other, and they are the best source for a donor. But I agree with what everyone else has stressed, tests first!

(Sorry - I can't find the article that supports this claim...)

NanciT
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Re: DIY FMT questions

Postby NanciT » Tue Sep 17, 2019 10:15 am

Just some additional info, not sure if you have tried Dificid. Vanco can CAUSE bladder irritation and symptoms of UTI. A culture should always be done. We have had this info on the site with several posters getting bladder irritation from Vanco including myself.

You did not mention Dificid, it has worked for many including myself

Feel better soon

NanciT

Mmm
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Re: DIY FMT questions

Postby Mmm » Tue Sep 17, 2019 10:28 am

Thank you. The culture for the urine did come back + for ecoli. I was put on macrobid while on vanco and held my breath. In two days I am flying out of state to see a much better doctor than mine who told me ‘just stop your vanco after and it your get it again you do.’ No taper nothing. Keep in mind I’ve had it 3 times.

Praying for either difficid or a FMT process to start tomorrow.

NanciT
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Re: DIY FMT questions

Postby NanciT » Wed Sep 18, 2019 10:59 am

Wishing you the best with the new MD. It can be so difficult but hang in there. I was on Vanco for 10 days and then 3 month taper which failed. The bladder issues continued for sometime post Vanco, good to hear they did a culture.

Hope all goes well


NanciT

roy
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Re: DIY FMT questions

Postby roy » Wed Sep 18, 2019 11:05 am

Hopefully Beth will explain about bacteria count and when to treat, she knows more about that than me.
Also the art of "clean catch" and " mid stream" is very important for urine samples.

beth22
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Re: DIY FMT questions

Postby beth22 » Thu Sep 19, 2019 12:09 am

I don't know much about bladder infections,although my mother suffered from them. If I remember right, the bacterial count is supposed to be over 100,000 in order to treat. On a few occasions my mother had a lower count and I don't think they gave her antibiotics. A urologist would be the person to ask.

If you are talking about a test to see the bacterial count of c difficile, one million per gram is considered an active infection. I was tested by a specialty lab years ago and it was much less than that, so I was told not to treat. That is not usually done. It was done for me by a doctor in Canada who was doing some research.


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