Have you ever heard of a Fecal Transplant?

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Have you ever heard of a Fecal Transplant?

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Contributor: Beck Beck
Last night I was watching the British medical show Embarrassing Bodies. Their topic of the day was bowel movements. As the episode went on; the topic of Fecal Transplant's came up.

I've never heard of this until that episode. And My first thought was EWWWWWW! However, it's pretty genius! The idea behind fecal transplants is to take fecal matter from someone with a healthy flora in the digestive tract and put it inside someone who doesn't have a healthy flora in digestive tract. This should help restore the healthy bacteria in your digestive tract.

Anyhow, my questions are...Have you ever heard of this before? Have you ever had one or someone you know? And what would you say to having a fecal transplant, if the Dr recommended one to you?
Answers (private voting - your screen name will NOT appear in the results):
Question: Have you ever heard of this before?
1
I have heard of this before.
19
I haven't heard of this before.
34
Other (question 1)???
Question: Have you ever had one or someone you know?
I have had a fecal transplant.
1
Someone I know has had a fecal transplant.
2
I have not had a fecal transplant.
34
No one I know has had a fecal transplant....
40
Other (question 2)???
Question: What would you say to having a fecal transplant, if the Dr recommended one to you?
I would listen to my Dr.
14
Ewwww......
17
I'd have to think long and hard about that....
23
There is no way I would ever do that.
8
Other (final question)
3
Total votes: 196 (56 voters)
Poll is closed
07/24/2012
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Contributor: Gary A. Gary A.
I think I just threw up in my mouth a little. Never heard of this but wtf? Ill pass on this kind of thing haha. Thanks for telling us though, I would have never heard of such a thing otherwise.
07/24/2012
Contributor: - Kira - - Kira -
OMG Ew. If it was needed, I may consider it, but I'd be thinking about it for a while. I've never heard of this before. It makes me wonder how they go about coming up with ideas like this to experiment and see if they'll work.
07/24/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
Quote:
Originally posted by Gary A.
I think I just threw up in my mouth a little. Never heard of this but wtf? Ill pass on this kind of thing haha. Thanks for telling us though, I would have never heard of such a thing otherwise.
That was my first reaction too. Though, a fecal transplant isn't something I would need as of now. It's something I would consider if my Dr recommended one. You can become deathly ill if the healthy flora isn't restored. If something that simple is the fix; then it's worth taking the transplant.
07/24/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
Quote:
Originally posted by - Kira -
OMG Ew. If it was needed, I may consider it, but I'd be thinking about it for a while. I've never heard of this before. It makes me wonder how they go about coming up with ideas like this to experiment and see if they'll work.
I wonder too. But what makes me wonder the most is who they get the donations from? Do they ask a close family member? Are their lines of people lining up to donate?
07/24/2012
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
I'm a nurse and I've never heard of it. There are other ways of getting good bacteria into someone's body. I've heard of swallowing acidophilus or other probiotics and even using them as a enema. But, not the whole stool!

My guess would be people who need this have had serious issues with their bowels, long term antibiotic use, long lasing diarrhea, illnesses that destroy the good bacteria etc. These people need the bacteria restored, but I would think someone else's stool has the ability to cause as many problems as it may solve. Everyone carries bacteria that they themselves are not bothered by having in their GI tract, but some of those bacterium or other beasties (even parasites) that live in GI tracts could be a problem for someone else.

I wonder how intense the study of the "donor poo" is?
07/24/2012
Contributor: puppylove puppylove
I heard about this on an episode of Grey's Anatomy and my first thought was "OH HELL NO!"
07/24/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
I'm a nurse and I've never heard of it. There are other ways of getting good bacteria into someone's body. I've heard of swallowing acidophilus or other probiotics and even using them as a enema. But, not the whole stool!

My ... more
From the episode I watched they did say that this is something that was more for those who are really sick from all the things you mention.
07/24/2012
Contributor: blondie blondie
I read about it on cracked a few days ago and was really grossed out
07/24/2012
Contributor: Ash1141 Ash1141
Ew but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
07/24/2012
Contributor: laflauta laflauta
Ugh, that sounds so nasty. But if it was the only option for making me healthy again, I would reluctantly do it.
07/24/2012
Contributor: Kindred Kindred
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
I'm a nurse and I've never heard of it. There are other ways of getting good bacteria into someone's body. I've heard of swallowing acidophilus or other probiotics and even using them as a enema. But, not the whole stool!

My ... more
Most intestinal flora would not survive the digestive processes of the upper GI, that's why the effectiveness of probiotics orally is questionable.
07/24/2012
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Beck
From the episode I watched they did say that this is something that was more for those who are really sick from all the things you mention.
SCORE! I mean... how awful for them.

In all seriousness, I'm thinking about it and a fecal transplant would actually be more like "whole blood" rather than just vitamins for say, someone who was seriously anemic. It would contain micro-"nutrient" type bacteria and other things, if taken from an already healthy person. Someone whose GI tract is working well and has a natural, healthy bacterial balance.

I wonder how they get it in there and where in the GI tract they place it. Now, I'm curious.
07/24/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
SCORE! I mean... how awful for them.

In all seriousness, I'm thinking about it and a fecal transplant would actually be more like "whole blood" rather than just vitamins for say, someone who was seriously anemic. It would ... more
They showed this one the episode. They insert a tube through your noise all the way down to the stomach. And then start draining it inside. They mix healthy poo with a saline solution and strain it for particles.
07/24/2012
Contributor: brevado brevado
I think it's a little ridiculous. While you'd be getting good flora (presumably, if they survive the transplant process), I think you'd also be taking on some stuff that may not be compatible with your own GI. There's plenty of probiotics that are designed to last through the upper GI, and deliver a reasonable quantity of flora to your gut.
07/24/2012
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Beck
They showed this one the episode. They insert a tube through your noise all the way down to the stomach. And then start draining it inside. They mix healthy poo with a saline solution and strain it for particles.
In your stomach? Wow, I'm surprised. My guess would be the acid environment of the stomach would kill many good bacterium. The method does not sound pleasant, either. I'm guessing they've experimented with different "transplant" methods and are using the one that works the best, though.

Amazing. Thanks, Beck. I don't work in GI and never have, but I do find this stuff (medical procedures and technology) fascinating.
07/24/2012
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by brevado
I think it's a little ridiculous. While you'd be getting good flora (presumably, if they survive the transplant process), I think you'd also be taking on some stuff that may not be compatible with your own GI. There's plenty of ... more
My guess is the people who need this have had severe GI issues and severe absorption issues. People with long term parasitic infections, amoebic dysentery, other forms of severe long lasting diarrhea, have had to use massively strong antibiotics for life threatening infections etc don't have the absorption ability, plus motility issues in the gut, plus usually flattened villa that may prevent regular store bought pro-biotics from taking hold.

The more I think abut it, the better an idea for a very select population of seriously ill people this seems like.
07/24/2012
Contributor: unfulfilled unfulfilled
Learn something new everyday.
07/24/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
In your stomach? Wow, I'm surprised. My guess would be the acid environment of the stomach would kill many good bacterium. The method does not sound pleasant, either. I'm guessing they've experimented with different "transplant" ... more
I find it fascinating too. I thought of you when posting the topic. I knew you would be by to comment.

I'm sure they have experimented with different ways. On Wikipedia it says there are various ways to do the "transplant." ; Even in enema forms.
07/24/2012
Contributor: Gina RPG Geek Gina RPG Geek
Quote:
Originally posted by Gary A.
I think I just threw up in my mouth a little. Never heard of this but wtf? Ill pass on this kind of thing haha. Thanks for telling us though, I would have never heard of such a thing otherwise.
huh?
07/24/2012
Contributor: Hot'n'Bothered Hot'n'Bothered
I actually have heard of it. (Haven't had it or know anyone who has). My inital reaction is of course 'ew'...

But the types of situations where they recommend this, the patient is absolutely miserable. So I'd give it a whirl. Just knock me out first. LOL..
07/24/2012
Contributor: Gracie Gracie
I saw the grey's anatomy episode with this. I would think this is very rarely done.
07/24/2012
Contributor: Feisty Feisty
wow, i have not heard of that before. im little grossed out
07/24/2012
Contributor: bayosgirl bayosgirl
I'd heard of it before. I'd never do it unless my life was in grave danger though. Otherwise, probiotics work just fine.
07/24/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
No way in hell. I'm barely tolerant of other peoples saliva being near me, much less their waste matter. That's just disgusting and I seriously have to question the thought process of the person who first decided this was a good idea.
07/24/2012
Contributor: MissCandyland MissCandyland
Oh wow. I've never heard of it before. But if my doctor suggested it, I would really have to think about it and get every bit of information on it that I could. My health is more important than a "gross factor."
07/24/2012
Contributor: emilia emilia
I think i will be sick
07/24/2012
Contributor: BlooJay BlooJay
Wow...it never ceases to amaze me what they come up with.
07/24/2012
Contributor: lulz lulz
Never heard of it and it sounds pretty gross
07/24/2012
Contributor: Bullfroggy and Rose Bullfroggy and Rose
love to know who came up with this
07/24/2012