a couple of questions

[farmer]

Hello all

I've been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and I'm really interested
in finding out more about fecal bacteriotherapy. I've been researching
this for the last week or two and reading everything I can get my eyes
on. I first started having problems with blood and mucous when I was
19 back in 1989. I went into the hospital for 3 days and was given
sulfasalazine and maybe prednisone. I got better rather quickly and
was given the diagnosis back then of procto-colitis. I went into
remission for 10 years and I never thought much about the disease I
was diagnosed with. It all came back when I turned 30. I had a
colonoscopy then and was given the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. I
did the the whole asacol, prednisone, sulfasalazine, rowasa enema and
colozal thing for the next few years...not continuous but during
flares. I then went on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) by Elaine
Gottschall and I saw results immediately. I was able to get off meds
and just did SCD. I would flare on occasion but would just fight
through it. I did have a really bad flare a couple of years ago and
stupidly did not resort to prednisone and sulfasalazine until I was
really wiped out and emaciated. I did finally get better with the
prednisone and sulfasalazine, all while still doing SCD. I did really
well for about a year and half with just SCD and started to flare
again this past Christmas, probably due to holiday stress. I resorted
to prednisone and sulfasalazine rather quickly and got better pretty
quick. I was still seeing blood and very little mucous, but was having
formed stools. I just recenlty had a colonoscopy at the urging of my
girlfriend in early March of 08 and the GI said I had quite a bit of
scar tissue, some inflammation and quite a few psuedo-polyps. I had
even more blood after the colonoscopy but things aren't too bad right
now but there is still some minor bleeding. I'm also on prednisone and
sulfasalazine...kind of medium to high dosage of both but am slowly
tapering down.

Sorry so long, but I'm trying to givea detailed account of what is
happening with me and bring you up to date.

My GI doesn't think much of SCD and pretty much dismisses any
connection with people who are able to heal and maintain remissions
longer while following the diet. I'm really wanting to make sure or
verify that it is UC and not Crohns, MAP or C-diff. I've been tested
for C-diff toxins A and B and that came back negative. Pathologist
reports have come back positive for UC and I guess I really have no
reason to think otherwise other than the fact I don't have much faith
in GI's and others. I've been through a lot a bad doctors who really
have no clue. I'm kind of wondering if maybe my UC has turned into
Crohns or I have have both UC and Crohns now.

With all that aside, I'm really hoping to be able to talk to someone
or email directly with just a couple of questions I have about the
fecal bacteriothereapy at Dr. Thomas Borody's place in Australia. I
guess it doesn't have to be directly but thought that might be easier.
It would of course be on my dime and I promise it wouldn't be drawn
out like above letter. I am seriously considering this procedure and
would love to be able to correspond with the person/s who've gone
through it and the person getting ready to have it done it May. My
email address is
wellknow...@hotmail.com I would really appreciate just a few
minutes of your time. I realize I need to set up a phone consultation
with the clinic in Australia but I just have a couple of questions.
Thank you all very much and I hope all are doing well and are in good
health.

Michael

[j]

Hi,

Please note that last time I checked, Dr. Borody's clinic would not do
phone consults with overseas patients. I think the main problem is
that they are overloaded with patients and inquiries.

I believe they will see you if you book an appointment and treatment,
though.

I had the treatment in 2003, and will try to answer your questions.
Please post them here so all can benefit.

J

> wellknownswell...@hotmail.com I would really appreciate just a few

[Cyrus David]

Hi J - that is awesome that you went to Australia for the treatment.  Are you an Ulcerative Colitis patient?  Did it cure you?  Were you on drugs before the procedure, and are you off of them now?

[j]

Hi,

I am a IBS patient, its onset was in my teens and it has remained for
18-odd years.

The treatment did not cure me, though I may try it again with a male
family member as a donor.

I was not on IBS medication before the treatment; I took Asacol for a
few years following the treatment for symptom relief, though it's hard
to say if it was effective.

Here's the issue with HPI: despite its general effectiveness,
*especially* for Clostridium Dificile infection, doctors are
conservative about new treatments without extensive double-blind
studies behind them. And there is the ick factor, which is a huge
problem.

Just about everything that Dr. Borody's clinic does, you can do with
competent physicians at any good medical facility. It's not a
technology issue. While Dr. Borody has special and valuable expertise
in digestive diseases, the treatments he offers can generally be
replicated elsewhere.

The reason a lot of people, like myself, go through the time and
expense of visiting Australia is because few other doctors in North
America are willing to consider HPI. Hopefully this will change with
time.

Having said all this--if you can afford it, visit! As a side benefit,
Sydney is beautiful, a great vacation spot.

[Cyrus David]

Hi J - thank you so much for telling me your story.  I am confused though - you seem to be a big advocate of the treatment, but it didn't work for you...