Would really appreciate anyone’s thoughts on having microbiome testing, my Naturopath is suggesting it for me as “is a good profile to see what is going on with the gut and what may be driving the issues of chronic disease”.
I constantly seem to read about the gut and the microbiome being a driving force for inflammation! But the test is very expensive.
Has anyone had it personally or have any views on it please.
Thanking you all x
I had one done, but all the results told me is that I do have bacteria! Outside a scientific research project the detailed results are pretty meaningless and there was no way of telling what effect my RA drugs have so whether this was what one would expect in a person with RA. So the rather generic interpretation difn’t help.
sounds like a good idea, I always say if my stomach is happy my arthritis is good too so there is definitely a link for me. Please let us all know the outcome 🙂
I have had issues with IBS, going on an autoimmune diet healed the problem.
I think before investing a large amount of money in the test I’d have a look at my diet first and then try to improve my gut health by cutting out sugar and processed food and eating a wide variety of plants.
Many thanks for your reply , i used to be on low fodmap diet after i had H Pylori 2 years ago and since have been off all sugars and processed foods etc total clean eating then diagnosed with RA five weeks after a hip replacement last November ! Since having covid last month my gut gone completely wrong again !! so cannot blame it on foods 🤣 - so frustrating ! thank you for your comment x
Ah bad luck. I've just had a hip replacement too and that didn't do my RA any good at all. Plus all those extra drugs etc. Hope you get it sorted. I have coeliac disease and so am a bit sceptical of tests like the York test which claim to be able to diagnose symptoms that actually require proper medical diagnosis, but the microbiome test might be different I guess.
It's good that you're dealing with diet etc early in your RA diagnosis. I hope you manage to come up with some answers for the gut problems. Are you on medication for RA? I didn't start treatment for RA until many years after I'd had the first symptoms and now I wish I'd taken it more seriously in the early stages. I think early intervention generally has the best outcome. Unfortunately the best diet and gut health does not always stave off RA. Plenty of people here have success with dietary modification but it doesn't always work. No harm in trying though 
Than you for your thoughts, it is appreciated. I am on Predisolene at moment 5 mg which takes away majority of pain so I can function. They started me on methotrexate but then I got covid after 6 weeks in so they topped it - but having stopped it I realised how bad it was making me feel . I am now waiting on another rheumatology appointment and just working hard on diet etc with a naturopath. Mentally it has been a shock as I was so active and fit and now starting again. xx
I would be interested if you move forward with this
It sounds like a waste of money right now. We have so little accurate information about which gut bacteria affect what processes that any advice necessarily will be generalised, so what is the point of the test (except as part of a research project)?
You know which foods improve the healthy gut bacteria already, so stick to that diet. It often takes at least 3-6months for your gut to recover after infection.
It might be worth it to point you in the right direction. It would be useful for everyone with RA to have mouth and gut bacteria checked. I suspect there is a correlation and it would be useful research. If inflammation is up in my gums or gut my RA is far worse. Probiotics, and a diet containing mainly anti inflammatory foods and fermentables such as kefir and kimchi has improved my gut considerably. I still have gum problems despite seeing the dental hygienist every 3 months and having good dental hygiene. Good luck.
I think only you can answer your question. If you eat healthy and it sounds like you do then I’m not sure you’re going to gain anything useful with an expensive test which won’t necessarily give you any information to improve things. I’m certain that the ‘gut’ does play a part in most autoimmune conditions but I don’t think that any research that’s been done to date has answered any of the questions as far as triggers are concerned. That’s something we all tend to find out for ourselves. Personally I wouldn’t waste my money on a test but that’s definitely your choice. I’ve found if I’ve had an illness it can take me a few weeks before normality resumes. Hopefully there will be someone who has had the test done and can provide you with the information you seek. Good luck.
I’m afraid I’m no real help but have also been tempted to do a similar test - the Zoe test, from Tim Spector. I’ve always been into fermented foods and trying to improve gut micro biome but I’m afraid that all the drugs I’ve had have annihilated them all…
This is such an interesting subject. I am just reading a very clear explanatory book called "The Clever Guts Diet" by Dr Michael Moseley and can easily understand some of the feedback comments such as "everyone should read this book"it is an easy to read book, readily available from places like Amazon. Hope this helps others 😲
Autoimmune diet protocol? Stool analysis? Fixing the gut?
RA, diet, food intolerances and microbiome
RA, Gluten and Leaky Gut
The University of British Columbia has written an article about Leaky Gut Syndrome. From the Canadian Society of Intestial Reseach
