Microbiota transfer therapy

Has anyone researched in earnest the possibility of microbiota transfer therapy (fecal transplant) for their RLS /PLMD?

[Joolsg]

Yes. I found a place in Hertfordshire that would do them. I did further research and discovered that some people developed the traits of the donor. So I decided against it in case I developed yet another auto immune disease .I started daily Symprove instead. Definitely helps any 'gut' issues.

[Hidden in reply to Joolsg]

Thanks Jools.

I too have read that developing certain traits (eg depressive tendencies, obesity etcetera) is possible with such transfers. That's why screening of donors for serious health issues is so critical. I do understand your reluctance in relation to the possibility of another auto immune disease as there is always the risk that (a pre-determined or latent) disease may not necessarily be detected in screening.

I may be misguided but my understanding of microbiota transfer therapy is that it overhauls the gut microbiome in a way that probiotics don't. I think it's most effective following recurring antibiotic treatments (as in the case of c. difficile) where the microbiota is diminished.

Did you find that Symprove helped with RLS symptoms as well as gut issues?

[CsiguZ in reply to Hidden]

For me it seems in case of FMT there can be side effects even if the donor is an extreme healthy person and has a good microbiome. Maybe some microbes are just not compatible with anyone. BTW if none of my experiments to fix my microbiome will work to get rid of my RLS long term , I’ll very likely take the risk and try FMT.

[Hidden in reply to CsiguZ]

That's interesting CsiguZ. What sort of side effects have you heard of? I know that some people use family members as donors, perhaps more compatible?

I have also read the same about probiotics, some can actually worsen the symptoms they're intended to treat. Which is why much of the research is looking at matching different probiotics to individuals. But apparently this is a very complex endeavour.

[CsiguZ in reply to Hidden]

I’m a member of several microbiome realed FB goups and some users claim they developed several diseases using FMT, even not just gut related but like eczema, anxiety etc. For sure I don’t know them impersonally and cannot check if their claims are true or false. It’s also worth noting that they use DIY FMT from seemingly healthy persons poops or FMT capsules ordered from suspicious companies from abroad and not getting the FMT at hospitals, but as far as I know in the USA FMT allowed only for treatment against Clostridium Difficile infection.

[Hidden in reply to CsiguZ]

Yes, here in Australia it is only approved for C. Difficile infection but i know that there are some integrative / holistic medical practitioners will refer for other reasons.

I didn't realise that DIY FMT is such a thing! Personally, I'd be very wary of it!

And i have heard that people can inadvertently develop other conditions as a result of FMT (or MTT).

I personally know of one person who had the therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome. It helped enormously with no adverse effects.

[CsiguZ in reply to Hidden]

Well, I think DIY FMT could be as safe as you can get in a hospital, if your donor is a heatlhy person and as a must you make a microbiome test of his/her stool prior to the FMT process, in order to check for potetional pathogens or good diversity. I mean we are talking on to tranfer ones stool to another person, so the process cannot be more sterile in a hospital that at home