Digestive system disorders.

[Michigan Girl]

Lynny ...I am LMAO!!

[StevePerryHair]

Lynny ...I am LMAO!!

It's amazing to me that doctor's NEED 10 years of education when CLEARLY Parfait has managed to do it all in his first year. He must be a prodigy!! Though an anomoly would be a better word for him

[verslibre]

[
No one said it would be about money or material things. That's ridiculous. And Mrs. Obvious: Yes, I'm interested in medicine and have quite a few years to go - what's your point? I fail to see however that your education counted for much, when you're not even able to know the scientific meaning of the word theory. All you've been able to post against my arguments have been anecdotal and simple ad ignorantiams.

Deano: That's one of them, yeah.

So you believe every single theory presented to you? If a scientist says it, then it makes it a fact? You just need to see a few studies and it's gospel? I'm just more open minded than that. Nothing in science is cut and dry. THere is always room for doubt and room for more studies and research. There is SO MUCH that science cannot explain. I LOVE science. It's what drew me into the field. Biology especially. To the point where i get frustrated that my kids all hate it. I AM facinated by it too. But I am smart enough to know that there is a whole lot of gray in that world when it comes to many things.

Words commonly used in the sciences are "analysis/analyses," "study/studies" and "theory/theories." One study confirms another. Or refutes another. It goes back and forth, up and down, piston style, like a—sorry, thinkin' dirty again.

[parfait]

No one said it would be about money or material things. That's ridiculous. And Mrs. Obvious: Yes, I'm interested in medicine and have quite a few years to go - what's your point? I fail to see however that your education counted for much, when you're not even able to know the scientific meaning of the word theory. All you've been able to post against my arguments have been anecdotal and simple ad ignorantiams. Don't get the point of your cute little essay, but if you're trying to point out that my parents were bad ones, then fuck you - that's simply not right.

Deano: That's one of them, yeah.

No, that wasn't my point. Do you feel they were? YOU were belittling me and my education and making it seem like I am doing something much lesser in life as a mom. I have been part of both worlds, enjoyed both worlds, but nothing beats being a parent. You seem to think that everyone in the medical field has to make sacrifices and give up time with their kids and family, to have a career be their "lifestyle" and I am calling bullshit on THAT Everything we do in life is a choice. Your parents chose what worked best for their family. Maybe it's not fair to blame how you turned out on them. I know many parents aren't to be blamed for their kid's inadequacies.

Jesus Christ. I never said that everyone in the medical field would have to say fuck off to family and I've never said I know everything - that's retarded. What I did say was that if you're going into a competitive field, then you have to. And no, I don't believe every theory in science. However I do know that the theory of relativity, the theory of gravity, theory of evolution and Newton's theories of mechanics are true, because of the shitload of measurable, empirical evidence in its favor. I think the theories of multiverses and m-theory are interesting too, but the lack of evidence for them isn't there yet (LHC will change that), but they're just that hypothesis. Ask any biologist, and he/she will tell that evolution is an incontrovertible fact.

I always have to repeat myself two or three times with you. Guess you're too open minded to being able to read the fucking posts.

[YoungJRNY]

Look at parfait just hoping to get a piece of somebody, particularly Lynn. This is awesome.

"get rid of red wine spots?"

"Make some smoores?"

Oh this is getting good, except, parfait, dog, it's smores, not smoores.

Are you not going to fire back, Lynn? Blast a scud his way. Escalate this motherfucker!

You mean like telling him to go fuck himself? It's been done!! But nothing he says really insults me. I know that raising my kids is a more important job to me than anything I did in my 14 years as a medical technologist. I continue my education, and keep my license current, and may even re-enter the field someday. But I know I am where I need to be right now. I won't explain myself to anyone.

As far as medicine being a "lifestyle" I call bullshit. That sounds like something told to a sobbing kid when he's left with the nanny for the millionth time. My husband is a cop. There are MANY cops who make it a lifestyle. MANY who let it come first, before their families. Being a cop is their identity. My husband isn't one of them. He has told that to the dismay of his supervisor's faces, and it may even prevent him from going further beyond the sergeant level he is currently holding. And he is content with that, because he knows how important it is to be there for our kids. It's really all in what you are willing to give up in life for your children. The way I see it, we had children, it was our choice, not theirs for them to enter this world. I'm not going to look at them as secondary to ANYTHING in my life. Most people wouldn't. Even the women who choose or need to have careers. I don't think I know one woman who would say that her job comes before her kids, and "sorry sweeties, it's a lifestyle" . That's just sad.

And he should know I don't drink red wine. I drink beer, which makes me a low classed american, remember?? And I'd rather make smores with my kids and teach them how to have fun in life, than to have them turn out to be selfish, arrogant, ego-maniacs like Prickfait

Holy fucking shit, this thread should have ended RIGHT HERE! Lynn is like Rocky Balboa in the 16th round. She can NOT be stopped. Man, I feel sorry for parfait, he's been having his dick chopped up in a wood chipper ALL week by the work of Lynn. Hell, Lynn is pulling her own cyber Lorena Bobbit right now. I don't see how parfait can rebound with Lynn on the top of her game like this. There's no question that parfait is possibly one of the smartest people in here but holy shit Lynn plays a different style that can't be matched.

"If he dies, he dies.."

[StevePerryHair]

No one said it would be about money or material things. That's ridiculous. And Mrs. Obvious: Yes, I'm interested in medicine and have quite a few years to go - what's your point? I fail to see however that your education counted for much, when you're not even able to know the scientific meaning of the word theory. All you've been able to post against my arguments have been anecdotal and simple ad ignorantiams. Don't get the point of your cute little essay, but if you're trying to point out that my parents were bad ones, then fuck you - that's simply not right.

Deano: That's one of them, yeah.

No, that wasn't my point. Do you feel they were? YOU were belittling me and my education and making it seem like I am doing something much lesser in life as a mom. I have been part of both worlds, enjoyed both worlds, but nothing beats being a parent. You seem to think that everyone in the medical field has to make sacrifices and give up time with their kids and family, to have a career be their "lifestyle" and I am calling bullshit on THAT Everything we do in life is a choice. Your parents chose what worked best for their family. Maybe it's not fair to blame how you turned out on them. I know many parents aren't to be blamed for their kid's inadequacies.

Jesus Christ. I never said that everyone in the medical field would have to say fuck off to family and I've never said I know everything - that's retarded. What I did say was that if you're going into a competitive field, then you have to. And no, I don't believe every theory in science. However I do know that the theory of relativity, the theory of gravity, theory of evolution and Newton's theories of mechanics are true, because of the shitload of measurable, empirical evidence in its favor. I think the theories of multiverses and m-theory are interesting too, but the lack of evidence for them isn't there yet (LHC will change that), but they're just that hypothesis. Ask any biologist, and he/she will tell that evolution is an incontrovertible fact.

I always have to repeat myself two or three times with you. Guess you're too open minded to being able to read the fucking posts.

YOU are the one confusing yourself apparently!! Go back and read you posts!! YOU told me that I can not have a medical education AND have the ability to raise my own kids. That a medical career is a lifestyle. Those were YOUR words. Then you back tracked later that it was only "certain" medical careers" that would impede this. You are the one that belittles my education, telling me that mom duties are more fitting and all I am capable of. You speak as if you know more than me, when in fact you don't. You may in a few years, but as of now, that is not the case.

I'll even try to say something nice. I think it's great that you are so excited about the medical field, and that you are working so hard, and that you obviously LOVE your choice. That is great. Everyone should love what they do. But you can't sit there and be such a condescending ass about everything. Acting as if you know everything and anything you learned is fact and any other ideas or theories or studies can't also be possiblities. Science learns new things everyday. They even learn things that discount other things believed true for years. You are going to need to learn some gray as you get closer to practicing medicine. Nothing will be black and white or cut and dry the way you try to preach to us. I worked in a hospital for a lot of years. There was not a day that went by where I didn't learn something new. Something I could never get from reading some book.

[StevePerryHair]

Look at parfait just hoping to get a piece of somebody, particularly Lynn. This is awesome.

"get rid of red wine spots?"

"Make some smoores?"

Oh this is getting good, except, parfait, dog, it's smores, not smoores.

Are you not going to fire back, Lynn? Blast a scud his way. Escalate this motherfucker!

You mean like telling him to go fuck himself? It's been done!! But nothing he says really insults me. I know that raising my kids is a more important job to me than anything I did in my 14 years as a medical technologist. I continue my education, and keep my license current, and may even re-enter the field someday. But I know I am where I need to be right now. I won't explain myself to anyone.

As far as medicine being a "lifestyle" I call bullshit. That sounds like something told to a sobbing kid when he's left with the nanny for the millionth time. My husband is a cop. There are MANY cops who make it a lifestyle. MANY who let it come first, before their families. Being a cop is their identity. My husband isn't one of them. He has told that to the dismay of his supervisor's faces, and it may even prevent him from going further beyond the sergeant level he is currently holding. And he is content with that, because he knows how important it is to be there for our kids. It's really all in what you are willing to give up in life for your children. The way I see it, we had children, it was our choice, not theirs for them to enter this world. I'm not going to look at them as secondary to ANYTHING in my life. Most people wouldn't. Even the women who choose or need to have careers. I don't think I know one woman who would say that her job comes before her kids, and "sorry sweeties, it's a lifestyle" . That's just sad.

And he should know I don't drink red wine. I drink beer, which makes me a low classed american, remember?? And I'd rather make smores with my kids and teach them how to have fun in life, than to have them turn out to be selfish, arrogant, ego-maniacs like Prickfait

Holy fucking shit, this thread should have ended RIGHT HERE! Lynn is like Rocky Balboa in the 16th round. She can NOT be stopped. Man, I feel sorry for parfait, he's been having his dick chopped up in a wood chipper ALL week by the work of Lynn. Hell, Lynn is pulling her own cyber Lorena Bobbit right now. I don't see how parfait can rebound with Lynn on the top of her game like this. There's no question that parfait is possibly one of the smartest people in here but holy shit Lynn plays a different style that can't be matched.

"If he dies, he dies.."

If only.... And he is not one of the smartest people here. That's the trick of a truly arrogant person. They can convince people they are smarter. It's trickery I tell you

[parfait]

No one said it would be about money or material things. That's ridiculous. And Mrs. Obvious: Yes, I'm interested in medicine and have quite a few years to go - what's your point? I fail to see however that your education counted for much, when you're not even able to know the scientific meaning of the word theory. All you've been able to post against my arguments have been anecdotal and simple ad ignorantiams. Don't get the point of your cute little essay, but if you're trying to point out that my parents were bad ones, then fuck you - that's simply not right.

Deano: That's one of them, yeah.

No, that wasn't my point. Do you feel they were? YOU were belittling me and my education and making it seem like I am doing something much lesser in life as a mom. I have been part of both worlds, enjoyed both worlds, but nothing beats being a parent. You seem to think that everyone in the medical field has to make sacrifices and give up time with their kids and family, to have a career be their "lifestyle" and I am calling bullshit on THAT Everything we do in life is a choice. Your parents chose what worked best for their family. Maybe it's not fair to blame how you turned out on them. I know many parents aren't to be blamed for their kid's inadequacies.

Jesus Christ. I never said that everyone in the medical field would have to say fuck off to family and I've never said I know everything - that's retarded. What I did say was that if you're going into a competitive field, then you have to. And no, I don't believe every theory in science. However I do know that the theory of relativity, the theory of gravity, theory of evolution and Newton's theories of mechanics are true, because of the shitload of measurable, empirical evidence in its favor. I think the theories of multiverses and m-theory are interesting too, but the lack of evidence for them isn't there yet (LHC will change that), but they're just that hypothesis. Ask any biologist, and he/she will tell that evolution is an incontrovertible fact.

I always have to repeat myself two or three times with you. Guess you're too open minded to being able to read the fucking posts.

YOU are the one confusing yourself apparently!! Go back and read you posts!! YOU told me that I can not have a medical education AND have the ability to raise my own kids. That a medical career is a lifestyle. Those were YOUR words. Then you back tracked later that it was only "certain" medical careers" that would impede this. You are the one that belittles my education, telling me that mom duties are more fitting and all I am capable of. You speak as if you know more than me, when in fact you don't. You may in a few years, but as of now, that is not the case.

I'll even try to say something nice. I think it's great that you are so excited about the medical field, and that you are working so hard, and that you obviously LOVE your choice. That is great. Everyone should love what they do. But you can't sit there and be such a condescending ass about everything. Acting as if you know everything and anything you learned is fact and any other ideas or theories or studies can't also be possiblities. Science learns new things everyday. They even learn things that discount other things believed true for years. You are going to need to learn some gray as you get closer to practicing medicine. Nothing will be black and white or cut and dry the way you try to preach to us. I worked in a hospital for a lot of years. There was not a day that went by where I didn't learn something new. Something I could never get from reading some book.

Okay, let's see. Here's the post you're talking about:

If you want in on a competitive field, then no, you won't have time to raise your own kids as a stay at home mom would. Medicine isn't a job - it's a lifestyle. If you want in on, let's say cardio thoraxic surgery, then that has to come first; you simply won't have time to go on vacation, raise a family or whatever. Not gonna happen.

I've highlighted the important part. So your first statement is just a lie. I never backtracked - I actually started by saying that it's just certain fields in medicine.

You've throughout this, and the last debate, evaded evolution, which you said yourself you didn't believe in, by the use of convoluted yap. If you want to play the science game, then bring it on - I'm waiting empirical proof. If you can find me any studies that completely contradicts what the theory of evolution, with its genetic variation, adaption, divergence and fossil species, just to name a few, then me (and the rest of the scientific community) will gladly change our stance on it.

Come on, Lynn. You bring a lot of words, but absolutely no substance at all. But even you can do better than this.

[Rick]

Ugh...this is too much like being at work for me.

Rick good to hear your brother is doing well...he must have come to the point where he (did not want to or could not) deal with his
symptoms anymore...it can be really hard for people who have flares...they just get to the point where they want to feel good again.

It was pretty much that. His blood count was horrible and he was missing a lot of work. Trips to the ER and such. This last flare-up was pretty scary. He was bleeding a lot, going to the bathroom often, at one point had a prolapsed rectum, and lived in unimaginable pain. All gone now. He's pretty satisfied to say the least.

[StevePerryHair]

Ugh...this is too much like being at work for me.

Rick good to hear your brother is doing well...he must have come to the point where he (did not want to or could not) deal with his
symptoms anymore...it can be really hard for people who have flares...they just get to the point where they want to feel good again.

It was pretty much that. His blood count was horrible and he was missing a lot of work. Trips to the ER and such. This last flare-up was pretty scary. He was bleeding a lot, going to the bathroom often, at one point had a prolapsed rectum, and lived in unimaginable pain. All gone now. He's pretty satisfied to say the least.

That's great he's doing well Rick! It must have been really bad to get to the point where his surgery was a relief. I can only imagine:( Hope you both continue to do well!

[Rick]

Ugh...this is too much like being at work for me.

Rick good to hear your brother is doing well...he must have come to the point where he (did not want to or could not) deal with his
symptoms anymore...it can be really hard for people who have flares...they just get to the point where they want to feel good again.

It was pretty much that. His blood count was horrible and he was missing a lot of work. Trips to the ER and such. This last flare-up was pretty scary. He was bleeding a lot, going to the bathroom often, at one point had a prolapsed rectum, and lived in unimaginable pain. All gone now. He's pretty satisfied to say the least.

That's great he's doing well Rick! It must have been really bad to get to the point where his surgery was a relief. I can only imagine:( Hope you both continue to do well!

Thanks Lynn. He's back to work already and doing fine. I'm doing well also. If I can just get through the holidays, I'll be great.

[StevePerryHair]

Okay, let's see. Here's the post you're talking about:

If you want in on a competitive field, then no, you won't have time to raise your own kids as a stay at home mom would. Medicine isn't a job - it's a lifestyle. If you want in on, let's say cardio thoraxic surgery, then that has to come first; you simply won't have time to go on vacation, raise a family or whatever. Not gonna happen.

I've highlighted the important part. So your first statement is just a lie. I never backtracked - I actually started by saying that it's just certain fields in medicine.

You've throughout this, and the last debate, evaded evolution, which you said yourself you didn't believe in, by the use of convoluted yap. If you want to play the science game, then bring it on - I'm waiting empirical proof. If you can find me any studies that completely contradicts what the theory of evolution, with its genetic variation, adaption, divergence and fossil species, just to name a few, then me (and the rest of the scientific community) will gladly change our stance on it.

Come on, Lynn. You bring a lot of words, but absolutely no substance at all. But even you can do better than this.

Well then you EVADED my original question which i only asked because of the way you were belittling my educaton based on the fact that I am raising children I never asked what the most taxing physician careers would take away from a family.

And YOU are the one who does NOT listen. I have told you for MONTHS. I never said I don't believe in evolution. I see it as a viable theory. Probably the most viable because of the evidence they have found in science. But I won't just say that it is so because of that. I see it as a "possibility". NEVER did I say that I don't believe it could be true. I just think that it's one of those mysteries in life that we will never know with 100% certainty. Believing that does not mean I know nothing of science or medicine.

[parfait]

Okay, let's see. Here's the post you're talking about:

If you want in on a competitive field, then no, you won't have time to raise your own kids as a stay at home mom would. Medicine isn't a job - it's a lifestyle. If you want in on, let's say cardio thoraxic surgery, then that has to come first; you simply won't have time to go on vacation, raise a family or whatever. Not gonna happen.

I've highlighted the important part. So your first statement is just a lie. I never backtracked - I actually started by saying that it's just certain fields in medicine.

You've throughout this, and the last debate, evaded evolution, which you said yourself you didn't believe in, by the use of convoluted yap. If you want to play the science game, then bring it on - I'm waiting empirical proof. If you can find me any studies that completely contradicts what the theory of evolution, with its genetic variation, adaption, divergence and fossil species, just to name a few, then me (and the rest of the scientific community) will gladly change our stance on it.

Come on, Lynn. You bring a lot of words, but absolutely no substance at all. But even you can do better than this.

Well then you EVADED my original question which i only asked because of the way you were belittling my educaton based on the fact that I am raising children I never asked what the most taxing physician careers would take away from a family.

And YOU are the one who does NOT listen. I have told you for MONTHS. I never said I don't believe in evolution. I see it as a viable theory. Probably the most viable because of the evidence they have found in science. But I won't just say that it is so because of that. I see it as a "possibility". NEVER did I say that I don't believe it could be true. I just think that it's one of those mysteries in life that we will never know with 100% certainty. Believing that does not mean I know nothing of science or medicine.

This was your original question:

Are you trying to say that a woman can't have a medical education AND raise her children? Seems kind of weird since you say your mom is a doctor. huh. Or were you raised by a nanny? That would explain a lot.

And I answered: If you want in on a competitive field, then no, you won't have time to raise your own kids as a stay at home mom would. I later even said that you could life a perfectly stress free life as a doctor in other fields. How is that evading the question? I never belittled you for raising kids either.

Lynn, the fact is that we do know that evolution is a fact. It's easily measurable and can even be used to make predictions of how the cell functions. Here's another quote from you, regarding evolution:

So shove your words up your ass again, and keep them there please. My point is it can not be proven as fact. No matter what your fucking scientific communitity says, there is a reason it's called a theory.

The reason for you going batshit in this quote was because of this statement by The National Academy of Science:

Scientists most often use the word "fact" to describe an observation. But scientists can also use fact to mean something that has been tested or observed so many times that there is no longer a compelling reason to keep testing or looking for examples. The occurrence of evolution in this sense is fact. Scientists no longer question whether descent with modification occurred because the evidence is so strong.

I could go on and on and on with these quotes, but what's the point? You've made up your mind, for whatever reason, and that's fine. Just don't come bitching to me, calling me close minded. Again: a lot of words, but no substance at all.

[artist4perry]

Parfait, you know I always defend you here, however, be careful throwing around the "education" benchmark. There are many here with graduate degrees as well as post graduate degrees. This place has some very smart people here, excluding those from the South(not Florida, the rest of the South ).

Excuse me? I am not educated? Deano, you cut me to the heart! Is 6 and 1/2 years of college education not enough for me to be considered educated? That's it! Civil war it is............this just burns my biscuits, Ya'll!

Oh, and by the way, if your turds are like BB's, you might try using a stool softener. Start eating more fiber in your diet like the green stuff, and I am not talking about lettuce on a Big Mac you anal retentive, sphincter challenged nimrod! Never have I seen a man so obsessed with his bowel movements! I mean do you photograph them for posterity?

[artist4perry]

Ugh...this is too much like being at work for me.

Rick good to hear your brother is doing well...he must have come to the point where he (did not want to or could not) deal with his
symptoms anymore...it can be really hard for people who have flares...they just get to the point where they want to feel good again.

It was pretty much that. His blood count was horrible and he was missing a lot of work. Trips to the ER and such. This last flare-up was pretty scary. He was bleeding a lot, going to the bathroom often, at one point had a prolapsed rectum, and lived in unimaginable pain. All gone now. He's pretty satisfied to say the least.

I am sorry Rick that you and your brother have had to deal with so much illness. My grandmother suffers from the same thing. I hope they can help you feel better. It is frustrating to have a long term problem like this.

[G.I.Jim]

Ugh...this is too much like being at work for me.

Rick good to hear your brother is doing well...he must have come to the point where he (did not want to or could not) deal with his
symptoms anymore...it can be really hard for people who have flares...they just get to the point where they want to feel good again.

It was pretty much that. His blood count was horrible and he was missing a lot of work. Trips to the ER and such. This last flare-up was pretty scary. He was bleeding a lot, going to the bathroom often, at one point had a prolapsed rectum, and lived in unimaginable pain. All gone now. He's pretty satisfied to say the least.

Wow Rick, I hate to hear about you guys having these problems! Glad to hear he's doing better. I can't say I know what you're going through. The only ailments I have are sinuses, and a swollen uvula. I am having surgery to have my uvula removed on Thursday, so hopefully it'll stop irritating the shit out of me! The down-side is that I won't be able to gargle of sing with vibrato for the rest of my life. I never had any anyway, so I guess it won't really affect me.

[portland]

Ugh...this is too much like being at work for me.

Rick good to hear your brother is doing well...he must have come to the point where he (did not want to or could not) deal with his
symptoms anymore...it can be really hard for people who have flares...they just get to the point where they want to feel good again.

It was pretty much that. His blood count was horrible and he was missing a lot of work. Trips to the ER and such. This last flare-up was pretty scary. He was bleeding a lot, going to the bathroom often, at one point had a prolapsed rectum, and lived in unimaginable pain. All gone now. He's pretty satisfied to say the least.

It's a tough decision to have to make....but many of my patients have been more than happy with the results.

I hope he continues to feel better and well as for you worrying is not the best for any GI disorder....so RELAX!!!

[Rick]

Ugh...this is too much like being at work for me.

Rick good to hear your brother is doing well...he must have come to the point where he (did not want to or could not) deal with his
symptoms anymore...it can be really hard for people who have flares...they just get to the point where they want to feel good again.

It was pretty much that. His blood count was horrible and he was missing a lot of work. Trips to the ER and such. This last flare-up was pretty scary. He was bleeding a lot, going to the bathroom often, at one point had a prolapsed rectum, and lived in unimaginable pain. All gone now. He's pretty satisfied to say the least.

It's a tough decision to have to make....but many of my patients have been more than happy with the results.

I hope he continues to feel better and well as for you worrying is not the best for any GI disorder....so RELAX!!!

I appreciate it. And I appreciate all the kind words. I didn't create the original post so that anyone will worry about me, I just wanted to know who else my have dealt with the same, and I've gotten some great information, so thanks to all who have responded.

[DrFU]

Okay, I have now officially heard it all (and it's even on topic): a shit transplant.

---------

WASHINGTON — A superbug named C-diff is on the rise, a germ that so ravages some people's intestines that repeated tries of the strongest, most expensive antibiotic can't conquer their disabling diarrhea.

Now a small but growing number of doctors are trying a last-ditch treatment: Using good bacteria to fight off the bad by transplanting stool from a healthy person into the sick person's colon.

Yes, there's a yuck factor. But reports of several dozen cases in a medical journal and at a meeting of the nation's gastroenterologists this fall suggest that with no more inconvenience than a colonoscopy, people who have suffered C-diff for months, or longer, can rapidly improve.

"This is the ultimate probiotic," says Dr. Lawrence Brandt of New York's Montefiore Medical Center, who has performed 17 of the procedures.

Yet it's much more complex: An entire bacterial neighborhood is transplanted, almost like an organ transplant minus the anti-rejection drugs, says Dr. Alexander Khoruts of the University of Minnesota. He took a genetic fingerprint of the gut bacteria in a woman left emaciated after eight months of severe C-diff. Not only did the diarrhea disappear after a fecal transplant, but that normal bacteria mirroring her husband's — the donor — quickly took root in her recovering intestine.

Here's the caution: Fecal transplants haven't been studied in the way that science requires to prove they work — by comparing similar patients given either a transplant or more intense antibiotics. History is full of failed treatments that doctors thought promising until they were put to a real test.

"There's very good reason to think this fecal transplantation, or bacteriotherapy, might work, but it needs to be proven before everybody starts to do it," stresses Dr. Lawrence Schiller, a gastroenterologist with the Baylor Health Care system in Dallas. He followed reports on the treatment at the American College of Gastroenterology's recent meeting, but hasn't joined the fledgling trend.

C-diff, formally named Clostridium difficile, has become a menace in the nation's hospitals, and can spread outside of them, too. Some patients suffer just mild diarrhea, but others, especially older adults weakened by previous illness, can develop a more severe condition called colitis. There aren't precise counts but some government estimates suggest C-diff may be responsible for as many as 15,000 deaths a year.

Up to a third of patients experience a second infection, and some go on to suffer recurrent bouts. Those worst-case patients are put on increasingly strong doses of the powerful antibiotic vancomycin for weeks, even months, at a time, treatments that Brandt says can cost $2,500 or more with each try.

But because antibiotics kill good germs as well as bad ones, the C-diff can bounce back inside a colon now depleted of the hundreds of species of bacteria that are supposed to live there.

"They're caught in this cycle of treatment and re-treatment," says Minnesota's Khoruts, who has performed 21 fecal transplants since discovering how normal bacteria took over in his first patient in 2008. He's now begun more detailed before-and-after mapping of patients to try to identify whether particular good bacteria are key.

Fecal transplants aren't new — the first was reported in 1958, and they've been performed occasionally ever since. But of 170 cases described in medical journals since then, about a third were published this year, suggesting increased interest as the C-diff problem grows, says Montefiore's Brandt.

Doctors who perform fecal transplants agree that more rigorous research is needed — without it, there's no way to know if only the supposed successes, and not the failures are being written up. Brandt is planning a pilot study.

"I used to say this was just a measure of how desperate patients and their doctors were. There came a time when there was nothing else to do," says Dr. Christina Surawicz of the University of Washington's Harborview Medical Center, before performing her 16th procedure last week.

How are they done? There's no one method. Brandt insists on a list of tests to make sure the donor doesn't have diseases such as hepatitis or HIV, or intestinal parasites. Then the donor, usually a close relative, brings in a fresh stool sample that Brandt liquefies and essentially drips into the patient's colon during a routine colonoscopy.

Insurance companies don't specifically cover fecal transplants, but they do pay for colonoscopies for C-diff patients, Brandt says. The donor's testing can run to several hundred dollars. If insurance does not cover it, the patients pay.

One of Brandt's patients suffered recurrent bouts of C-diff for about 18 months before finding the option. "You start to feel like a leper, quite honestly," says Ruth, a New York woman who asked that her last name not be used. She says she's felt great for two years since getting treated, although "I will tell you I have not taken another antibiotic."

[portland]

Okay, I have now officially heard it all (and it's even on topic): a shit transplant.

---------

WASHINGTON — A superbug named C-diff is on the rise, a germ that so ravages some people's intestines that repeated tries of the strongest, most expensive antibiotic can't conquer their disabling diarrhea.

Now a small but growing number of doctors are trying a last-ditch treatment: Using good bacteria to fight off the bad by transplanting stool from a healthy person into the sick person's colon.

Yes, there's a yuck factor. But reports of several dozen cases in a medical journal and at a meeting of the nation's gastroenterologists this fall suggest that with no more inconvenience than a colonoscopy, people who have suffered C-diff for months, or longer, can rapidly improve.

"This is the ultimate probiotic," says Dr. Lawrence Brandt of New York's Montefiore Medical Center, who has performed 17 of the procedures.

Yet it's much more complex: An entire bacterial neighborhood is transplanted, almost like an organ transplant minus the anti-rejection drugs, says Dr. Alexander Khoruts of the University of Minnesota. He took a genetic fingerprint of the gut bacteria in a woman left emaciated after eight months of severe C-diff. Not only did the diarrhea disappear after a fecal transplant, but that normal bacteria mirroring her husband's — the donor — quickly took root in her recovering intestine.

Here's the caution: Fecal transplants haven't been studied in the way that science requires to prove they work — by comparing similar patients given either a transplant or more intense antibiotics. History is full of failed treatments that doctors thought promising until they were put to a real test.

"There's very good reason to think this fecal transplantation, or bacteriotherapy, might work, but it needs to be proven before everybody starts to do it," stresses Dr. Lawrence Schiller, a gastroenterologist with the Baylor Health Care system in Dallas. He followed reports on the treatment at the American College of Gastroenterology's recent meeting, but hasn't joined the fledgling trend.

C-diff, formally named Clostridium difficile, has become a menace in the nation's hospitals, and can spread outside of them, too. Some patients suffer just mild diarrhea, but others, especially older adults weakened by previous illness, can develop a more severe condition called colitis. There aren't precise counts but some government estimates suggest C-diff may be responsible for as many as 15,000 deaths a year.

Up to a third of patients experience a second infection, and some go on to suffer recurrent bouts. Those worst-case patients are put on increasingly strong doses of the powerful antibiotic vancomycin for weeks, even months, at a time, treatments that Brandt says can cost $2,500 or more with each try.

But because antibiotics kill good germs as well as bad ones, the C-diff can bounce back inside a colon now depleted of the hundreds of species of bacteria that are supposed to live there.

"They're caught in this cycle of treatment and re-treatment," says Minnesota's Khoruts, who has performed 21 fecal transplants since discovering how normal bacteria took over in his first patient in 2008. He's now begun more detailed before-and-after mapping of patients to try to identify whether particular good bacteria are key.

Fecal transplants aren't new — the first was reported in 1958, and they've been performed occasionally ever since. But of 170 cases described in medical journals since then, about a third were published this year, suggesting increased interest as the C-diff problem grows, says Montefiore's Brandt.

Doctors who perform fecal transplants agree that more rigorous research is needed — without it, there's no way to know if only the supposed successes, and not the failures are being written up. Brandt is planning a pilot study.

"I used to say this was just a measure of how desperate patients and their doctors were. There came a time when there was nothing else to do," says Dr. Christina Surawicz of the University of Washington's Harborview Medical Center, before performing her 16th procedure last week.

How are they done? There's no one method. Brandt insists on a list of tests to make sure the donor doesn't have diseases such as hepatitis or HIV, or intestinal parasites. Then the donor, usually a close relative, brings in a fresh stool sample that Brandt liquefies and essentially drips into the patient's colon during a routine colonoscopy.

Insurance companies don't specifically cover fecal transplants, but they do pay for colonoscopies for C-diff patients, Brandt says. The donor's testing can run to several hundred dollars. If insurance does not cover it, the patients pay.

One of Brandt's patients suffered recurrent bouts of C-diff for about 18 months before finding the option. "You start to feel like a leper, quite honestly," says Ruth, a New York woman who asked that her last name not be used. She says she's felt great for two years since getting treated, although "I will tell you I have not taken another antibiotic."

Oh yes C-Diff precautions....from antibiotic use....BLEACH, BLEACH, BLEACH...gown and glove.

Can't say I have experienced ^^^what you have posted....but the C-diff...yep part on my daily practice.

[Michigan Girl]

Okay, I have now officially heard it all (and it's even on topic): a shit transplant.

lol ...unbelieveable, but makes sense!!
And we have the perfect donor right here ...within our reach!!

[steveo777]

Okay, I have now officially heard it all (and it's even on topic): a shit transplant.

lol ...unbelieveable, but makes sense!!
And we have the perfect donor right here ...within our reach!!

Reach? I don't think I want to touch you!

[Michigan Girl]

Okay, I have now officially heard it all (and it's even on topic): a shit transplant.

lol ...unbelieveable, but makes sense!!
And we have the perfect donor right here ...within our reach!!

Reach? I don't think I want to touch you!

Bull~hockey ...you're dying to!!
I wasn't referring to you, for a change!! Deano is our resident shit supplier!!

[steveo777]

Okay, I have now officially heard it all (and it's even on topic): a shit transplant.

lol ...unbelieveable, but makes sense!!
And we have the perfect donor right here ...within our reach!!

Reach? I don't think I want to touch you!

Bull~hockey ...you're dying to!!
I wasn't referring to you, for a change!! Deano is our resident shit supplier!!

Good! Sometimes when you post I have this alarm that goes off and tells me I'd better log in.

[Rick]

An update.

As I stated in my original post, my brother had his entire colon and rectum removed last November, due to a severe case of Ulcerative Colitis. He's had some healing issues, mostly associated with incisions that refused to heal. He went to a doctor that did some work on those, and now they're finally all healed up.

His 50th birthday was last September, and he was too sick to even enjoy it, so his wife, who is one terrific lady, decided to have a 50 1/2 birthday party for him this weekend. Deb, Neelee and I drove up to surprise him for the event, and it all went very well.

My purpose of this post is to express in how much better health my brother is since his surgery. He said he hasn't felt this good since he experienced his first symptom.

He's gained back the weight he lost, is no longer having any symptoms of ulcerative colitis, and is also no longer lactose intolerant. And he's returned to full duty at the police force, which was huge for him.

He will always have to wear an ostomy bag, but that doesn't seem to bother him in the slightest. I told him that he just farts in a different direction now.

He had seen many doctors with his condition, and none of them suggested getting the surgery done. Not one. But he ventured out on his own and found a surgeon at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City. The results couldn't have been better.

I have a question to pose with all of this, and Nat and I discussed it a bit on Facebook, but here is my question.

Do any of you think that doctors in the medical profession just treat people so that they will return? Or are they all trying to find a cure?

I, in no way want to step on, or cast shadows of doubt on the great job that medical professionals do, but when you see cases like this, it sure makes you wonder.