A gut feeling: the Melbourne microbiome mission

(Want to read the full explanation, with more info on the set-up and science? Go on, it's really interesting. See 'Other page links'.)

I (Mary de Ruyter) am fundraising for cutting-edge treatment for illnesses that've greatly affected my quality of life over decades: SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth) and Long Covid.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) was a catch-all for mystery gut issues, but it’s now known many IBS folk actually have SIBO: when bacteria from the large intestine over-run the small intestine. Symptoms include bloating, nausea, constipation, diarrhoea — plus fatigue, brain fog, headaches and sometimes malnutrition.

More than 4 years of Long Covid has taken a heavy toll on my health/ability to earn. I can only work 2–3 hours/week, due to neurological issues and fatigue far beyond average tiredness. Even small tasks (doing dishes, getting groceries) can flatten me. There’s pain, noise sensitivity, worse gut issues. I’ve drained my savings for specialists and unfunded treatments, with only small gains.

So, steel your stomach: I’m having faecal microbiota transplants! FMTs transplant a small amount of stool from a healthy colon into a diseased colon. Each healthy stool contains thousands of beneficial microbes that can improve the diseased colon's health.

The science is fairly new but promising, given strong links between the gut, brain and immune system. The clinic I'm going to has said 3/4 of people who have FMTs see some change, from moderate to life-changing.