Purety Clinic FMT experience? | Fecal microbiota transplants Sources 

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SMNagai

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I've been researching FMT's and am considering using Purety Clinic in Santa Barbara, CA. Is anyone familiar with, or have experience with them? They're charging $7k, which seems high to me, but not if it will be life-changing.

I had C. diff once in 2016 after taking antibiotics for Bronchitis and my health/gut has never been the same since. I've done stool tests, seen multiple GI experts and am trying water kefir right now to replenish the good bacteria. I haven't been able to eat fruit in more than three years, and I'm getting desperate to try something new.
 
I wanted to update the people interested in FMT's on my recent experience stateside. Aside from major gut issues, I'm trying to treat/improve my Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and depression.

I completed my round of five FMT enemas at home last week and am now waiting 2-3 months to see the full results. I never imagined I could do this until I found a clinic in my state that offers it. The naturopath doctor said that with my current issues, I should do five enemas, not the 10 that he typically recommends. This cost me $3,000, plus another $300 for overnight shipping the frozen goods. They said that I wasn't a candidate for the capsules, because I don't have a daily bowel movement yet.

Other than some mild cramping and constipation, I've had zero issues with the treatment. The hardest part for me was the three water enemas and liquid diet to prepare the day prior. I cannot speak highly enough of Dr. Birch and his expertise. They use four stool donors and do everything in-house in their own lab, including testing. Three of their donors are female and one is male. He knows them personally, as well as their parents, and what they eat on a regular basis. Two donors are teens, while the other two are in their early 20's. My fears and anxieties of reading all the online FMT nightmare stories were eased when he told me how they operate.

I had the option of using stools from donors with or without fruit and dairy, which I cannot tolerate. I chose to have the donors stick to their regular diets, so I can get the right flora back inside me again. My greatest hope is that, if nothing else, I can eat more foods again in the near future.

For everyone reading these posts like me that think they'll never be able to find an FMT provider nearby or afford it, don't lose hope.
 
$600 per enema, 6x the cost of other sources. Making the "don't lose hope if you think you'll never be able to afford FMT" comment seem odd.

SMNagai said:
They said that I wasn't a candidate for the capsules, because I don't have a daily bowel movement yet.
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This is not a valid notion based on any evidence I've seen.

SMNagai said:
My fears and anxieties of reading all the online FMT nightmare stories were eased when he told me how they operate.
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I'm doubtful that you understood the important factors to consider, since nothing you've said would make me inclined to use their donors or consider them safe and effective.
 
SMNagai said:
I wanted to update the people interested in FMT's on my recent experience stateside. Aside from major gut issues, I'm trying to treat/improve my Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and depression.

I completed my round of five FMT enemas at home last week and am now waiting 2-3 months to see the full results. I never imagined I could do this until I found a clinic in my state that offers it. The naturopath doctor said that with my current issues, I should do five enemas, not the 10 that he typically recommends. This cost me $3,000, plus another $300 for overnight shipping the frozen goods. They said that I wasn't a candidate for the capsules, because I don't have a daily bowel movement yet.

Other than some mild cramping and constipation, I've had zero issues with the treatment. The hardest part for me was the three water enemas and liquid diet to prepare the day prior. I cannot speak highly enough of Dr. Birch and his expertise. They use four stool donors and do everything in-house in their own lab, including testing. Three of their donors are female and one is male. He knows them personally, as well as their parents, and what they eat on a regular basis. Two donors are teens, while the other two are in their early 20's. My fears and anxieties of reading all the online FMT nightmare stories were eased when he told me how they operate.

I had the option of using stools from donors with or without fruit and dairy, which I cannot tolerate. I chose to have the donors stick to their regular diets, so I can get the right flora back inside me again. My greatest hope is that, if nothing else, I can eat more foods again in the near future.

For everyone reading these posts like me that think they'll never be able to find an FMT provider nearby or afford it, don't lose hope.
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Did you end up getting health improvement?
 
Yes, I have. Thank you for asking! My gut issues have completely disappeared after a full six months has passed since my fecal transplant. I'm no longer experiencing chronic constipation and can eat/drink any fruit (or fruit juice) that I try, without issues. I've also been excited to start eating pectin again, since this made me sick for 2-3 days prior to the treatment. My depression has greatly improved as well, and I've stopped taking my antidepressant that I was dependent on for a decade.

My Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue symptoms are unchanged right now. This didn't surprise me, since I only did the five enemas recommended to heal my gut. I know tackling the Fibro/CFS symptoms would require dozens more enemas, at least. From what I've read, the longer you do the treatment, and the more donors you use, the better the outcome will be.

There are also a few things I'd like to address from Michael's comments above.

There were two reasons that I wasn't a candidate for the capsules. The first was that I cannot swallow pills. This sounds odd to many people, but compounding pharmacists have told me that it's quite common. The larger the pill, the harder it is for me to get down. That's why the protocol recommended to me was enema only, instead of just the capsules, or a mix of the two.

Michael Harrop said:
$600 per enema, 6x the cost of other sources. Making the "don't lose hope if you think you'll never be able to afford FMT" comment seem odd.
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I didn't find the clinic's prices outrageous whatsoever. Let me break down the numbers. Here's the pricing structure I was given by email:

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"Each bottle of FMT capsules (35 capsules) is priced at $1200, while each retention enema is $600. Shipping charges for overnighted samples on dry ice amount to $300. Based on best results, the usual treatment protocol is 10 enemas or 5 bottles of capsules, or a mix of both. This will be tailored for you.

On average the usual total cost for the FMT protocol is $6300. This is the same dosage and price which comes from the Taymount Clinic in the UK.

Regrettably, we are unable to offer payment plans at this time, and there is no insurance coverage for this elective treatment."
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If I had chosen to do the full two week protocol of capsules, (keeping in mind that "other sources" charge $100 per capsule) that means I would have spent $17,500 (five bottles with 35 capsules each= 175 capsules.) Instead of the $6,000 that Purety Clinic and (apparently) Taymount are charging.

I couldn't be more pleased with the outcome of my treatment and who I chose to go with. Dr. Birch at Purety Clinic was trained on the procedure in Europe by FMT expert Dr. Mark Davis who is now practicing in Panama.
https://www.thesibodoctor.com/2023/10/25/dr-mark-davis-exploring-helminth-therapies/
 
SMNagai said:
Each bottle of FMT capsules (35 capsules) is priced at $1200, while each retention enema is $600. Shipping charges for overnighted samples on dry ice amount to $300.
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That's 3-6x the cost of other options.

SMNagai said:
"other sources" charge $100 per capsule
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Which sources are those? Openbiome was one of the most expensive and even they were "only" $68 per capsule.

Most sources charge around $10 per capsule.
 
The other options may be cheaper but do they treat for other conditions outside of C. Diff in the states?

I mean either way I'm happy this person got good results! Isn't that the ultimate goal of all of this?
 
I believe based on this person and their website that Purety is doing that and just hasn't gotten caught yet, I suppose. Haha
 
I had to provide them medical documentation of my hospitalization for C. Diff to be treated. I'm not sure who else they're treating, or for what.
 
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