Woman says faecal transplant saved her and could help many more like her
9 months ago
- #faecal transplant
- #bipolar disorder
- #mental health
- Jane Dudley underwent a series of home-administered faecal microbiota transplants (FMT) to manage her bipolar disorder, which she describes as a 'desperate act'.
- The FMT treatment, using her husband Alex's faeces, led to significant improvements in her mental health, including feelings of joy, self-esteem, and motivation, and she has not had a manic episode since September 2017.
- Experts, including Jane's psychiatrist and Professor Gordon Parker, describe her recovery as 'bordering on miraculous' and one of the most exciting developments in psychiatry.
- Jane and specialists warn of the risks of DIY FMT, including the potential transfer of serious diseases, obesity, or antibiotic resistance if the donor is not properly screened.
- There is a push to raise $10 million for a randomised control trial of FMT for depression at Deakin University's Food and Mood Centre, with Jane advocating for urgent funding to prevent unsafe DIY attempts.
- Jane's story began with meeting Alex through a chance encounter with a frog, leading to a deep connection and Alex's hypothesis that FMT could help her bipolar disorder by restoring her gut microbiome.
- Jane's mental health struggles were triggered by sexual abuse at age 15, leading to severe depression, mania, and psychosis, which Alex was determined to help her overcome.
- Professor Parker believes FMT could represent a paradigm shift in treating mood disorders, with evidence suggesting it could help those with intractable depression or bipolar disorder.
- Jane emphasizes the potential social and financial impact of FMT, noting her own recovery has saved the government significant costs in healthcare and disability support.
- Jane and Alex's love story, which she describes as an 'epic love story that just happens to involve a bit of poo,' has led to her recovery, return to education, and plans to become a field ecologist.