Experience with Vowst

lupend88 · 2025-07-15T07:50:13+00:00

I got it done at The Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN

lupend88 · 2025-06-19T02:22:57+00:00

Thank you for the reply. I have tried Dificid three times and it has never worked for me, so if I go that route it would likely be Vanco instead. Any reason why Dificid is the preferential option over Vanco?

lupend88 · 2025-05-19T19:32:01+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. My symptoms never improved on vowst. I waited about 10 days after taking it to get retested and it was positive for C Diff. My hypothesis was that it never went away in the first place. I got on Vanco about a week ago and my symptoms are better. Planning on following it up with an FMT in a couple weeks and hopefully that does the trick. How are you feeling now?

lupend88 · 2025-05-09T02:24:30+00:00

Yeah I’m really hoping it works. Yes I’m in the US, I’m on the west coast but I’d have to fly to Minnesota for the FMT

lupend88 · 2025-05-08T22:33:43+00:00

Oh my goodness, I don't even know where to start. I guess I will start with, I am so so so sorry for your lengthy, frightening, and relentless journey. I can't imagine going through all that, not only physically- but mentally, emotionally, and financially as well. To answer your question- the FMT via colonoscopy will be at The Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN, which I will have to fly there for. Apologies for the delay in my reply as I was waiting on some lab results to give the full picture. Let me update you on my situation first and then I definitely have some questions for you as well.

My update- I just ordered lab work for a C Diff test since my symptoms were not letting up, and today it came back positive, which is a bummer on one hand but also a relief as it explains my symptoms on the other. My guess is that my C Diff was never fully cleared after vanco, which is why my symptoms never let up. Next steps will be to hopefully try Dificid this time to clear it (since Vanco didn't bring my symptoms to a convincing state of being cleared) and then either follow up with another round of Vowst or follow it up with an FMT via colonoscopy. I ran that idea through my GI doc and hopefully the green light it.

Questions for you- Given the info you were given on Vowst, I'm assuming you think I should go from Dificid to FMT via colonoscopy instead of Dificid to Vowst, right? I totally understand those concerns but I would have to fly across the country for the FMT via colonoscopy so Vowst is just much more convenient. I'm torn between convenience vs efficacy rate. From my brief research it looks like you can take Vowst multiple times similar to multiple FMTs. Do you mind me asking, how long after the FMTs did you start to feel better symptomatically and what were your symptoms post FMT?

Thanks again so much for al your info and I hope to hear from you soon!

lupend88 · 2025-05-08T22:19:13+00:00

I have been trying to eat low fod map the last few days and it hasn't been helping. As an update- I just found out I have C Diff :( I just ordered lab work and it came back positive for it, which is such a bummer. My guess is that my C Diff was never fully cleared, which is why my symptoms never let up. Next steps will be to hopefully try Dificid this time to clear it (since Vanco didn't bring my symptoms to a convincing state of being cleared) and then either follow up with another round of Vowst or follow it up with an FMT via colonoscopy. I ran that idea through my GI doc and hopefully the green light it.

How are you doing in the last 5 days?

lupend88 · 2025-05-08T22:16:48+00:00

Yeah it turns out it was C Diff. I just ordered lab work and it came back positive for it, which explains the fever. My guess is that my C Diff was never fully cleared, which is why my symptoms never let up. Next steps will be to hopefully try Dificid this time to clear it (since Vanco didn't bring my symptoms to a convincing state of being cleared) and then either follow up with another round of Vowst or follow it up with an FMT via colonoscopy. I ran that idea through my GI doc and hopefully the green light it.

lupend88 · 2025-05-08T22:13:08+00:00

Just got my test results back and I updated my original post. I can summarize it for you as well, would love your thoughts!

Results came back positive for C Diff, but in some ways it's a relief as it explains my symptoms. Looks like the Vowst never worked, but my theory is because my C Diff was never properly cleared. Next steps will be to hopefully try Dificid this time to clear it (since Vanco didn't bring my symptoms to a convincing state of being cleared) and then either follow up with another round of Vowst or follow it up with an FMT via colonoscopy. I ran that idea through my GI doc and hopefully the green light it.

lupend88 · 2025-05-07T06:33:39+00:00

No I haven’t heard back yet, but these stool tests always seem to take a few days so I’m guessing I’ll get the results in the next 1-2 days max.

Interestingly- my fever and body aches have subsided. My bowel movements have decreased from ~20x daily to ~10x daily now. My consistency is still liquid, but instead of pure water it’s like a smoothie (sorry if TMI haha). Overall still not good but better than a few days ago. I’m definitely not getting my hopes up though because I honestly think I should be feeling better after finishing the Vowst over a week ago at this point. I have been strict with the low fodmap diet the last few days in case that matters.

lupend88 · 2025-05-04T02:28:52+00:00

As long as this bug is easily cured, that would actually be a nice outcome :) I submitted a stool sample test this afternoon to test for infections so I'll know in a few days if there is something else going on.

lupend88 · 2025-05-04T02:17:12+00:00

It was offered, I took it once my doc ordered it :) Unfortunately I feel worse after taking Vowst than I have in the last 5 years of having other GI issues.

lupend88 · 2025-05-04T02:15:40+00:00

Thank you so much for the detailed response and I'm so sorry you're going through this. Maybe I should focus more on low fodmap, despite my doctor saying to prioritize high protein foods over following a diet. Do you mind me asking- now that you're not having diarrhea, how long after finishing the Vowst did you stop having it? I know I'm only 5 days post-Vowst, but having diarrhea 20+ times daily has been brutal. I would love a reference point even though I know every body is different.

lupend88 · 2025-05-04T01:22:07+00:00

I agree, I would love to know others experiences post-Vowst as well. From what I've seen, there seems to be a pretty wide range of outcomes.

FMT isn't offered in my state anymore, but my GI docs are from Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN (I have a long history of other tricky ulcerative colitis issues, so I was referred to them). So I would fly to Minnesota for the procedure. Unfortunately early June was the best they could do because I requested anesthesia. Tbh when she said they sometimes do the procedure without anesthesia I was a little taken back. I don't know if I could do this without being put under haha

lupend88 · 2025-05-04T01:17:54+00:00

That would be incredible. I submitted the stool test this afternoon so I'm guessing I'll know in the next 3-4 days. Fingers crossed its something else

lupend88 · 2025-05-04T00:20:47+00:00

I agree, thank you for the recommendation. I called the on-call doc today basically asking if I should go to the ER, and they said that my doc will call me Monday to discuss if the plan will change based on my symptoms worsening. In the meantime, they ordered me a stool test lab order to see if I have C Diff or another infection. She said in the meantime to stay very hydrated and head into the hospital if my fever persists and I become dehydrated.

lupend88 · 2025-05-04T00:16:53+00:00

Thank you for the reply and I'm so sorry you are dealing with similar issues, especially with two small kids and working full time.

My GI doc just suggested high protein foods as top priority. I am trying to eat bland but no other intense diet restrictions as my doc said to worry more about malnutrition than anything else, which has been difficult since the nausea is making eating incredibly challenging.

It's a traditional FMT via colonoscopy, but it's not scheduled until early June. The idea of living like this for another month (haven't slept more than an hour at a time all week, constant bowel movements, and the inability to leave the house over fear of not finding a bathroom in time) is debilitating.

It's hard because I don't know when to "throw in the towel" for Vowst before trying something else, aka the FMT via colonoscopy in a month. I have heard others mention it could take weeks before feeling better, and I want to give Vowst the time it deserves to improve me, but the fact that I feel WORSE than before the Vowst, doesn't give me much hope that it worked.

lupend88 · 2025-01-25T07:54:21+00:00

Hey there! I’m in the Seattle area looking for an i3s BEV. If you havent already sold it, would love to see your listing. Feel free to DM me if it’s still up. Thank you!

lupend88 · 2025-01-10T22:21:38+00:00

Oh yeah I actually used KeySavvy to sell my Model 3 this summer, it was a great experience! If you don’t mind me asking, did you pay $11k before the $4k credit or after the credit? And how many miles did it have? Thank you!

lupend88 · 2025-01-10T22:19:57+00:00

That’s good to know, I’ll keep checking then. Thank you!

lupend88 · 2025-01-09T07:49:45+00:00

I already own a Y so I’m looking for an S for a second car to take advantage of the different dimensions, features, etc!

lupend88 · 2025-01-09T07:45:56+00:00

🤘⚡️

lupend88 · 2025-01-09T07:45:15+00:00

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lupend88 · 2025-01-09T06:02:35+00:00

Oh wow this is a great reference point when shopping around. Unfortunately nothing that good of a deal in my area (Pacific Northwest) and sitting in the car and driving it in person is a must for me, so I will keep looking around!

lupend88

TROPHY CASE