Interview with stool donor UT-AW-1998

June 6, 2022

Can you introduce yourself?

I absolutely love to be outside, whether it be hiking, running, biking or swimming. I am a nurse, and am a competitive CrossFit athlete. I spend hours daily training at the gym, if not training outside, that is. I have been a donor for Human Microbes for about 9 months and it’s been a great experience.

How did you hear about Human Microbes?

My younger sister saw a video on social media for Human Microbes and sent me the link to apply, as she thought I would be a good candidate for donation.

Did you know anything about the gut microbiome and/or FMT prior to learning about Human Microbes?

I have been a big believer in the gut microbiome affecting everything else in the body for many years, and had heard about FMT helping, but that is all I knew about it. As a nurse, I had heard stories of patients wanting to qualify for FMT to help with C.Diff, but it was always a lengthy process and I never actually worked with it.

What were your initial thoughts about FMT and being a stool donor, and how was your experience with going through the screening process?

As soon as I found out about it, I wanted to help. The idea of being a stool donor grossed a lot of people out but it didn’t bother me. In the screening process, I thought it was interesting how many questions were asked but I now realize how crucial they all are to finding a good donor. The rest of the screening process was smooth and straight forward as well; sending in pictures of my stool, and doing the stool and blood test were a lot smoother a process than I would have imagined.

How about the initial phase with starting to donate? Any difficulties there, and how have things gone since then?

The beginning phase of donation took some getting used to. I got a lot of orders at once so made a spreadsheet to keep up with them and ensure the best quality to the recipients. Other than some difficulties with customs at international shipping, things have been going really well with all the steps of donation.

How easy or difficult have you found it to fit it in your daily schedule? What sort of time requirements does it have?

This is something I was actually the most worried about, but it hasn’t been an issue. I usually go at home, but if I go to the gym in the morning, I simply bring a cooler, ice and bag with me and go there. As for shipping, it takes about 30 mins-1hour each time I send something. I simply get the label, go to my nearest grocery store and get dry ice, come home and package up the shipment, then drive to either UPS or FedEx (depending on the shipment) and drop off the package. It’s nice because I can choose when in the day is most convenient with my schedule to get the shipment out.

What are your thoughts about FMT, stool donation, and Human Microbes, now that you've gotten the hang of things?

I have become even more fascinated with the gut microbiome because I can see how people are helped through FMT. Human Microbes is a great company that supports both the donor and recipient in a quality experience. I never thought stool donation could be as simple and straightforward as it is!

Some people are grossed out by FMT. My theory on that is it's because their own stool is unhealthy and thus repugnant, but in my experiences, healthy stool is not repugnant at all. Can you comment on how you perceived that issue before and after becoming a donor? And how tolerable or off-putting is the stool preparation for you?

I agree with the theory that people are likely grossed out by the idea of it because their own stool is unhealthy. I was nervous it would be disgusting to prepare capsules, but after doing it I realized it’s not nearly as gross as I thought it would be. I simply wear a mask while I make capsules, and there is no issue. In fact, it is so tolerable that my husband even volunteers to help make capsules, because the stool is not repugnant at all.

Any comments to anyone who might be considering becoming a stool donor?

It is worth it to be a donor! Not only are you making money by helping people, it’s also a way to remember to continue eating healthy to supply the highest quality stool. It’s not a major time commitment and although it may sound gross, it really isn’t.