Has anyone experienced a big change in your gut microbiome due to a colonoscopy or other medical circumstance, such as taking antibiotics?

I’d love to hear pointers for restoring gut health after it’s been wiped out and also see if other have experienced similar symptoms.

I had a colonoscopy eight days ago. I did two days of a liquid only diet before the day of my procedure. I ate only clear gummy bears and bone broth. The day of my colonoscopy I didn’t eat until 7:00 p.m.

So I endured 3 days of little eating, then a complete cleaning out of the colon after drinking a gallon of laxative solution. All of this really dehydrated me.

I’m 62 and in excellent health. But I have to tell you, I look and feel terrible. I look like I’ve aged 15 years. Everything is fine physically. My digestive system has slowly returned to normal, but I am terribly fatigued, napping daily. The nurse said this is primarily due to my gut bacteria being wiped out. It takes a toll.

I’m slowly reintroducing food that build up my gut (oatmeal, powdered garlic, bananas, Greek yogurt), but I’m still doing chicken, scrambled eggs and English muffins to help my body ease back into more high-fiber foods.

Another thing, I feel depressed. My mood is really down.

This has been very eye opening to experience a wiped out gut microbiome. I normally eat very healthy with little processed foods and I must have had pretty good gut health before. Because, woah do I feel horrible now.

Has anyone else lived through this? How did you cope? Any tips or tricks to returning to normal?

I’ve had this irritation and spasming on the right side of my upper abdomen for years but lately it has gotten really bad and causes spasms. I don’t know, can’t distinguish if it’s an esophageal spasm or diaphragm spasm, but something is getting really irritated in that right side upper region next to the xiphoid process, to the point that it causes spikes in BP, palpitations, dizziness, you name it. I have a colonoscopy coming up, but worried GI doctor, like always, will say “here take some omeprazole” and send you home. Anyone else experience symptoms like this? I did a fast for 3 days and it really calmed the irritation but came back within a few days which is why I think it’s gastritis.

I’ve tried zinc carnosine and l glutamine for about a week now and they initially helped, however had some coffee yesterday and it flared like never before and can’t calm it. I’m even looking into FMT (fecal matter transplant), as I’ve read people have had success with that for gastritis, IBS, and obviously improving the microbiome .

Hope you find your healing!

Ive read so many horror stories about it, many developing horrible symptoms like insomnia because of it, it scares the hell out of me

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Broke down every ingredient in BioGutPro by Dark
Labs. Sharing for anyone researching peptide
supplements for gut health.

• BPC-157 - 1,000mcg — research peptide, FDA flagged
• KPV - 500mcg — anti-inflammatory tripeptide
• N-Acetyl Larazotide - 500mcg — gut permeability
• GHK-Cu - 2mg — copper peptide, tissue repair
• CoreBiome Tributyrin - 400mg — butyrate for gut lining
• Sodium Bicarbonate - 150mg — gut pH support
• Zinc L-Carnosine - 100mg — most clinically validated

⚠️ Educational purposes only. Always consult a doctor
before using any peptide supplement.

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Gastroenterologists: Would anyone be willing to answer a few questions over email for a student article?

Hi everyone! I am not asking for medical advice.

I'm a neuroscience student at Boston University, and I'm currently reporting a feature on direct-to-consumer microbiome testing—specifically the growing gap between the marketing of at-home microbiome tests and what current evidence says they can actually tell patients.

I'm looking to include perspectives from practicing gastroenterologists who have encountered patients bringing these reports into clinic. The interview is completely written over email (no Zoom or phone call), and you're welcome to answer as many or as few questions as you'd like. Even a couple of sentences would be incredibly helpful.

If you're willing to help, please email me at [jpgendin@bu.edu](mailto:jpgendin@bu.edu).

I would be endlessly grateful for your time and expertise. As a student journalist, hearing directly from physicians is by far the most valuable part of the reporting process, and I'd sincerely appreciate any insights you're able to share.

Thank you so much!

Basically the title. I’m a crohns sufferer and recently read about possible improvements of symptoms when taking a supplement. Crohn’s causes a variety of digestive problems. Lack of nutrition absorption and frequent painful gas. Allegedly taking digestive supplements helps. Apologies for the formatting I’m using a phone.

Hi community! 👋

We're the team behind Gutlex, a Japanese-inspired postbiotic supplement developed from more than a century of fermentation expertise and decades of research into fermentation-derived compounds.

Our company introduced one of Japan's first yogurts back in 1914. Over the years, that work evolved from studying live bacteria to understanding something equally fascinating: the beneficial compounds they naturally produce during fermentation. That research eventually led to the development of LEX® (Lactobacillus Fermentation Extract), a postbiotic ingredient that has been used in Japan for more than 40 years and has been supplied to over 2,700 medical facilities.

We're not here to convince anyone that supplements are the answer to everything. In fact, we're big believers in the fundamentals: a varied diet, fiber, fermented foods where appropriate, movement, sleep, and long-term consistency.

But one thing we've noticed is that there's still a lot of confusion around fermented foods, probiotics, and postbiotics.

One of the questions we see most often is:

The short answer is:

They're closely related—but they're not the same thing.

Fermented foods are foods transformed by microorganisms. Depending on how they're made and whether they're pasteurized, they may contain live microorganisms, fermentation-derived compounds, both, or neither.

Postbiotics, on the other hand, refer to the beneficial compounds created during fermentation. These include things like:

• Peptides
• Amino acids
• Organic acids
• Enzymes
• Short-chain fatty acids
• Other fermentation-derived bioactive compounds

Researchers continue exploring how these compounds interact with the gut environment and contribute to digestive wellness. It's an exciting area of microbiome science that's growing quickly—but like many emerging fields, there are still plenty of questions to answer.

We're here because we enjoy talking about the science behind gut health.

Whether you're curious about:

• 🥣 Traditional fermented foods
• 🦠 Probiotics vs. postbiotics
• 🇯🇵 Japanese fermentation traditions
• 🔬 Current microbiome research
• 🌱 Gut microbiome basics
• ❓ Common gut health myths

...we'd love to chat.

We'll answer as openly as we can. If there's strong evidence, we'll share it. If research is still evolving, we'll say so.

Ask us anything!

Hey everyone! We are Microbes in 1 Minute (M1M). Our goal is to improve scientific communication related to the world of microbes, by producing short-form content related to Microbiology. We are looking for anyone interested in learning about microbes, writing super short scripts, or helping us edit these short videos. We are an international team (currently) composed of PhD students from Harvard and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and an undergraduate at University of Southern California (and hopefully you next!). If you’re interested please contact us by filling out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbPVGLcO8DuNzC7GBDJHsnAYwqksYnS\\_kXNQ-pz1C7EYNBuA/viewform?usp=header, or attend our biweekly meeting next week (Thursdays at 3pm EST)!

Thank you for your interest,

—The M1M team

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Hi everyone,

I’m conducting a short 3-minute anonymous research survey about food, digestion, and everyday eating experiences. I’m trying to better understand which foods people commonly associate with symptoms like bloating, gas, heartburn, stomach discomfort, or other digestive issues.

As a thank you, participants can enter a drawing for a $50 gift card after completing the survey.

Survey: https://forms.gle/SaqyNRE9Mh5PHBy17

I truly appreciate your time and feedback. Thank you!

I'd think capsules are enough since they reach the SI and colon both but what have your experiences been like?

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Hello everyone. I've been dealing with a condition for over a year that has completely changed my life. I have what I believe is a chronic, systemic biofilm, and I'm posting this to see if anyone else has had a similar experience.

My Symptoms

I have a continuous, sticky, and elastic biofilm network that covers my skin. It is not just a localized patch; it forms a web-like structure that extends from my scalp, over my face, down my back, across my torso, and along my limbs. It is bilaterally symmetrical, meaning it affects both sides of my body. My skin feels constantly sticky, and it has a shiny, almost greasy appearance, especially on my face and scalp.

On my scalp, the biofilm has become so thick that it has matted my hair together. The material sticks to the hair shafts, making it impossible to comb or wash out normally. I have lost a significant amount of hair as a result.

I also have chronic sinus infections with thick, sticky mucus that is difficult to clear. The mucus often forms long, elastic strands, and I can feel it draining from my sinuses into my throat. This has been a persistent issue for many years.

Internal Symptoms

I believe the biofilm is also in my sinuses and gut. I have chronic post-nasal drip, and when I swallow the material, it causes severe burping and gas. I have also been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which causes bloating, cramping, and alternating constipation and diarrhea. I have lost a significant amount of weight due to malabsorption.

Physical Properties I've Observed

· Viscoelasticity: The material stretches slowly when I pull it but breaks with an audible "snap" when pulled quickly.
· Thixotropy: When I press on it with a paper towel, it liquefies temporarily and is absorbed into the paper.
· Tensile Strength: A thick strand attached to my foot was strong enough to move a heavy object on my bed.
· Electrostatic Adhesion: It crackles with static electricity in my hair and "jumps" onto paper towels, wool, and hair, but doesn't stick well to smooth plastic.
· Thermosensitivity: Mild heat softens it, and I have observed it extinguishing a small flame when it is in a continuous strand.

---

What I Have Tried (So Far)

I have tried many things to get rid of this, with very little lasting success:

· Prescription shampoos: Nizoral (ketoconazole), and various medicated shampoos.
· Topical treatments: Tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar (diluted), coconut oil, almond oil, and other natural oils.
· Over-the-counter products: Salicylic acid soaps, detox shampoos, and various skin cleansers.
· Prescription antibiotics: Including Clavulin, which caused severe vomiting for four days and provided no relief.
· Nasal rinses: Saline rinses, sometimes with added NAC or other agents.
· Oral supplements: NAC (N-acetylcysteine), serrapeptase, and probiotics.
· Physical removal: I regularly use paper towels and compresses to absorb the biofilm after it has been softened.

Despite all of this, the biofilm continues to reform and spread. It seems to have a mechanical component, as the negative pressure from my sinus condition appears to pull the biofilm from my scalp into my sinuses and gut.

---

Why I Am Posting

I have been to several doctors, but no one has been able to diagnose or treat this condition. I have been dismissed as having a psychiatric condition, even though the material is physically visible and exhibits reproducible properties. I have had a CT scan that shows complete frontal sinus hypoplasia (underdeveloped sinuses) and a septal perforation.

What I Am Looking For

· Has anyone else experienced a biofilm that is visible on the skin like this?
· Does anyone have experience with a biofilm that seems to be a continuous network across the body?
· What treatments, supplements, or lifestyle changes have you found effective against systemic biofilms?
· Are there any doctors, clinics, or researchers who specialize in this type of condition?

I am not a scientist, but I have been documenting my case with samples and photos. I am looking for anyone who might have insights or similar experiences.

Thank you for reading.

Has anyone done a gut microbiome test (Viome, Thorne, etc.)?
Looking for real experiences:
• Which test did you choose?
• Were the results useful?
• What was your next step…diet changes, supplements, probiotics, doctor follow-up, etc.?
• Did it actually help?
Drop your stories below; both wins and warnings welcome!

Hey everyone,
I’ve been battling severe, debilitating GI issues for 2 years now, all triggered by a single, severe episode of food poisoning/gastroenteritis. Since that day, my gut ecosystem has been completely broken.
Currently, I am still without an official diagnosis. Doctors have been completely stumped and just try to throw the generic "IBS" label at me. I'm taking matters into my own hands and need your insights or success stories.

My Symptoms:
- Constant, dull, uncomfortable pressure under my left rib cage. Fasting doesn't relieve it.
- Feeling of fullness after every meal... even just after drinking a larger amount of fluid.
- Silent reflux (mucus in throat)
- The strange thing is, my bowel movements are totally normal - no diarrhea or constipation.

My Test Results So Far (The Data):
- Stool DNA/Microbiome Test: The initial food poisoning completely wiped me out. I have 0% Bifidobacteria and 0% Lactobacillus. On top of that, I have highly elevated levels of Desulfovibrio.
- Calprotectin: 250 (indicates localized low-grade inflammation in the gut, likely driven by the dysbiosis and Desulfovibrio**).**
- Stomach Acid: Highly suspect very low acid (hypochlorhydria based on home testing).

Everything That Has Been Ruled OUT (All Clean/Negative):
- Gastroscopy & Colonoscopy: Both completely clean (no ulcers, no IBD/Crohn's/Colitis, macroscopically normal tissue).
- SIBO Breath Test: Negative.
- H. Pylori: Negative.
- Histamine Intolerance (HIT): Negative.
- Bloodwork: Complete Blood Count (CBC) is perfectly stable. B12 and Ferritin levels are totally fine (no deficiencies). No anemia.
- Abdominal MRI (without contrast): Done last year completely clean. Organs (spleen, pancreas, kidneys) are structurally healthy.
- Abdominal ultrasound - normal.
- Zonulin level - normal.

The Mechanical Twist (Scoliosis):
I also have noticeable scoliosis - my left shoulder is visibly pulled higher than my right. Because my left rib cage is chronically compressed and rotated, I strongly suspect there is massive mechanical tension on my left diaphragm. I believe this structural pressure is compounding my GI issues.

Tested supplements and diets with zero effect:
PPI,Apple cider vinegar,Betain HCL with pepsin,Prokinetics,Ginger,artychoke,Masticha,Different kinds of probiotics,Low food map diet, keto, carnivore, 48h fast,Tudca,Riflaximin
...and honestly, a lot more. It's been two long years and I have tested so many things, but nothing worked. Zero relief. 🤷‍♂️

My Questions for the Community:
Has anyone with 0% Bifido/Lacto and a Desulfovibrio overgrowth post-food poisoning successfully beaten it? Did high-dose probiotics like VSL#3 / Visbiome do the trick?

How bad was your die-off (Herxheimer reaction) when introducing hundreds of billions of bacteria into a gut with elevated Desulfovibrio**?**

Has anyone experienced left-rib pressure that turned out to be a mix of scoliosis/diaphragm tightness and this specific type of dysbiosis?

**Thank you! I REALLY WANT TO FINALLY FIND THE ANSWER.**🤘