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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Linda Geddes

Keep taking the crapsules: how I became a faecal transplant donor

A faecal microbiota transplant capsule, made using a stool donated by Linda Geddes.
A faecal microbiota transplant capsule, made using a stool donated by Linda Geddes. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

To my fellow travellers, I’m sure the package I’m carrying looks like a lunchbox. Circular, and dark blue, with a Tupperware-style lid, it is precisely the kind of vessel you’d transport a soup or salad in. I’ve even sealed it inside a freezer bag, to contain any leaks. Or smells.

I walk slowly and with care across Westminster Bridge, because any trip could prove disastrous. As I enter St Thomas’ Hospital and head for the infection department on the fifth floor, I realise the object I’m carrying is still warm, and, despite my preparations, I’m sure I can detect a faint whiff of something ripe, like camembert.

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