Severe Tortuous & Redundant Colon

Was this your first colonoscopy?
I am 65, have had 2, same GI dr. for both. NEVER told me I have a redundant splenic flexure. A Radiologist noted it in a recent CT SCAN. 17 yrs CIC, some things help for short periods, now just getting worse. 3 small bowel partial twists causing partial obstructions. My motility in large colon is almost nonexistent...so I have to keep my body in a constant state of loose bowels or risk complete blockage and then I get to perform a " digital removal " on myself... OMG, they hurt so extremely bad, I will do anything to prevent them.

Oh I am so sorry. This was not my first colonoscopy. I have had 3-4 throughout the years, because I have had inflammatory markers in stool and had to swallow a camera and swallow studies that showed lesions throughout the intestinal tract. I have had major intestinal issues for years and they have been just getting worse. So unpleasant and painful. Lot's of very invasive intestinal tests as well, it was just this colonoscopy that the doctor said it was the most severe tortuous colon he had ever seen. I wish you well as this is such a disabling issue to have.

So, you knew you had it for a long time? Were your other colonoscopies painful and were you told about this variant? Were you sedated? I am not in favor of surgery... but if my redundant flexure starts twisting I will be looking for a really really really great surgeon. I also have signs that might be cancer on the redundant part. Blood in the colon is NOT a sign of this cancer. I too have other intestinal and autoimmune disorders, along with Hyperparathyroidism, anyone with intestinal or other "idiopathic " issues should read up on this. It is all about calcium levels. I have had secondary HPTH for 17++ years, found it when my dr could not get my vit D in normal range... I had congenital asymptomatic celiac disease, ate gluten like normal for 48 yrs, small intestinal villi were and still are severely damaged. Does anyone know why the word "constipation" is not an auto-complete word, anywhere?🤪💩

No, no one told me until this last colonoscopy. Although when I had to have an emergency appendectomy the abdominal surgeon said I had a "very floppy colon". I had to have a hysterectomy and oopherectomy at 36 due to severe endometriosis and a gall bladder removal shortly before that. I have many adhesions. I have complained for years that it feels like my intestines have a "kink" like in a hose, and for a few days pressure, gas and bloating build up with no bowel movement and then out of the blue suddenly the pressure is too much and suddenly unkinks and I start vomiting while I am purging a lot of loose stool. It is so painful I rock and cry while vomiting. What do you mean about calcium? Low? High?

Did you ask why you were not told?
calcium: both
Too low affects just about everything in the body. Especially brain, heart, lungs.
Too high also affects a lot, think "calcifications", stones of any kind, anywhere.
But.. you need vitamin D to get the body to absorb and use the calcium.
The Parathyroid glands main function is to make and push out calcium if it gets signals from the body that calcium levels are not correct.
Parathyroid.com has an excellent website with lots of info and a great calculator. Also, swparathyroid.com has great info.
I am using both. I am using swparathyroid.com for a comprehensive second opinion.
Tumor(s) can grow on the PT gland and incorrectly make extra calcium, or the tumor can be cancer, usually it's not cancer.
I have now had formal diagnosis of secondary HPT, caused and found with celiac disease. Now I have a primary diagnosis, which probably means I have to have the surgery, minor, but it is the only way to treat.

This is all very helpful. I did not ask about why I was not told. I hope all goes well. Please follow up and keep us posted. I will be thinking of you.

Good luck with your condition. I don't take lactose, see below. I have tried laxatives and they are not consistent and have side effects like bloating, etc. And all say for occasional use. They disrupt the system if take continuously, I believe.

Last Dec the doc had me do non sedated colonoscopy. He could get through the colon as I watched on TV. I had had a baby years ago so figured I could stand it - no big deal. Most people in world don't get put out. Very interesting and it helped allow the scope to get through because I relaxed. Look up Osmotic gradients and Migrating motor complex and consider your electrolyte balance. OptiMag and K2+ Potassium are great supps and be sure to include prunes, squash, sweet potatoes, rhubarb etc in your diet. I like to soak ground 2T chia and 2 T flax seeds in prune juice overnight, then take half in the morning and half at night. Throw out the sugar, processed and refined foods and drink lot of water starting with a quart of hot water in the morning. Coffee and Smooth move are my back ups. I don't like coffee but it usually works. Good luck, @farmersmith

I suggest contacting your doctor for personalized advice regarding medications or dietary changes. If surgery is being considered, discuss the potential risks and benefits thoroughly with your doctor. Remember, seeking expert medical guidance is essential for making informed decisions.

Yes, I am seeing a doctor for all of this, just trying to hang in there.

Hi @julsnealey,
I too have a tortuous colon - although I’m not sure if it is recent or long standing. I have been having colonoscopies since 2004 and none of the doctors ever mentioned a tortuous colon until the colonoscopy I had in 2022.
I have had similar symptoms to yours for more than 30 years where I don’t have a bowel movement for several days and then have a huge loose BM accompanied by nausea. However, I have never vomited- I found that if I take a ginger tablet at the first sign of needing to have a BM then the nausea is reduced before the BM occurs. I have gluten intolerance and lactose intolerance and CKD so I have a restrictive diet - but I try to eat a lot of steamed veggies and small servings of avocado and fresh fruit. Sometimes, rarely very small servings of animal protein. I am due for another colonoscopy next year -during every previous colonoscopy the doctor has had to remove several polyps .
I am going to ask my doctor about the Slippery Elm tea that “researchmaven”
recommended above.
I hope you find a solution for your health issues- I find good information every day on Mayo Clinic Connect- by doing a search on my issue and usually someone has mentioned it before at some point in the past.