Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?

I had surgery in June 2022 for a mobile cecum. The right colon had moved to the left quadrant of my abdomen and created an obstruction. Surgeon just moved the right colon back in place. I just had a CT scan (July 2024) with contrast that showed the ileocecal valve is in the left quadrant, not the right. The radiologist didn’t even mention it as an incidental finding. But I constantly have bloating, constipation, etc. Anyone else have this happen? I had never heard of the ileocecal valve. Does Mayo perform cecoplexy? My surgeon told me in 2022 they don’t work and was thinking of removing the right colon before he moved it back in place. . Looking for viable options if there are any - hoping cecoplexy is a possibility.

Feeling a bit relieved that I'm not alone with this... I had a scan in my early 20s and it was then I learnt I had a torturous (redundant) colon. I've had digestive issues, mostly constipation, excessive flatulence and pain all my adult life. Most recently in the last 6 months, the constipation has become chronic and a CT Scan revealed I'm faecally impacted. Will be having an endoscopy & colonoscopy soon as haemoglobin levels are also extremely low. The digestive issues have gotten worse as has the constipation since being diagnosed with Hypothyroidism over a decade ago. Have to say my appetite has greatly reduced and there's almost a fear of eating due to the pain that it now causes. Stress most definitely exacerbates the issue. Many people do not understand the pain, and discomfort one feels with this. I believe a few of my immediate family members have the same issue which is comforting in some sense. Thankfully I try and keep active and well-hydrated but hate to think how worse things would be if I weren't, but at this present time, it's difficult. take Movicol regularly and I've been prescribed 8 sachets a day for 3 consecutive days by my GP for faecal impaction. I'm starting to think about bowel surgery now cos it's becoming so distressful...

Ignoring food choices, consider soups, smoothies and porridges. Liquidy foods to go around the curves.

Also slippery elm inner bark tea. It supports the mucosa. A lack of "slip" in the colon can contribute to constipation. I also eat foods that act as stimulant laxatives at night - kiwi and rhubarb.

I also take a very small dose of Zoloft. It helps with constipation (side effect) and the anxiety trigger I have for IBS. I can't handle many drugs and cut the 25 mg Zoloft pill into quarters and that is the right dose for me. Also Intoleran digestive enzymes for carbohydrates and lactose.

Looking at food choices, I am highly FODMAP sensitive and only eat about 15 foods. Non-meat proteins. No grains. It's pretty radical but it works.

All my best to you!

I was born with a redundant colon. I never had a normal life. I missed out of a lot of things. Sometimes it got so bad that I would go into cold sweats, vomitting and almost passing out.

Anyone have an elongated tortuous? I just found out five mins ago . I was also told I have diverticulosis a couple of years ago! OMG ! My stomach is so bloated I look pregnant!

Welcome @kimmyi, I imagine that can be pretty unnerving being told you have an elongated tortuous colon when you also have diverticulosis. There is another older similar discussion that you may want to look through.
-- Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/redundant-tortured-colon/.

There are also quite a few discussions and comments on stomach and bloating that you might find helpful to scan through. Here is a link that lists the discussions and comments - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/?search=stomach%20bloating

Do you have a follow up appointment with your doctor to discuss the bloating symptoms?

I've had this problem for 71 years. Didn't know what it was until a few years ago. By then I'd worked out mostly what works although sometimes I have a bad week or so and its awful. Eating soft foods, intermittent fasting, and eating enough fiber and drinking enough water. Chia seeds will help (but not consistently). I'm trying a teaspoon of coconut oil (the solid, organic, virgin, unrefined kind ONLY) after eating in the morning and then in the evening. Too soon to comment as I just completely emptied my system after a problem, via Dulcolax. I don't like Mirilax, which my doctor suggested 30 minutes after the Dulcolax. But I do take powdered high absorption magnesium and that works just as well, but it tastes so much better (mine is peach flavored), and it may be helping my magnesium levels as a side benefit.

Olive oil could also be used (I haven't tried it) but after reading any negatives on these, I chose to try coconut oil. I don't have any heart disease and I have low blood pressure and low cholesterol. I've read where you can safely consume up to 2 tablespoons a day unless you have known heart disease issues, so I'm probably okay.

I have memories as far back as I can remember concerning this issue. When I was younger, I used to find riding a bicycle every day, and floor exercises (where you are using your abdominals in some manner) right after eating (the very thing they tell normal people not to do) really helped. I drifted away from those when I got really busy with work but I might try it again sometime.

Small portions, having every other day with no solid food, eating soft foods and exercise would be what I would tell someone with this problem, but I'm not a doctor, so I'm just sharing what has worked for me (most of the time). Oh, and drink lots of water!

Thank you for this. I have memories as a child having horrible abdominal cramps and no one knowing what to do to help. It has continued on and off my entire life. I did not know the cause until a colonoscopy about 5 years ago. Previous colonoscopies did not mention it. I have been ok, but can tell I am in need of a change. The bloating feeling is getting worse the older I get. I am 57 and 58 in September. These suggestions may be just the ticket.

Cuddle bug, I do a lot of what you do and thought I'd mention I start my day with Slippery Elm Inner Bark tea. It supports the mucosa.

I think you should consult again as I do not believe you should not be eating any cousins of the Fiber. Fiber can not be disolved in water (some of them) or easily digest by the body:

The fiber, a type of carb your body does not digest, is what makes these foods hard on someone with an inflamed colon. In addition to raw veggies and fruits, stay away from cooked kale, peas, winter squash, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, onions and corn.

The reason I say this is because every doctor (an absurd amount of them) and gastro (3 of them) will first recommend Fiber. I was so desperate with the pain and bloating that I was eating apples with the peals and celery. Finally I was officially diagnose with Gastroparesis and fiber is an antagonist of Gastroparesis. My gut feeling literally was that if I would eat fiber or Metamucil or Fiber One or Magnisum or any product with capsules or microcristalline I would get swollen. What surprises me is that a number of doctor would recommend Fiber and Magnesium when at least Fiber should not be recommended before an Emptying Stomach Study (that should be protocol). I am saying this as a System Analyst. That is my particular case.