Colonoscopy revealed a tortuous colon. Anyone experiencing this?

I am a Crohn's pt who developed tortuous colon about 2 years ago. They were unable to complete colonoscopy even using a pediatric scope. MRI revealed tortuous colon with colonic stricture and significant thickening of bowel wall. I had to go to a hospital who had Advanced Endoscopy to perform balloon dilation on the stricture. I realize I will never have "normal" stool but as long as I keep things soft I can maintain. I hope this info helps.

Hi all ,
In my experience, it’s not something that you develop ? ( tortuous colon ); it’s something that you’re born with .
I say this because it’s several metres longer than a normal colon, and it lives in a small space , consequently has to fold and squeeze into that space .
Making a slow passage of food and constipation!plus bloating and always full bowel , very uncomfortable 😣
I am 74 and suffered the above as long as I can remember . At last I have found the answer 👍
A spoonful of inulin and a sachet of cosmocol everyday.
It’s absolutely bliss to have normal bowel movements daily after a lifetime of worrying.
I wonder if this long and tortuous colon is hereditary? Because I remember my grandfather always having to use senna etc , and he ate so much fruit from his orchard and yet clearly needed assistance.
We need much more fibre and fluid into the bowel than normal colons..
Back in the day this condition wasn’t ever known about 🤔
I hope this helps.
Best of luck
Sheila

Apologies that photo of the bearded gent isn’t mine 🤷‍♀️

I had a torturous: for many years.It cost many trips to the e.R and it just was taking over my life. I had surgery 14 years ago to take out the tortuous part and reconnect the 2 ends. It went rather well for me so I can't say as to how it would go for you. But I was generally pleased with the way things came out. No pun intended. I'll be happy to answer any questions.

Hello @cdeebar and welcome to the Digestive Health Support Group on Mayo Connect. I am glad that you found Mayo Connect, it is a good thing to be able to share and learn from others who have a similar diagnosis. I see that others, @christine5, @catherine1290 and @sheilagreen, have responded to you already. On Connect, there are a number of discussions on Tortuous Colon. Here is a link to those posts,
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/digestive-gastrointestinal-problems/?search=Tortuous+colon#discussion-listview
As you read these posts, feel free to ask questions or make comments. Simply click on "Reply" under the post you want to respond to and then a comment box will open up where you can post your question or your comment.

You mention that you will be seeing a GI specialist. Has this appointment been scheduled? Have you been given any medications or dietary suggestions until you have that appointment?

Hi cdeebar,
Best of luck cdeebar keep at finding the keys for your regularity!
Disclaimer: This is only my experience going natural. I have used organic, integrative, functional, holistic Naturopathic doctor's advice along with my MD’s since the early 1980's. There is science in alternatives too. Because I work closely with my ND, he told me to study the Migrating Motor Complex and Osmotic Gradient and he bet that I would find what worked for me. How to keep a longer than normal pipe with consistent moisture…. My ND also said because my condition was physical and I was born with it, attention would be needed for it from now on. Working on keeping stress down is very important too.
I tried laxatives and they are not consistent and have side effects like bloating, etc. All say for occasional use. They disrupt the system if take continuously. I liked a response from a co-redundant colon person: “It’s physical” so regular constipation suggestions may not work. Don’t give up because it took me 4 months to feel I could depend on being regular. It is worth going natural.
Last Dec the doc had me do non sedated colonoscopy. He went through my colon as I watched on TV. I had had a baby years ago (natural and could stand pain) so figured I could stand it – it was no big deal. Most people in world don't get put out. Very interesting and it helped allow the scope to get through better because I relaxed. No wonder I had been constipation on and off starting in my teens. I’m now in my early 70’s.
OptiMag and K2+ Potassium are great supps. I take them when I go to bed and once when I get up to pee. I include prunes/prune juice, winter squash, sweet potatoes, rhubarb etc in my diet. I eat cups of steamed vegetables each day. I like to grind 2T chia, 1 T sesame seeds and 2 T flax seeds, then soak in prune juice overnight. I add a T of carob now since it can help regularity. Take half in the morning and half at night. Throw sugar out along with processed and refined foods. Look up foods and drinks that constipate and give them up. Drink lot of water starting with a quart of hot water in the morning - boys scouts. I drink warmed up diluted chicken broth at times too. It is soothing to my stomach. Coffee and Smooth Move are my backups. I don't like coffee and never have drunk it much but it usually works for me in a pinch. Thankfully I only need coffee a few times a month.
Check out helpful research of biological processes that take place in our gut:
- Migrating Motor complex which is the electroactivity in the GI tract during meals and fasting
- Osmotic gradient. If too much water is pulled into the colon, diarrhea results. If not enough water is pulled into the colon constipation results. Balance of minerals is important. Magnesium, potassium and sodium brings water into the colon. I have found balancing these help prevent constipation. I have to watch my calcium intake because it tends to encourage constipation. Calcium carbonate seems to be the most constipating. I depend on blood work from time to time to make sure my minerals are balanced. Good luck, @farmersmith

My colon is seriously redundant, but not twisted best I can tell. There is a lot of infomation here for redundant, torturous colon and the constipation it causes. I have posted lots, just search on ResearchMaven to see how I deal with it with a 90% success rate.

Very interesting, though quite complex ….
Will take note of your tips ..
My method is currently working for me .
However past experiences tell me that it may well change once the body gets too used to it 🤷‍♀️

Thanks Sheila for you feedback.
Going to integrative healthcare professionals and doing Permaculture organic gardening most of my 72 years, produce and products are familiar to me. I can understand how they might seem complex. Months went by before I got it right. I did start with evening OptiMg and potassium (K), then morning ground flax and chia but it wasn't predictable enough. I did more research along with trial and error.

The osmotic gradient balance was an AH HA moment. It reminded me of keeping garden soil moist with compost (not really the same but once a gardener always a gardener). I needed to keep my longer than average pipe moist enough. It made sense to take one each of OptiMag and K plus I added Real salt in the middle of the night to be ready for "regularity" in the morning. Because I have low blood pressure and drink lots of water, minerals can become imbalanced. Unlike people with high blood pressure, I can use Real salt.

Just wanted you to get the idea of my discovery process.
Best of luck Sheila,
farmersmith

Thank you.