Severe Tortuous & Redundant Colon

Yes and I'm so glad we are friends!!!! ( my secret weapon is xanax..lol!!) I'm soo glad I got you to laugh!! You crack me up...LOL!! So yes, I've tried Amtiza, Linzess..and now Trulance.. the ISBrela is the "new" solve it all pill..and it's $2143 a month at Walgreens my copay is $321.93.( guess I'm glad it just made me sick) I have used Miralax 2 caps per day.. and it used to work until the patch.. it was for nausea.. now I take Phenergan and Zofran..I'm telling him I want a"bowel resection"..I always have a list!! I'll still have the hiatal hernia and gastritis.. and my scleroderma markers keep going up but my rheumatologist says "it's a miracle, you don't have it!! ..so I'll go with that.. he's really a great doctor ( one of the few) I might just try to Metamucil gummies.. the powder was awful.. these biscadlys make me nauseated.. but they are sooo productive!! I just hate going to ER..last time they gave me an enema and sent me home with a diaper as they were closing that part of ER..45 minute drive and no trees...if you know what I mean..I am determined to never get backed up again!! You have just been thru hell with all this (I can't insert a pic.. but you know what I mean..whew!!) I don't know how you do it!! R-E-S-P-EC-T!!!! I'm gonna biscadyl today.. oh boy!! I hoe you have a wonderful day.. no pain and poop.. what could be better my friend!!

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Hi Shelly,

Sorry, I haven't been on in a long time. I pray for you, myself, and everyone else who suffers with this awful problem. I think you might find encouragement in the attached video:

Dear @julsnealey,

Disclaimer: This is only my experience going natural for chronic constipation and come to find out redundant colon. 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 something that worked for me. How to keep a longer than normal pipe with consistent moisture…. My ND also said because my condition was physical, attention would be needed from now.
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 taken 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 for me.
Last Dec 2023 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 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 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 or all in the morning. I've throw sugar out along with processed and refined foods. I looked up foods and drinks that constipate and gave them up. Drink lot of water starting with a quart of hot water in the morning - boy scouts. I use warmed up diluted chicken broth at times too. It is soothing to my stomach. Coffee and Smooth Move are my back ups. 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. Oh and letting stress go is important too - I know golly it seems there is no hope for relief but it is worth looking at diet and trying lifestyle changes that can help. Good luck, @farmersmith

My doctor has just prescribed Amitiza. Based on the side effects alone, I am scared to even try it. I have low blood pressure in general, and tend to get significant BP drops upon standing and this side effect is one that I am very concerned about. For those that have taken this, what is your experience? Is it worth the side effects? Thank you!

My doctor has prescribed this as well. I have the prescription on hold out of fear of the side effects. I hope we hear from someone who has used it. Good luck to you! This is such a challenging problem!

I know, scary and may not worth adding to the list of issues I already have going on!

Does anyone else have dysautonomia and tortuous colon? I had thought the severe abdominal distension, 2 week constipation, pain, pressure and excessive gas may have been a very bad flare up of my gastroparesis but it also fits more severe symptoms of my tortuous colon.. I underwent a colonoscopy without anasthesia because they were unable to find a vein due to dehydration from 2 day prep... Did allow me to scream through and see the four parts of my colon that were twisted like rotini pasta. Three different doctors have "prescribed" miralax, but it has never assisted me with bowel movements. I am also having terrible mood swings with depression and anxiety despite my logical brain saying how irrational it is that I feel so. Does this reflect anyone else's experiences?