1. < Digestive Health

Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?

Posted by onaquest @onaquest, Nov 7, 2018

Hello. Anyone else out there that has a redundant/ tortured colon? I was diagnosed with this a few years ago. I’m usually ok, but if I get constipated, I get sick for a week or two. Last year my gastroenterologist referred me to a surgeon for urgent surgery to remove some of my colon. The surgeon I ended up seeing (not on the recommended list by my gastro doc due to others not available for a long time) said he believed I could live with the redundant colon if I followed a low FODMAP diet. I tried the diet religiously, scientifically (I’m a scientist), and I found it’s not the food I eat that causes these bouts of constipation. The only item I’ve found that might cause the bouts is coffee every day. An occasional coffee seems fine. What has helped me stay regular in a big way is Benefiber (or any pure wheat dextrose generic) three times per day. Lots of fluid.

My gastro doc was upset with the surgeon and said I’d regret not having the surgery. He fears I will end up in an emergency situation. I have searched the Mayo site and don’t find anything about redundant/ tortured colon. Are any Mayo docs doing research or treat this condition? Anyone else suffer from this too?
Thank you! -Jayne

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caramac | @caramac | Feb 5 4:28am
In reply to @researchmaven "KKlas4 - I have a "severely" redundant colon. Have you tried Slippery Elm Powder (inner bark)?..." + (show)
@researchmaven

KKlas4 - I have a "severely" redundant colon. Have you tried Slippery Elm Powder (inner bark)? I have some with every meal. It adds a lot of slip. I tried taking it once a day and that was not the solution.

I also eat a liquidity diet - my three meals are - hot cereal, smoothie, well-cooked soup. I feather in solids. I drink something all day; more water/liquid to push things along.

I also have myriad food intolerances that trigger IBS. And a rectal pocket (prolapse).

Doing the above for my meals and beverages, plus only eating what works for me keeps my bowels in the normal range. The prolapse comes to fore if I eat wrong, but I have a sitting style that helps take up the prolapse slack and that works.

Everyone is so different, but for me, if I didn't do all of the above, I would be maddenly uncomfortable or in pain.

Jump to this post

I have tortuous colon and low rise mucosal prolapse plus other things.
Can i ask you what your sitting style is please to see if it helps me .
Hope you are doing well

REPLY
1 reply
caramac | @caramac | Feb 5 4:58am
In reply to @farmersmith "Hi Jayne, Best of luck. Stick with it and you can find just the right fit..." + (show)
@farmersmith

Hi Jayne,
Best of luck. Stick with it and you can find just the right fit for you! I am so glad I didn't even consider surgery after finding out about my longer than usual colon! You can form fit the changes you need for just you. Be sure to be active too. Glad others have natural suggestions like kiwi and artichoke root and slippery elm, Maybe I will add them from time to time too.
Disclaimer: 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.
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. Goal: how to keep a longer than normal pipe consistently moist…. My ND also said because my condition was physical, attention would be needed from now on.
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. Psyllium husks, MD's go to, made me worse. I liked 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.
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 in the night. 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 or two of carob now since it can help regularity. Take half in the morning and half at night or all in the morning. Throw sugar out along with processed and refined foods. Look up foods and drinks that constipate and give them up, at least as a test. 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 supplement 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 how scary it can be. 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

Jump to this post

Hello i was just reading your tips and very helpful as i have a very looped tortuous colon .
Is Optimag you take Optimag neuro ? and which K2 + potassium do you take please.
I noticed you take smooth move tea which is senna , do you take this often as i was told to stay away from this but wondered how it helps you.
How do you balance mag, potassium and sodium?
Sorry to ask so many questions but trying to stop surgery.
Does the Optimag actually help you have bowel movements on its own with diet .
The only thing that helps me is keeping fibre low , no psyllium, taking fruit juices , activia yogurt with some chai seeds , Triple magnesium but do not like taking it as has oxide which again dont think is good but what can you do as you need to eliminate.
Kind Regards to you

REPLY
caramac | @caramac | Feb 5 5:22am
In reply to @jkarmazin "I do belly message every morning, take slo-Mag twice a day, and Acacia Powder Fiber. Also..." + (show)
@jkarmazin

I do belly message every morning, take slo-Mag twice a day, and Acacia Powder Fiber. Also use flaxseed meal and chia seeds in my food. If I get constipated I use magnesium gummies to help. I am 70 years old.

Jump to this post

Hello which gummies do you use please and where from .
Thanks

REPLY
1 reply
jkarmazin | @jkarmazin | Feb 5 7:33am
In reply to @caramac "Hello which gummies do you use please and where from . Thanks" + (show)
@caramac

Hello which gummies do you use please and where from .
Thanks

Jump to this post

I got some 50mg gummies from Amazon, meant for kids. I can’t take too much or I get diarrhea.

REPLY
1 reply
caramac | @caramac | Feb 5 10:00am
In reply to @sallyw133 "I did a low-fiber diet for same reason. Still adhere to most of it. No greens,..." + (show)
@sallyw133

I did a low-fiber diet for same reason. Still adhere to most of it. No greens, raw fruit except in smoothies, no raw veggies, no seeds, corn, no fibrous red meat. Basically, nothing hard to digest. I do feel better with less “bulk”. I’ll check into IF. Always looking to try anything that could help.

Jump to this post

What is IF out of interest of colon .

REPLY
caramac | @caramac | Feb 5 10:05am
In reply to @jkarmazin "I got some 50mg gummies from Amazon, meant for kids. I can’t take too much or..." + (show)
@jkarmazin

I got some 50mg gummies from Amazon, meant for kids. I can’t take too much or I get diarrhea.

Jump to this post

Are they mag citrate gummies and thanks for reply .
I only found reply by accident not sure how this site tells you someone has replied .

REPLY
jkarmazin | @jkarmazin | Feb 6 8:32am

Not sure but i think so! Haven’t used them for awhile and I am out of them!

REPLY
researchmaven | @researchmaven | Feb 7 1:50pm
In reply to @caramac "I have tortuous colon and low rise mucosal prolapse plus other things. Can i ask you..." + (show)
@caramac

I have tortuous colon and low rise mucosal prolapse plus other things.
Can i ask you what your sitting style is please to see if it helps me .
Hope you are doing well

Jump to this post

caramac, I sit on a firm chair and cross my legs (right thigh over left) and lean into it. If I am in need of this position, I do with with a couple of mugs of warm liquid in me -- my version of hot chocolate. It collapses the prolapse, muscles work better and I have success. Let me know if you have other questions.

REPLY
farmersmith | @farmersmith | Feb 9 7:26am

Hello Jayne and others,
Best of luck. Stick with it and you can find just the fit for you! I am so glad I didn't even consider surgery. You can form fit the changes you need for just you. Be sure to be active too.

Disclaimer: 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.
I work closely with my ND, he told me to study the Migrating Motor Complex and Osmotic Gradient, He bet that I would find something that worked for me. Goal: how to keep a longer than normal pipe consistently moist…. My ND also said because my condition was physical, attention would be needed from now on.

I tried laxatives - not consistent + side effects like bloating, etc. All say for occasional use. They disrupt the system if taken continuously. I liked a response of a co-redundant colon person: “It’s physical” so regular constipation suggestions may not work. Don’t give up. It took me 4 months to feel I could depend on being regular. It is worth going natural.

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 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. He showed me the redundancy. No wonder I had been constipation on and off starting in my teens. I’m now in my early 70’s.

Throw sugar out along with processed and refined foods. Look up foods and drinks that constipate and give them up, at least as a test. OptiMag and K2+ Potassium are great supps. I take them when I go to bed and once in the night (important to keep colon moisture consistent). 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 or two of carob now since it can help regularity. Take all in the morning. 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. Have heard kiwi's are good but haven't tried them. 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. I depend on this for daily REGULARITY first "chore" each morning. I am an early riser and when off the farm I don't want to wonder if I will have REGULARITY.

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 supplement 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 how scary it can be. 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

REPLY
cazza | @cazza | Feb 13 3:47pm

Hi Jane,
I too have a redundant colon so I know exactly what you're going through.
I've always suffered from chronic constipation since having my gallbladder removed 13 years ago.
In the last 11 years I've been hospitalised with a compacted bowel 12 times but in the last 18 months I've been admitted to hospital 4 times, last week was the recent.
A colonoscopy 4 years ago showed I had redundant colon but my gastroligist said ...
" What came first, the chicken or the egg?"
He explained when you suffer from chronic constipation which in turn causes a compacted bowel the bowel, over time stretches and stretches until it becomes long and loopy = redundant colon.
I am 71 years of age and seeing a bowel consultant on the 27th of this month. I'm getting to a point where I'm really considering asking him if I can have a Stoma as the amount of laxatives and stool softner is way to much for my likening and my body can't take the daily pain, trapped wind, nausea, bloating and the constant panic, is my bowel going to block and kill me!
A reseaction can cause complications and usually a secondary surgery is necessary.
Regards Carol

REPLY
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