Severe Tortuous & Redundant Colon

I am still the same. I suffer from this daily and do not foresee that changing any time soon. I believe if you don't fit into a nice little package of symptoms for the more commonly known digestive issues you are simply lumped into an IBS/IBD category and sent on your way. Quality of life is an issue, but I don't see any change with this. I have given myself a mental break from trying to figure out an answer, as it was making me depressed. Its sad, frustrating and painful on all fronts. I would love to find an answer, I hope we can find one soon.

Hi, @julsnealey - I am sorry to hear you are still the same and suffer daily from this. I commend you for giving yourself a mental break from trying to figure out an answer.

I found out I have a tortuous colon in my first colonoscopy about a year and a half ago. I was not familiar with this condition, so wondered how my colon could have caused anyone a lot of trouble or torture. 🙂 That, or I thought that the post-colonoscopy report might have a misplaced or misspelled word.

I also learned after the colonoscopy that the GI fellow (trainee) doing my procedure struggled performing it due to the tortuosity, and the staff GI doctor had to take over. I did not receive any information about this being a potential problem in the future with gastrointestinal symptoms.

In your situation, julsnealey, what did you and your doctor think would be the pros and cons for you of having a colectomy at some point?

Right on, thanks for abbreviating my regularity journey into my 2nd year. My ND bet me, I could tailor my own program with research - Thank you Dr. Matt Angove, ND

Wanna add: Glad for better stress control - so important. At 73 yrs old with a redundant colon, I need to manage my regularity. It would be nice if there was a one time fix but it's physical. I appreciate NOT BEING ON MEDS, they may work KIND OF but are FOREIGN TO OUR BODIES often with SIDE EFFECTS.

Thanks, @bethyh79, Good luck, @farmersmith

Does anyone with this have narrow stools. I was diagnosed with this after a colonoscopy last year, but wasn’t given much info. I have always been constipated even as a toddler. I’m in my 60’s now. I also have bloating an excessive gas but thought it was due to my biliary dyskinesia. I guess maybe it’s all related. I guess my concern is the narrow stools. Colonoscopy showed 1 polyp that was negative. Anyone with this issue

Yes, this is very common for me. I wish there was something we could do make this easier to live with as it is life altering. I wish you the best.

Hi @carolynj15 . Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am sorry you accumulating all these problems. It has to be frustrating trying to manage them. It would be helpful to figure out how all your symptoms are related.

I do not have any specifically diagnosed conditions at this point but I do struggle with narrow stools currently. I am trying to figure out how to handle constipation and keeping weight on. I notice color changes as well as diameter when this happens, and it has been something difficult to fit into a category when I look at a Bristol stool chart. I am inviting others that may have more to share after seeing they have made comments about thin, even shoelace stool, @exeter, @part, @rmv65, @taftst1.

When did your narrow stools start happening, and are they consistent? Did the bloating and gas start at the same time?

Hello there. Thanks for invite. Constipation started 20 years ago. Coincidentally (or not) with menopause. 70 years now. I did get a laparoscopic colon resection about 10 years ago. It was for worsening diverticulitis. Surgeon said my diverticuli was gone after surgery. Surgeons say a lot of absolutes. I still struggle with constipation but glad to get rid of diverticuli. When I complained about thin stools my GI MD insisted on fiber. Instead of recommended dose I started with 1/4 TEASPOON then very gradually went to current dose of 1- 1.5 teaspoon now. I drink 8-12 ounces water when I wake up. It is recommended to drink 16 oz when awaken. I am vigorous with getting rid of gas. I find Pepcid AC very helpful. Don’t take it daily. Look at label it has 120 mg of magnesium which seems to work within the hour for me. Think of gas being trapped in your colon tube- nothing is going to move unless the gas releases. Also I lay on floor to do my back exercises- always have gas release. There are exercises on YouTube to look up for constipation. I do take 400 mg Magnesium oxide and 2 stool softeners every night. There is a tea at groceries or Target called Smooth Move - a Hospice RN told me about it. Use it occasionally. I take Physicians Choice probiotics (Amazon) sometimes and a few nights in a row but stop when it straightens out. MiraLAX doesn’t work for me. Probably the biggest recommendation I can make is to look at all medications you are on to be sure they aren’t contributing. Meloxicam is incredibly helpful for my back but very constipating - I take it once every 2 weeks or so. Also I gave up broccoli, cabbage. Have reintroduced beans. You could keep a food diary daily along with bowel stuff to figure out if foods have impact. Apples are helpful for me. If all else fails I take a few ounces of Magnesium Citrate which I keep in my refrigerator. It is in clear bottle at grocery. Clear liquid. In the old days it was bowel prep recommended for colonoscopies. Anyway don’t give up.

Yes! If your stool is like shoelaces you have a colonic stricture somewhere. There was a group discussion on this site. I had Balloon Dilation which helped.

Started sometime last year. I’m really not sure what is going on. I thought I had something going on with my liver because I had pain in my back(liver area), loose lighter color foul smelling stools. That has resolved, but then the narrow stools started. I probably need to increase my fiber intake and see if that might help

I forgot a few things. Sunsweet has a bag of individually wrapped prunes. I am a fan- big fan. Also Trader Joe’s has organic Raisin Bran clusters. Other foods I cannot eat are popcorn (😔) and peanut butter. Gastro MD cautioned me about dairy - point was taken.