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

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

@tiss

I also use a magnesium complex and vitamin c every day. It's the only thing that has consistently helped my chronic constipation.

Jump to this post

Tiss, could you tell me which magnesium complex that you are using ?

REPLY
@amyvb

I have had IBS-C issues for as long as I can remember, but about 7 years ago they became chronic to the point where I can go a week (or more) without any bowel movement if I'm not taking laxatives. I have had dozens of tests, and the only useful information I have received so far was from a visit to the Mayo clinic in Rochester a little over a year ago, where they discovered I have a "highly tortuous colon" and could barely complete a colonoscopy. The recommendations at that time included increasing my fiber, which doesn't help at all. Other tests have also revealed that I have a partially prolapsed lower colon, but not to the point where surgery would be a good idea. Taking fiber supplements makes me extremely bloated and becomes unbelievably painful, and Miralax makes me sick to my stomach and doesn't do too much to move things along. I've tried different things with my diet, and right now, I mostly eat white rice (brown is too hard to digest), vegetables, and small amounts of protein. I feel like i'm going a little crazy trying different things like eliminating dairy or other food restrictions, but I don't know what else to do. I completely avoid gluten. I've been very active my whole life...have run marathons and done lots of strength training and different types of endurance races, but recently I don't have the energy for the types of training that these events require. @karena65 Do you have a resource that you can share on the whole plant diet? Is there any other advice anyone can share?

Jump to this post

I have had irritable bowel-C for over 40 years. In the last three years and a half years the constipation has become severe. Up until then, I rarely used laxatives (could count on one hand, the # of times) One gastroenterologist recommended the fodmap diet, (so restrictive and I am already restricted as a celiac) metamucil and miralax twice a day. That seemed to alleviate the constipation but all that miralax and metamucil aggravated my irritable bowel. That same gastroenterologist said in his report "her bowel will just have to get used to it": it didn't) In the last three years, I have also gone from being on no medications to three: metoprolol, prolia and repatha (evoculomab injection). One or more of these drugs has made the constipation worse.
Recently, I stopped using Miralax. It no longer seems as effective and was giving me daily lower abdominal cramping to the point where some days it was uncomfortable to walk. So much gas and terrible bloating. (Interesting how all of its advertising says no bloating, no cramping) Then, I tried milk of magnesia and it works but the cramping for me was beyond tolerable. So, a few nights ago, I tried two senokot and that worked without cramping but I'm sure if I use it daily it will be the same issue. Lizness gave me abdominal pain and bloating.
Over the years, I have taken probiotics but didnt see a difference.
My last colonscopy was 9 years ago (CT colonography and sigmoidoscopy about 3 years ago--one nonserious polyp)and it showed a "long and twisty colon".
I am waiting for my gastroenterologist appt next month. Actually beginning to wonder if there is a solution. Prucalopride called Resotran was suggested, (believe that helps with motility). However, I have an arrythmia that is now well-controlled and Health Canada has a warning saying proceed with caution re resotran if you have those problems and the drug safety clinic could not assure me it would be safe. I really do believe it is the medications that have made the IBS-C worse. That's the thing with modern medicine. The drugs fix one problem and often create some new condition (from side effects) that then needs to be treated.

REPLY
@jcarndt

Tiss-
Can you tell me which magnesium complex that you use ?
Thanks

Jump to this post

I use nature's way magnesium complex. Start slow and go up. I take 800mg every night and go up too 1000mg if I get stopped up. I also use nature's way vitamin c with rose hips every night. 2,000 mg

REPLY
@jcarndt

Tiss, could you tell me which magnesium complex that you are using ?

Jump to this post

Keith Moon, I also take an Align probiotic every day.

REPLY
@tiss

I also use a magnesium complex and vitamin c every day. It's the only thing that has consistently helped my chronic constipation.

Jump to this post

Could you explain what is in the magnesium complex that you take?

REPLY

@hopeful33250
Magnesium 500mg from magnesium oxide/magnesium citrate,
Other ingredients: hydroxypropyl, methyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable magnesium stearate and silicon dioxide. Works like a dream n I'm watched n tested regularly cause I flushed all my electrolytes livin on coffee n tons of water n occasional food. I was takin one at bedtime n that was fantastic. Then I got severe tortuous sigmoid colon so now I take one I'm the mornin too. I'll send pic of bottle...

REPLY
@hopeful33250

Could you explain what is in the magnesium complex that you take?

Jump to this post

VERY affordable in eBay n not bad on Amazon

REPLY
@personalhell

@hopeful33250
Magnesium 500mg from magnesium oxide/magnesium citrate,
Other ingredients: hydroxypropyl, methyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable magnesium stearate and silicon dioxide. Works like a dream n I'm watched n tested regularly cause I flushed all my electrolytes livin on coffee n tons of water n occasional food. I was takin one at bedtime n that was fantastic. Then I got severe tortuous sigmoid colon so now I take one I'm the mornin too. I'll send pic of bottle...

Jump to this post

I am experimenting with one senokot combined with two 125mg of some magnesium taurate that I had in the cupboard and getting some positive results. Maybe the magnesium will do the trick. Early days.

REPLY

One of the things that I have started experimenting with lately are some simple yoga poses that are aimed at the digestive system.
I don't do them all, because I am not as "stretchy" as the folks who do this stuff every day. I do the ones that I can manage.

https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/yoga-for-constipation#takeaway
https://yurielkaim.com/yoga-poses-for-constipation/

I did these over and over in the middle of the night, last night, for about an hour. plus my usual bedtime combo of laxatives and supplements, which has not been working lately. I did NOT want to take another Linzess this morning, and I did not need to. I think the yoga helped just enough to get things moving by morning, and I took over from there. I cannot prove that it actually worked, but I will be doing this every day now

REPLY

I’ve had horrible abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting and bleeding for years (16 years). I’ve had many colonoscopies, endoscopies, CTs, MRIs - basically you name it I’ve had it done .. 3 colonoscopies over the past 2 years multiple malignant carcinoid tumors were found and removed and I was told “don’t worry it’s a slow growing cancer”. My pain and symptoms never eased so for 16 years dr after dr told me the symptoms were because of cysts on my ovaries because of PCOS and because I was over weight. The gastrointestinal dr last year (I have since changed) neglected to tell me that my CT showed that I had football size masses on both ovaries - so I had a hysterectomy. Still my symptoms didn’t ease. I gave up and decided I just had to live with the pain and try to deal with it - I have extra clothes at work, in my car, in my purse. Fast forward to fall 2018 I begin fainting and losing weight I’ve lost 70lbs in a years. I had my 6th colonoscopy and endoscopy in 3 years last week (my blood work shows my iron, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 levels are depleted) my new gastrointestinal dr couldn’t complete my colonoscopy even though I did a 2 day prep. Endoscopy shows that my esophagus is constantly spasming and the opening to my stomach is small. Even without completing the colonoscopy it showed I have significant inflammatory bowel disease, an extremely “torturous” and spastic colon, severe IBS, and possible Crohns. I’m exhausted from the anemia along with all the colon issues and just being sick all the time. But mostly if drs would have taken the time to listen instead of just judging me as a “curvy” PCOS woman I could’ve gotten help before it got to this point. I don’t know where to turn now.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.