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Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?
Digestive Health | Last Active: Nov 5 4:01pm | Replies (1097)Comment receiving replies
On my 2nd Colonoscopy at age 55, I was diagnosed as having a Tortuous Colon and the procedure was somewhat difficult. At age 50, my first colonoscopy showed my colon completely normal. I don't know why the change, although I did have 3 surgeries in a short period of time. I have increased gas and have small (rabbit-like) BMs each time I void. I also have normal bowel movements. Anyone had anything like this happen to them?
Replies to "On my 2nd Colonoscopy at age 55, I was diagnosed as having a Tortuous Colon and..."
Similar situation here -- had 1st colonoscopy at about 55 and just had second one at 70. Nothing deemed "wrong" either time except that now, at 70, I was told I have a redundant or tortuous colon. Who knew? I thought this was a congenital and rare condition, not something somehow acquired over the years. Interesting that you, too, seem to have 'acquired' the tortuous colon. What is going on?
My problem is that suddenly, months ago, I started having constipation, like I had as a youngster, so I had the 2nd colonoscopy to see if there was a problem. But, like you, I can have 'normal' BMs too. Trouble is, I get "backed up" and then have the opposite problem: huge loose BMs accompanied by loads of lower region cramping/pain. Not fun.
I don't remember this happening since those episodes of more than 35 years ago. I'm seeing the GI doc this week but I'm sure he will say it's IBS and throw Miralax packets at me. I also have GERD so feel like I've got double-trouble.
Oh, and my gall bladder was removed in '04 due to horrible pain attacks and 'sludge,' not stones, but I never got the post-cholecystectomy 'dumping' (frequent diarrhea) syndrome that so many experience after that surgery. I have heard that many years later problems crop up for some people for the first time. Perhaps I'm one of those people and will now be plagued with this into old age.
Hope you are feeling better and have gotten some answers to your own questions.
I have had the same issues, and also had my gall bladder removed. I have been wondering if the cause of my redundant colon was gall bladder removal. The dripping of bile acid from the liver, and/or the use of cholestyramine to control the negative effects of the bile acid maybe caused the tissue in the colon to change?
My doc also put me on anti-anxiety meds (amitriptyline) and it has helped calm things down, so I have less cramping and diarrhea. I also take dicyclomine which helps with cramps.
Another respondent below discussed the Deloyers procedure to remove part of the colon, and apparently it helped. I saw a video on TV about a young patient with severe diverticulosis that prevented him from growing. So the doctors did a complicated procedure of remove a lot of individual pouches of inflammation and it cured him. I don't think Deloyers is for me, but the other surgery might be the solution. I'm going to look into it further.
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Hi. I have the same problem, in 2012 at 58 years old. I had a colonoscopy for having belly pain, the colonoscopy was normal without problems, now in March I had the second one, it was so painful that I promised never to get one again, if I do not have general anesthesia, and the diagnosis was
was that l have Tortuous Colon, the doctor's they do not know why, nor I, and they do not agree, my family doctor tells me to eat normal but with more fibers, and try not to be constipated, it is dangerous.
The Gastroenterologist Dr. tells me "or that is nothing, you have a nervous colon, relax and take medicine for depression, this will help you"
I started my medication two weeks ago, I do not know what happened, but it really, really depressing that nobody can help you, I take Metamusil every day, I will tell you how I feel, in a month. I hope you are better, and maybe this will help you, take care of yourself.