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Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?
Digestive Health | Last Active: 5 days ago | Replies (1026)Comment receiving replies
Hi @scottisfull, And welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I see that you are trying to determine if the tortuous colon is related to or complicating your IBS-C. I found a few articles that you may be interested in that suggest that many of the symptoms of a tortuous colon are similar to those of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). By definition, IBS is diagnosed when there is no structural abnormality (or visible inflammation or injury) and thus IBS and tortuous colon are considered two separate health conditions.
Tortuous colon and IBS - https://www.verywellhealth.com/tortuous-colon-and-ibs-4115904
This journal published an article that sounds very similar to what you are experiencing with both TC and IBS-C.
Hiding in Plain Sight: An Unusual Cause of Constipation - https://journals.lww.com/ajg/Fulltext/2017/10001/Hiding_in_Plain_Sight__An_Unusual_Cause_of.1418.aspx
Did your second GI physician suggest any medication, remedy or surgery for your issues?
Replies to "Hi @scottisfull, And welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I see that you are trying to determine..."
Hi Amanda, Thank you so much for those articles! I know you were responding to "scottisfull" but it's great that you addressed my issues as well. I am going to ask my GI if she has read the new recommendations for IBS-C. I am working with a nutritionist as well and will ask her too. So far she has not recommended the FOPMAP diet for me as I am already on a Gluten/Dairy free diet and have lost so much weight. But I'm thinking now it may be worth the try. Anyway, thank you again for the great information!
Scottisfull - Hang in there! It takes a LOT of reading and investigating and dietary changes as well as the right medications to feel better. Will any of us be "normal" again? I don't think so, I think this is life changing. BUT, we can still live a good life! I for one an working on it. :o) Hope you have a good day
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First off, allow me to say THANK YOU!!! I'm talking to an expert who is trying to answer my questions at 7am when 75% of the country is taking the day off due to inclement weather. I'M BLOW AWAY. YOU ROCK!!!
Ok....here's where things get a bit complicated. In March of 2019, due to extreme stress, I suddenly was unable to keep any food down at all. I lost 60lbs in three months, and I did not have 60lbs to lose. And my crack team that I had diagnosed me with an eating disorder, which was entirely inaccurate. (I believe it was CVSA) Sent for re-feeding which worked fine for the weight restoration. I've had a few minor bouts with it since (CVSA), but I digress. IBS raged through that entire process.
So....eating has become a definite challenge for me because of how awful I feel after each time I eat. Chronic bloating, distension, gas, discomfort, nausea, (FODMAP had no effect). My BMI is healthy but on the low side (19.1) The moral of the story is.....now, whenever I see a new doc, they see the "eating disorder" in my records, and latch on to that like a pit bull. That's what this GI did, right after she told me that tortuous colon had no effect on my bowel habits. Wanted me to enroll in biofeedback, which I'm not completely adverse to. But the emphasis was on eating disorder. And this was an out-of-state GI that I found on the interweb with impeccable credentials....tops in the midwest. She would not consider any new medication. So discouraging and so frustrating. I just want a tiny semblance of my life back. So now, I'm kind of at a loss........