Just so you know, you are not alone! It's a fight. I too was told I have a redundant, fixed, ridged colon on my last colonoscopy. I've had a few in the past and it was never mentioned. From what I've learned is that constipation over a long period of time (for me since I was 13, now I'm 71!) The "backed up" stool causes the colon to lengthen to accommodate. I almost never wear jeans...it's yoga pants or sweats. The only jeans I can wear have to be very stretchy. Anyway.... getting to the pain. To relieve the pain you must be able to go. When your having episodes try a heating pad or a hot bath. Massage your lower abdomen gently in a clock wise motion, while laying on your left side. It can help to pass gas. I'm assuming your unable to do that. Water is VERY important. I'm drinking between 50-65 oz. a day and I only weigh 104. You pee a lot, but you need to get that stool soft. Has anyone every mentioned stool softeners? Try 2 every night before bed with a glass of water. They are across the counter and very inexpensive. Doctors tend to tell you to increase fiber. But for us getting that fiber through a long colon is almost impossible. So you may want to give your colon a rest and eat a low fiber diet for a week or 2. Doctors also tend to recommend laxatives. Never worked for me, only made my pain worse and lasted all day. Lately, I am trying 1 - 500mg of Magnesium oxide with my stool softeners every night. While not perfect, I am able to go almost every morning and it's not raisins or at best chicken nuggets either. I still have bloating and some gas most days but it's better than laying in bed in pain. Walking also helps. Try walking a mile or two outside everyday. At least your in FL. so that helps. I'm in WI so I bought a treadmill this winter. I've been lucky to have a gastroenterologist and a nutritionist I'm working with. I've been told the only way back to normality is to have a surgery to shorten the colon. Not something I want to do! So I'm giving some natural remedies a try first. Besides, who knows what the surgery will turn out like? No guaranties in this. I do not want to spend the rest of my life in this condition, as I'm sure you don't either! So anyway, I hope you find some relief. There are a lot of folks out here with the same condition and everyone has something that is working (at least somewhat) for them or they will report what is not working. I know some of this is not what you wanted to hear but it's where we are at. I hope you have some better "gut" days. Sherrie

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