I just joined Mayo connect. Knowing I am not alone has helped my emotional state immensely. Thank you all for sharing those things in your life that are not pretty but are our reality.
I have a redundant colon. I never heard of “torturous” but that really describes it well. I have suffered with constipation all my life. In my late 20’s, I had emergency volvulus surgery. It was a complete strangulation of my colon. The emergency room doctor on call performed surgery and “flipped it back”. I’m not kidding, that’s what he said. No resection or repair of any kind. But that was 1980, so maybe that was the best they could do. Honestly, I was afraid to move my abdomen in fear I would “flip” it again. So, I continued my life with chronic gas and constipation.
Due to symptoms, I had my first colonoscopy at age 35 and was diagnosed with redundant colon. To complicate things, I’ve had three abdominal surgeries: volvulus, hysterectomy, and bladder lift (the bladder lift was probably due to straining bowel movements all my life) that left me with adhesions. I believe the adhesions have contributed to my present condition – very severe constipation.
I moved to Florida last year, got a new gastroenterologist (scary), and she thinks I have a partial blockage and am currently undergoing testing (CT scan, humiliating fecal testing, etc). Surgery would be a last resort for me. That would only create more adhesions and may not help my condition. I’m on Mirilax, Benefiber, Senokot, Align, and I drink Smooth Move tea.
I’m almost afraid to eat and have lost 13 pounds in the past two months. I keep taking the laxatives and hoping for the best. My life has changed so much. I’m either uncomfortable with constipation or bound to the house with laxative-induced diarrhea.
But I feel better knowing I am not alone in this.