Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?

Fire him and find a new GI Dr.

I am 70 years old and active and otherwise healthy, except for the tortuous intestine I've dealt with all my life. I wanted to share with you my decision to not have any more colonoscopies. The last one this past year was devastating on my body because of the difficulty for the Dr. to do the procedure with my colon. It left me "tortured" and I told her I was never going through this procedure again. ( She mentioned there are other ways to check for polyps etc. for preventative measures.) Possibly I will look into that down the road. But, as I said, with the tortuous intestine, you run the risks of the intestinal wall being punctured and then having more problems than you bargained for. My insides were so irritated it took weeks for the bulging to recede. I am not exaggerating. I will never (I really don't want to!) ever have a colonoscopy again with my long tortuous intestine. I just don't think it's the best thing in my case. And I believe there are many others out there like me. Please find a doctor that will listen and treat you as an individual and not just "follow the script". All the recommendations that were originally suggested for me, such as Miralax, more fiber (which isn't a bad idea), more water, probiotics, and on and on, didn't fit what I needed for me. Miralax didn't work. I followed everything I was told to do because I really wanted to improve this condition. It can make you feel so sick at times. It was on this site that other people had mentioned Prunelax to help with irregularity. It has worked great for me most of the time. I do use Bisacodyl every week or two to help the system really clean out. And this advice was through others on this site, not a doctor. It has been the best advice! Best wishes to you! Jacque

Exact same experience -- no followup, no guidance. This site has provided the only info for me to date.

I had the exact same experience last year, report said difficult colonoscopy, significantly torturous colon, I have issues, this was a diagnostic colonoscopy, no follow up, doctor was out the door before I woke up.

I am a 66 year old women a reluctant colon. I just found out after colonoscopy. I noticed bloating in the last year and embarrassing gas. On numerous occasions I have had the urge to pass a BM immediately. I literally had to take a shit right then. I was in the woods so I had some privacy. It was not diarrhea. This has happened usually on long walks.
There is always a pain on my right side by the duodenum. I've had ultrasound that found no issues.
So, here I am asking after 20 or so colonoscopy why now know? I never was told this problem with elongated Colon. I had a difficult colonoscopy so the doctor told me. That doctor did one three years ago. I am asking the group to help me understand from a person point of few. I'm perplexed since I never heard of this condition nor has anyone I asked.

I have a similar history and am also seeking answers. Have had five non-problematic colonoscopies in the past, but the most recent was deemed incomplete and I was given a virtual (CT) colonography, which revealed a tortuous colon. Wondering if this can issue can resolve, i.e., become non-tortuous again, or might it change over time?

I started with Gluten free diet. Next I'm setting up televist to discuss issues I'm having with bloating, gas, and fecal incontinence. It was may 3 yr colonoscopy which was by same doctor from last one. I wish I would have asked questions but the doctor was there about two minutes. I can't blame him for this bloating I thought was fluid. I just didn't put and two together untill I read up on reluctant colon. I will get back to you after my televist.

Has anyone with this condition tried hydrotherapy, aka colonics?

From my own experience, and what I understand, I was born with more intestine that what I need for a person my size. 5' 2" . It causes a very slow transit time, which always leads to constipation, unless dealt with. The long, twists and turns make it all tortuous, including getting the colonoscopy. The patient runs the risks of puncturing the intestine in order to get the scope all the way through for a complete colonoscopy. Apparently there are other ways to have this exam for polyps etc. Personally, I'm done with colonoscopies. The last one I had was in 2021 and it left me in discomfort, intestinally for weeks. My colon was bloated and even the doctor said it was a very difficult exam. I'm done. To answer your question if it might ever change over time,................I don't think so. I think you were born with it and I've heard of people having some removed. I don't want to do that either and I will continue to exercise, eat well, eat fiber, ingest lots of water, and continue to use my psyllium, Metamucil crackers when necessary or traveling, take Prunelax. and, for me, usually a weekly dose of three Bisacodyl. It takes time to find out what works for you, as an individual. Best of luck and keep the faith! Jacque

Thank you, Jacque, for sharing your experience. I'm still awaiting direction from my GI doctor, so have relied on this site and internet info so far. I've just started to follow a similar regimen, i.e., exercise, fiber, lots of water. I tried Prunelax last week for the first time and found it much better than Miralax. Now I'm looking for a good source of psyllium to add to my diet -- maybe in smoothies? Thanks for your encouraging words and all the best to you! Pam