Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?

Hello @sallyw133 A couple of tips here. I buy my calcium supplement and my multivitamin from http://www.vitacost.com. Free shipping if you spend $50 or more. I'm on their mailing list so sometimes I get a coupon now and then. Their prices are much cheaper than if I buy at a health food store. The calcium citrate brand I buy is Solaray 1000mg per serving -- that's 4 capsules. Calcium is best absorbed when it's taken in smaller doses (typically less than 600 milligrams at one time). If you take 1,000 mg of calcium a day, split it into two or more doses over the day. Also, if you take a thyroid medication, you need to wait 4 hours before taking any calcium, and at least a half hour before taking an antacid of any kind. The multivitamin I buy is Bluebonnet Maxi One. The calcium in it is calcium citrate and I buy the one that's iron free. Good luck and good health to you!

@sallyw133 By the way, at my first appointment with my gastroenterologist, he had me do a bowel purge before doing anything else. If you're interested, you mix one 32 oz. Gatorade with 7 capfuls of Miralax and drink it all over a 12 hour period. And you can eat like you regularly do, no fasting. And needless to say, you don't want to make plans to go anywhere after drinking that concoction. I have a membership at Sam's Club so I buy their cheaper brand called ClearLax - it's the same thing as Miralax.

That would seem to be less dehydrating than the Golytely. I was actually shaking and then had diarrhea for 5 days after. I’ll try this next time. Thanks!

Hi, this is very helpful. Would you mind sharing a little more about your smoothies you do for breakfast and lunch. What kind of protein powder do you use and vegetables and fruit? I too have a tortuous colon. Struggled my whole life with constipation. Diagnosed with colonoscopy at 18, now 34. Tried all kinds of medicine. I take miralax and motegrity and still get blockages on my lower left side where the kinks are really bad. I'm thinking about doing smoothies for breakfast and lunch too now from your suggestion. Thank you so much to everyone on this site. It gives me hope.

@sallyw133 Don't use MiraLax/ClearLax for your colonoscopy preps unless your doctor says it's ok.

Here it is 5 of 2022. Just saw this…prolly cuz I was moved to “bones & joints”. hip rev in ‘20. Stomach STILL a mess. No I’ve not been diagnosed w/ Crohns or UC. IBS, gastritis, diverticulosis, spastic colon…& anything else that fits in there. Have 10 mg Amitriptyline, may help for a short time, not usually, or completely. Better than nothing. I give

Anyone have any experience with a tortuous colon? Mine apparently winds so much that no Dr. has been able to see all of it. They did a colonoscopy and could only see about 50% of it, did a barium enema and could still only see part of it after using 3 bags of barium.
My only symptom has been some blood in my stool and lifelong constipation, but it (blood in stool) has been going on for a few months but I'm getting no answers. My blood tests were done right away and they were normal. I'd just like to hear from ANYONE with experience with this. The unknown is scary. Thanks!!!

As far as smoothies, it has become my everyday breakfast, seems to get things going. I use a ninja blender, with one scoop of Genuine Health organic vegan protein powder suggested to me my nutritionist, with 2 raw veggies and 2 fruits, usually spinach. piece of zucchini, blueberries, strawberries, or anything you want to experiment with, also a tablespoon of
MCT oil, with flax powder, a 1/4 teas. ginger powder, 1/2 teas. cinnamon, with 3/4 cup of almond milk, and and some pomegranate juice. You can have oatmeal.
I highly recommend going to a certified nutritionist, unless you are lucky enough to find a Dr who is interested in any other direction than prescription meds and laxatives. My nutritionist
suggested blended soups for lunch, stick with soft foods for dinner.
I was strict in the beginning, and when I go off, I have problems, also have IBS just to complicate things. Happy to discuss anything, questions, etc.with you. Betty

I just found to have a very tortuous colon. After a failed colonoscopy and a failed barium enema after almost 3 bags of barium, no one has been able to see more than half of it. The only symptoms I've had are life long constipation, but more recently blood in the stool that's been getting better but going on for months. They are supposed to have me meet and talk with the Dr. but I haven't heard from them yet and they said that several days ago. I've been trying to get answers for this since January. I take miralax and magnesium chloride to help relieve the constipation.

@kalbin, you are not alone. I moved your message to this existing discussion about tortuous colon. I did this so you can connect with others like @bgiddio @sickofbeinsick1 @dsheahan1951 @sallyw133 @kayla1988 @kayburnett @notmoff @anne4u and many others.

Kalbin, this is a new diagnosis for you and I'm sure you have many questions. Does the miralax and magnesium help with the constipation? Did the doctors have an explanation for the blood in your stool?