Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?

@sallyw133 😊 I am so grateful for your post about eating LOW fiber foods with a tortuous colon. It totally makes sense! I currently take Benefiber in the morning, Metamucil at lunch and eat oatmeal, raw fruit, etc. I didn't realize I was adding to my problems until I read your fabulous post. Your knowledge has been very helpful to me! Please keep me (us) posted after your morning virtual appointment with your dietitian and share whatever wonderful additional tips you learn! I heard that Motegrity can be kind of pricey so it would be nice if we could improve our situation with diet and something over the counter like Senokot S or Colace, etc. I wonder if fish oil or olive oil would work better than mineral oil as a lubricant. I saw a post about coconut oil as a possibility too. Thank you again for sharing what you have learned. You opened my eyes to a low fiber diet and I will definitely try it to see if there is some improvement. I don't expect a miracle, but it may be a step in the right direction!

H @notmoff
Yes. Unfortunately, I do know exactly what contributed to my low sodium blood test. My doctor was taking monthly blood tests to track my creatinine level as I started to go into kidney failure. I discovered that hydration helped the creatinine level result, so I made sure to be well hydrated before the blood test. Unfortunately, because I was scared to death of a kidney failure result at 59 years old, I drank too much water over a 5 day period. My doctor sent me to the ER for saline IVs after reading my blood test results. I didn't know if you drink too much water you can end up in the hospital! It was a definite learning experience on the importance of moderation in all things. Fast forward, I am now a new successful kidney transplant recepient and doing wonderfully! ❤
Bottom line, don't overdo the water and don't overdo the no salt diet. Your body needs sodium to function properly, including your heart. (Just don't add a lot of unnecessary salt to your cooking). That's the lesson I learned in the hospital during the saline IV treatments. 😊

Hi @sickofbeinsick1 😊
Wow, it sounds like your gastro doc added everything but the kitchen sick on your colonoscopy results! Do you feel okay or do you have symptoms? Do you have problems with constipation or so far, so good?

My gi said that olive oil is also an option. I’ve just found it less appealing to take on its own. I’m going to ask her about coconut oil.

@hello1234 - So glad to hear you got your successful kidney transplant and all is well!
Thank you for the good
advice about not overdoing water and salt intake. With my taste for salt now replaced by homemade citrusy sauces, my concern is that any salt feels like too much. Time to re-calibrate and balance it against the osteoporosis issue.
The World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and American Heart Association all recommend keeping sodium under 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) suggests aiming for about 1,500 mg per day.

Excellent information @notmoff regarding the daily salt intake recommendations! 😊 Your homemade sauces sound delicious on chicken and fish. Regarding your osteoporosis, have you started taking a medication or are you attempting to turn things around with diet and exercise only? After years of kidney disease, I also have osteoporosis. I am thinking about starting Prolia, but I am not excited as about the possible side effects.

Sorry to hear you have osteoporosis also.
I decided on diet and exercise instead of bisphosphonates because I understood they decrease bone resorption (?) but not fractures. My choice may be why I had a recent worsening of a spinal compression fracture that generated my internist's suggestion to start using senna and docusate regularly.
Diet change involved my reducing salt intake, increasing calcium through supplements and more greens, then less meat and now NO meat or dairy. So my non-salty sauces based on citrus and vinegar are used with sweet potatoes, lentils and other beans.
I understand your hesitancy about Prolia. These are difficult choices.

Hi @notmoff 😊
Did your internist say NO dairy? I eat dairy every day with all my meals in hope of reaching my daily intake of calcium for my osteoporosis. I heard it's better for us to reach our calcium goal with food rather than taking supplements Why no meat and no dairy? Your diet with lentils, sweet potatoes, greens sounds very healthy, but I curious about all the restrictions.

Although my internist is a vegan, she did not advise I omit dairy, nor meat. I chose her because she was communicative, pleasant, recommended and she was familiar with dietary and lifestyle issues.
My limited family history indicates a strong risk of heart disease and cancer, * research shows both are considerably reduced on a vegan diet, so I decided on my own to adopt it.
With the variety of plant foods available, it doesn't feel restrictive although I do still salivate when I smell my downstairs neighbors frying meat!
I am still learning through trial and error. * My admittedly limited research: Books & Youtube videos by Dean Sherzai, Will Bulsiewicz, Caldwell Esselstyn , John McDougall, & Robynn Chutkan.
As a retired person with limited means in a limited health care system, I'm stumbling around for answers as are most of the people in this group.
Can you recommend reliable sources of information?

Hi @notmoff 😊
I agree with you about minimizing red meat in your diet to optimize your heart health and to prevent cancer. However, I also believe an occasional piece of lean meat has the benefits of iron, an excellent protein source, protein is good for bones, etc. I am stumbling around to find answers too. My philosophy has been to try to aim for a "little bit of everything" in moderation. I try to "eat the rainbow" (greens, sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, etc), I try to eat a little fish but try to avoid too much mercury, I try to eat a little bit of meat but try to avoid fatty cuts and antibiotics, etc. It's difficult to navigate food choices because everything has a ying and a yang. It's like my saline IV situation. I thought I was hydrating my kidneys, but I was actually doing great damage to my body and brain by over drinking the water. So, I try to do a little for each part of my body. My bones like dairy, my kidneys like moderate levels of water, my skin likes greens, potassium levels like a banana, etc. I think you and I ...and everyone on Connect are discussing options because there are no clear answers, that's why I like to hedge my bet! Let's keep sharing whatever we discover along the way! ❤