The ingredients of Prunelax are: Active Ingredients: Prunes extract, Cassia angustifolia vahl (which is Senna), Cassia senna L - so I just eat prunes on my morning oatmeal and I use Senna before bed. I've struggled since I was 16 and had emergency surgery for adhesions from a previous surgery. The surgery when I was 16 resulted in the Redundant Colon. I've had Ovarian Cancer surgery 3xs which has only made chronic constipation worse. I am now 73 and live on a restricted diet -vegetarian and NO flour products - NONE. Most of the OTC products can be obtained cheaper by using the natural products such as Prunes and Senna. Senns is very cheap to buy.

I wish I could eat prunes, I love them! But they give me such terrible gas I can’t even get out of the bathroom.
I’ve recently been diagnosed with redundant colon. I’m having bouts of constipation and diarrhea. I have a couple of weeks of feeling normal then a week of discomfort then I get that back to normal and it seems to all start over again. Is almost a year since my diagnosis. I think this just might be a new way of life. Cannot plan any long trips. Have to always be feeling safe even before a trip to the store. I take miralax every morning but depending on what I eat the day before I’m never sure how I can plan my day. It’s a game of finding the right balance for each individual body!

Hi JN, I am a young 63 and also have similar issues; I have a redundant colon with 13 extra inches. I have had severe constipation for 50 years. If one more doctor or therapist tells me to eat more fiber and drink more water, I am going to scream. A redundant, or tortuous colon is a "defect" in anatomy. Our colon twists and swirls and crowds in to fit. I am finally going to see a colorectal surgeon/ specialist to discuss options but thinking a colectomy will be the best, most sustainable option for me.
When you had the 14 inches of colon removed, is that the same surgery as a colectomy? Are you considering having a second colectomy?
Forgive my questions, though this has been a lifetime disorder for me, I am knew to actually trying to get real help!
Take care!
Robyn808

I am an active 50 and been living with this severely tortuous and redundant colon since 2 Endometriosis surgeries then my hysterectomy at 39. I was curious if it was the result of the surgeries from moving things around or scar tissue, I don’t know. My severe pain starts in area where your appendix or right ovary is then goes down towards righ groin. Been to ER before with this pain…morphine did not touch the pain. Constantly constipated I try to get all my greens and nutrients in with smoothies and soups but it’s not always easy. I don’t eat meat and minimal dairy. I woke up in such pain this AM it is so hard to get out of bed 😩 Does psyllium husk help anyone?

My colon is difficult like yours, fin 22, but I don't have pain. I also have other things going on with it; for example, I need to eat a very restricted diet.

I have discovered two other important changes: (1) avoid most solid food. Bread, meat, etc. just doesn't seem to work well in my gut. I focus on hot cereal and soup. What I choose is really healthy, and fairly balanced. I get a ton of protein, greens, other veggies, some fruit and I take a multi-vit.

If I didn't avoid most solid foods, I would be constipated all the time and/or experiencing IBS-C.

The second important change is slippery elm inner bark powder. I can't live without it and take 1/8 teaspoon with almost every meal and snack, either in hot cereal, hot cocoa, hot water, etc. I like the Frontier brand, which you can get on Amazon or iHerb, among other venues.

Though it is a big loss to have an extremely limited diet, it is far better than the gastric upset and constipation I was experiencing.

affirmed Very torturous colon. But redundant colon in chart. GI ?'d
Painful stomach distensions to swollen intestine w no food I can clearly feel difference

@shawnkthryn,

We are eating in a similar fashion. I have detailed what I eat a number of times on this platform.

Suggestions:

Slippery elm inner bark powder - I use 1/8 teaspoon with meals, 4-5 times a day. A game changer.
Magnesium at night - both good for consitpation and anxiety.
A multi-vitamin, due to a limited diet.
Digestive enzymes with every meal/snack. I use the Intoleran brand. A game changer.
Also a product to help me break down fats and proteins.

None of the above would work as well if I hadn't switched to a mostly soft-foods diet.

I also walk for 45 minutes and stretch.

This is a bare-bones outline, but you get the idea. I do all of this and my gut is pretty normal.

I have a tortuous colon and have had motility problems for 24 years. for years I have been dependent on enemas to eliminate, I simply cannot eliminate without them. Here is a brief history of how I have been helped:

in 2014 a colorectal surgeon surgically inserted an interstim, which is a colon stimulator. For eight years the interstim worked. I no longer needed regular enemas every day, only on some days. I took lots of miralax every night and was able to eliminate easily using suppositories, prep h and digital stimulation; and sometimes naturally

After the interstim stopped working, I acquired another problem.
Due to spinal fractures, I've been on regular opioids. consequently I found myself suffering from opioid induced constipation. Nothing worked. Was on linzess; it worked for six months and then I built up permanent tolerance. After two years of not being able to eliminate, I googled the problem and found that there is a class of drugs called PAMORA, which are specifically for OIC. My pain dr prescribes one of the PAMORA drugs, Relistor; I take three tablets every night plus miralax and am able to eliminate via enemas, but they are quick and I get it over with in 15 minutes. I wish I didn't have to take the enemas, but at least it's quick.

In addition, i go to colonics once a month and have a two-hour session. If you are healthy enough to tolerate colonics (pl google if you're not familiar with it), it cleans you out. However insurance does not generally cover it so hopefully, if you choose this method, you can afford to pay for it. some doctors will advise against it and say it is dangerous. If you go to a reputable colonics practitioner, they will know whether or not you can tolerate it and they will not harm you. My practitioner is an RN and really knows her stuff. So pl google colonics before listening to advice and decide for yourself. It really works! If you are able to tolerate it (and due to the conditions you described, that might not be the case), and if you can afford it once a week, you will be relatively ok, or at least better. If I were wealthy enough, I would have a two-hour session once a week because I feel so great afterwards. I take a strong dose of milk of magnesia the night before and she cleans me out for two hours. I have never been harmed by it, only helped, especially when I was suffering the most and could not eliminate at all

I hope these ideas are helpful. I'm reaching out to you with prayers and love in my heart because I know what kind of suffering motility issues can cause

@researchmaven Omgosh Thank You, appreciated so much!! I'm going shopping & you've given so many great suggestions. That's my mission to finish strong. Glad we got together on here. I said to myself, self, I'll have a dose of whatever you're havin

Good luck, shawnkthryn. You've got this!