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Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?
Digestive Health | Last Active: Oct 16 6:54am | Replies (1606)Comment receiving replies
Oh cool. I will try sleeping on my left side. I did finally hear from the doctor. And I have to have a colonoscopy every 5 years instead of every 10 years. The thing is that type of polyp that I mentioned, that's the type that has the propensity to turn into cancer. There's two types of polyps that they could find. One will always be benign and never turn into cancer and then the other one is the tubular adenoma. Tubular adenomas are exactly what they're looking for when they do colonoscopies. Those are the ones that are going to eventually become cancer and because of that I have to go every 5 years instead of 10. Also from what I've read redundant colon makes colonoscopies difficult. And actually in the report of my colonoscopy the doctor did indicate that it was difficult. So the fact that they're more difficult and that I have to have them more often is a little bit concerning
Replies to "Oh cool. I will try sleeping on my left side. I did finally hear from the..."
I have a tortuous redundant colon with severe constipation. My gastro at John Hopkins, Baltimore indicated I have one of the worst tortuous colons she has seen in her career. Requiring body replacement and exterior stomach manipulation to get through my colon. I suffer from extreme bouts with debilitating vomiting lasting three to four days. I have yet to find a successful regiment. I can say that while sleeping on your left side does aid the process, the constipation requires a multi angel approach to becoming healthy. Including life style, diet and stress changes. As well as otc medications and for some prescription medications as well. For those who have the added joy of abdominal pain, have you found anything that works? I was recently prescribed 5 days of low dose Prednisone for something non related. The steroid caused several days of diarrhea. As an added bonus I was able to empty my bowels. A welcomed reprieve. Curious what works for others in addition the standard recommended changes...
I have a tortuous colon as well. My first and only colonscopy could not even be completed as it was too 'bendy' to get by. Got about 3/4 done. So I was sent for a colongraphy instead. It is done with gas so it could get by the bendy bit. Nothing was found. I haven't done one again but I will be going for colongraphies from now on. I have been a constipated person my whole life. Just had surgery and the bowels nope..not waking back up. They took FOREVER to get going again and now I have taken the time to work on them. So prunes are my friends with black coffee every morning with a 'squatty potty'. It is a stool that I put my feet on to raise my knees up. 5 out of 7 days a week I have a movement now. Nice to not be constipated! A little struggle when I"m not home or when I will be on holiday for days/weeks at a time with the stool. One day at a time! All the best!
I have a tortuous colon and have been getting colonoscopies every 5 years for about 20 years. The first 3 caused no discomfort afterwards. In fact I woke up during the first one and watched part of it on the screen. The last one, with a different doctor, I had severe discomfort for about 2 weeks with cramping and bloating. I just ate a bland diet and it gradually eased. The prep and doctor were the only thing different, don't know if that contributed. Tortuous colons are not uncommon.
Good luck with your procedures
I just had a colonoscopy and found out the same thing. I am a little overwhelmed and wish you the best.
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Try not to worry about the more frequent colonoscopies since G.I. doctors do them all of the time and become expert at navigating tortuous colon. It is important to keep up on the schedule of screening for recurrent polyps so have your colonoscopy no later than the five year mark. I also have a torturous/redundant colon which developed because of chronic constipation. I drink at least 64 ounces of water a day, follow a healthy diet with lots of fiber, and use 1/2 cup of warm prune juice if I feel it starting to get constipated. Works like MiraLAX as an osmotic laxative. I don’t rush in the morning and have learned to manage my stress, since there is a very strong correlation with the brain and gut. As a last resort, you see a colorectal specialist and consider laparoscopic resection of part of colon. I find I can live with it since the lifestyle changes. Good luck!