Just diagnosed with tortuous colon

Hi there,

I also have what I prefer to call a redundant colon (it is the same thing), but it was termed 'severe' by the gastro doctor who did the colonoscopy. I have never had any polyps (looking up the term tubular adenoma, that seems to be how most polyps are categorized). Congrats on having only one. Diet matters, in my view. With only one polyp, I don't know what colonoscopy schedule that puts you on. Your gastro doctor should have told you and if s/he didn't, it is likely in your charts.

Redundant colon can cause digestive issues and one of them is constipation, which I have; it definitely makes me feel 'full.'

For my redundant colon constipation, I drink more water and eat cooked rather than raw foods, and that seems to help.

What I am also just now trying out is sleeping on my left side. According to a Healthline article, sleeping on your left side, recommended for IBS, redundant colon, etc., gives the waste processing aspect of your redundant colon a gravity assist. Gravity pushes it along. Only two days in, I can vouch for it preventing constipation or incomplete evacuation. But it has only been two days.

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

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!

Before I knew I had this problem I was complaining of stomach issues (nausea, feeling full quickly, I haven't had problems with constipation) and they did a bunch of tests and found no issues so on my own I started taking a probiotic/prebiotic and I really think it has helped. I'm literally scared to not take it lol. Since the colonoscopy I have also started a fiber supplement.

Fiber and probiotic make sense. Glad it’s helping you. Sometimes we think we aren’t constipated because we go every day, but it is not great quality BM. Look up Bristol stool chart. Your goal is a regular type 4 BM. Use squatty potty or similar 7-9 inch stool to get in right position for good BM. Helps to avoid straining. Hope those things help you. 🙂

I too have a torturous . Showed up on my last 2 colonoscopies, 2021 and 2023. But been causing problems since August of 2022. I drink more water, try to walk at least a mile a day, (was very sedentary), and increase my fiber. I too felt so uncomfortable after my evening meal, especially if I happened to eat more than normal. I do not like taking MiraLAX daily, and not sure adding fiber helps me. Especially when everything appears to get stuck right after I eat. I slept only on my left side for over 2 years, because of back issues, but have been sleeping on my back and right side a bit. Has not seemed to make it worse. I am looking for something more natural to work. May try the warm prune juice I saw recommended. My work schedule does not allow me to take MiraLAX every day - but I cannot seem to get completely away from it. I do use Smooth Move tea on occasion. I do like it but again, don't want to rely on it either. I feel like I can say this here, I feel like I have never pooped so much in my life since my colonoscopy and after having taken MiraLAX for 3-4 months before the colonoscopy. I had severe constipation as a child, but not so much or so bad as an adult. I massage my abdomen and put a heating pad on it some evenings right before bed. That feels so good. Still searching for natural helps other than what I am already doing. Best wishes for you.

I really feel like the probiotic has helped me. That's what I took when I started the full feeling before I even knew about my colon issues. I had all kinds of tests on the doctor couldn't tell me there was any reason for me feeling full so I had to try to figure out something on my own and I started a probiotic. The one I take is actually a probiotic and a prebiotic together. It's called unbloat. I take it everyday. I started taking fiber since the colonoscopy because the doctor recommended it. My Google searching has led me to believe that insoluble fiber is the way to go. And fibercon capsules are insoluble fiber so I've been taking two of them a day too. I'm not saying I know as much of a difference from that just as yet but I will say I do really think the probiotic has helped me a lot.

And I just purchased a squatty potty lol.

Hi there,

Miralax doesn't work for me and makes me nauseous. Smooth Move tea is fairly harsh on my system. Heating pads and massage of my sigmoid colon (left side) helps me.

Eating too much isn't good for me nor is being short-changed on sleep.

I have just tried an old-timely cure for constipation that I read about in a Harvard Health post. One tablespoon of mineral oil (a laxative) after lunch. It has worked twice to "move things along" that were stuck and seems to be gentle on my system with no mishaps. I also could not find negatives for its occasional use in studies and posts. I will continue trying it.

I feel that with my redundant colon, I will always need a home treatment that works for me.

(BTW, I also have IBS-C and must eat a mostly zero or trace FODMAP diet to manage that piece. I am being tested for SIBO, though SIBO is more connected to IBS-D. None of this helps my redundant colon, of course. It seems a crazy mix.)

I have the lovely tortuous redundant colon, too. I have found two things that seem to work. I take two Metamucil capsules with a big mug of water first thing in the morning. Then I follow my Intermittent Fasting program. It has been great. I also try not to eat huge amounts at any meal. It isn’t perfect but it makes life a lot better.