Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?

I had a torturous: for many years.It cost many trips to the e.R and it just was taking over my life. I had surgery 14 years ago to take out the tortuous part and reconnect the 2 ends. It went rather well for me so I can't say as to how it would go for you. But I was generally pleased with the way things came out. No pun intended. I'll be happy to answer any questions.

Hello @cdeebar and welcome to the Digestive Health Support Group on Mayo Connect. I am glad that you found Mayo Connect, it is a good thing to be able to share and learn from others who have a similar diagnosis. I see that others, @christine5, @catherine1290 and @sheilagreen, have responded to you already. On Connect, there are a number of discussions on Tortuous Colon. Here is a link to those posts,
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/digestive-gastrointestinal-problems/?search=Tortuous+colon#discussion-listview
As you read these posts, feel free to ask questions or make comments. Simply click on "Reply" under the post you want to respond to and then a comment box will open up where you can post your question or your comment.

You mention that you will be seeing a GI specialist. Has this appointment been scheduled? Have you been given any medications or dietary suggestions until you have that appointment?

Hi cdeebar,
Best of luck cdeebar keep at finding the keys for your regularity!
Disclaimer: This is only my experience going natural. I have used organic, integrative, functional, holistic Naturopathic doctor's advice along with my MD’s since the early 1980's. There is science in alternatives too. Because I work closely with my ND, he told me to study the Migrating Motor Complex and Osmotic Gradient and he bet that I would find what worked for me. How to keep a longer than normal pipe with consistent moisture…. My ND also said because my condition was physical and I was born with it, attention would be needed for it from now on. Working on keeping stress down is very important too.
I tried laxatives and they are not consistent and have side effects like bloating, etc. All say for occasional use. They disrupt the system if take continuously. I liked a response from a co-redundant colon person: “It’s physical” so regular constipation suggestions may not work. Don’t give up because it took me 4 months to feel I could depend on being regular. It is worth going natural.
Last Dec the doc had me do non sedated colonoscopy. He went through my colon as I watched on TV. I had had a baby years ago (natural and could stand pain) so figured I could stand it – it was no big deal. Most people in world don't get put out. Very interesting and it helped allow the scope to get through better because I relaxed. No wonder I had been constipation on and off starting in my teens. I’m now in my early 70’s.
OptiMag and K2+ Potassium are great supps. I take them when I go to bed and once when I get up to pee. I include prunes/prune juice, winter squash, sweet potatoes, rhubarb etc in my diet. I eat cups of steamed vegetables each day. I like to grind 2T chia, 1 T sesame seeds and 2 T flax seeds, then soak in prune juice overnight. I add a T of carob now since it can help regularity. Take half in the morning and half at night. Throw sugar out along with processed and refined foods. Look up foods and drinks that constipate and give them up. Drink lot of water starting with a quart of hot water in the morning - boys scouts. I drink warmed up diluted chicken broth at times too. It is soothing to my stomach. Coffee and Smooth Move are my backups. I don't like coffee and never have drunk it much but it usually works for me in a pinch. Thankfully I only need coffee a few times a month.
Check out helpful research of biological processes that take place in our gut:
- Migrating Motor complex which is the electroactivity in the GI tract during meals and fasting
- Osmotic gradient. If too much water is pulled into the colon, diarrhea results. If not enough water is pulled into the colon constipation results. Balance of minerals is important. Magnesium, potassium and sodium brings water into the colon. I have found balancing these help prevent constipation. I have to watch my calcium intake because it tends to encourage constipation. Calcium carbonate seems to be the most constipating. I depend on blood work from time to time to make sure my minerals are balanced. Good luck, @farmersmith

Relaxation therapy for my redundant colon, as anxiety is one of the things that cause my guts to "twist" and bloat. Also, massage for constipation for bloat too. Sleeping on my left side (for gravity to move things along), avoiding dense foods (dense bread/meat/etc.). Focusing on liquidy soups and hot cereals. Little to no meat.

I have made a large number of adjustments. If all that stops working I just don't know what else would do the trick.

My colon is seriously redundant, but not twisted best I can tell. There is a lot of infomation here for redundant, torturous colon and the constipation it causes. I have posted lots, just search on ResearchMaven to see how I deal with it with a 90% success rate.

I have a redundant colon with chronic constipation. As many of you experience just when you figure out a way to help your constipation, it stops working. I’m looking for a new way and want to try magnesium but wasn’t sure if others on here recommend magnesium or magnesium citrate. I welcome your comments.

I use a teaspoon of Natural Vitality Calm in a cup of tea before bed. Be careful, it fizzes. I get it from Amazon.

Thank you for your suggestion! 😊

I take a brand I buy on Amazon daily after checking with my doctor. It’s one capsule of triple malate, glycinate and citrate 300 mg. I took it when chronic constipation started. I can’t say it helped. I no longer have the CC though, due to addressing my B12 issue.

I did find that a tablespoon of Milk of Magnesia always did the job though, none of my doctors approved that for longterm use. I’m not sure why. They recommended Miralax instead. Sigh.

I take 300 mg magnesium citrate capsules and it was working great for me but recently hasn’t been working as well. My doctor told me I could go up to 400 mg, so I’m trying that for now. Sources I’ve seen online by GI dieticians reference 400-800 mg for constipation.

I’ve tried Natural Calm too, in lemon raspberry. It tastes like raspberry iced tea to me, but for some reason it doesn’t seem as effective.

My other go-to has been chia seed pudding. I take two teaspoons of chia seeds and gel them in yogurt or a smoothie and/or kiwi. My GI doc actually recommended that. There’s a study that eating two green kiwi a day was effective in reducing constipation. Two actually gave me diarrhea lol.

It may be worth considering other contributing factors or consulting with a GI dietician. I got the most help from working with a pelvic PT (I have pelvic floor dysfunction and she also taught me abdominal massage, which you can look up online to improve motility. I imagine that may help with tortuous colon) and a GI dietician. I learned it’s actually possible to have too much fiber, especially in a situation like this where it’s hard for your body to move things along.

I found this article helpful (it’s where I found the info about the magnesium citrate dosage): https://www.fodmapeveryday.com/the-scoop-on-increasing-your-ability-to-poop-strategies-for-alleviating-constipation/.

Good luck to you!