Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?

Posted by onaquest @onaquest, Nov 7, 2018

Hello. Anyone else out there that has a redundant/ tortured colon? I was diagnosed with this a few years ago. I’m usually ok, but if I get constipated, I get sick for a week or two. Last year my gastroenterologist referred me to a surgeon for urgent surgery to remove some of my colon. The surgeon I ended up seeing (not on the recommended list by my gastro doc due to others not available for a long time) said he believed I could live with the redundant colon if I followed a low FODMAP diet. I tried the diet religiously, scientifically (I’m a scientist), and I found it’s not the food I eat that causes these bouts of constipation. The only item I’ve found that might cause the bouts is coffee every day. An occasional coffee seems fine. What has helped me stay regular in a big way is Benefiber (or any pure wheat dextrose generic) three times per day. Lots of fluid.

My gastro doc was upset with the surgeon and said I’d regret not having the surgery. He fears I will end up in an emergency situation. I have searched the Mayo site and don’t find anything about redundant/ tortured colon. Are any Mayo docs doing research or treat this condition? Anyone else suffer from this too?
Thank you! -Jayne

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I just had a colonoscopy, my third. I looked at the report and the doc mentioned a tortuos colon but no polyps. I do have diverticula throughout the whole colon. He took biopsies to figure out why I have been having chronic diarrhea and inability to absorb magnesium. None of my other colonoscopies have mentioned this condition. Maybe not mentioned because it wasn't tortuous, just redundant and I weighed 50 lbs more at the time.
I am 5' 1" tall and used to weigh 220 lbs, but am down in the last 3 years to 170. I am type 2 diabetic and have afib. I have had 5 pregnancies. And just had an umbilical hernia repair in January 2025. When I was young, I had chronic gas and constipation. I had a diet of mostly cereals, oats, cream of wheat, processed lunch meats, rice, potatoes, and vegetables with occasional meat, but didn't like meat much. Now I am 70 and have had in the last 25 years, peritonitis with an unknown cause (my appendix is intact), diverticulitis with 3 or 4 diverticula that now are all through my colon, colon polyps but none on this recent colonoscopy, a gall bladder removed in 2018 because gall stones blocked my pancreas and caused pancreatitis, acid reflux which endoscope showed a little bit of irritation and inflammation in the lower stomach, and finally chronic diarrhea with occasional constipation. All bacterial stool tests and blood work so far is normal. I eat oats, shredded wheat and 100% whole wheat bread, pasta not enriched with folate, brown rice, potatoes and sweet potatoes, vegetables and fruits, eggs, cheese, and 2% milk, small amounts of meat and fish once a day.
I have been in the hospital due to low magnesium, potassium, and calcium and develop kidney stones. I am under care of a hospital based weight loss program also. I am currently following low FODMAP and my stomach pain is less but the diarrhea still here.

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@phxbarb

I have a tortuous colon. When I had a colonoscopy, the surgeon's nurse had to press extremely hard over my belly and when I woke up, I was black and blue there. The doc said he had to have help to get past the "twist".

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Wow, I’ve never heard of that. I mean the bruising part. You must have quite a twist in there! I hope it doesn’t cause you too many problems. 💕

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@blessedwildapplegirl

My late husband had a tortuous colon. He ate healthy all of his life, but when he was in his 50’s he had to start taking Benefiber every day. That seemed to work for him and he didn’t have any problems until, when he was 72, he had sudden onset Lewy body dementia with Parkinson’s, and I cared for him for four years before he died of it, and his constipation got worse. (long story involving a temporary stay at a facility.) After that, I gave him half a capful of Miralax every day and it kept him regular. He never had to have surgery or anything, for which I’m thankful. I hope you can find something that works for you. I guess he was lucky, well, not the last part. 😪💕

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I have a tortuous colon. When I had a colonoscopy, the surgeon's nurse had to press extremely hard over my belly and when I woke up, I was black and blue there. The doc said he had to have help to get past the "twist".

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My late husband had a tortuous colon. He ate healthy all of his life, but when he was in his 50’s he had to start taking Benefiber every day. That seemed to work for him and he didn’t have any problems until, when he was 72, he had sudden onset Lewy body dementia with Parkinson’s, and I cared for him for four years before he died of it, and his constipation got worse. (long story involving a temporary stay at a facility.) After that, I gave him half a capful of Miralax every day and it kept him regular. He never had to have surgery or anything, for which I’m thankful. I hope you can find something that works for you. I guess he was lucky, well, not the last part. 😪💕

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@standinginfaith

Oh my heart goes out to you all!! I have battled constipation all my life.. I remember my Mother giving me enemas as a 5 year old..(and running from the sight of her coming.....!!) So.. I even got so backed up, I had to take an ambulance to a hospital and they gave me a lactulose enema (not good.. intolerant of milk).. the next time I almost died.. went into a "sweat out" and sweated out so much fluid..completey soaked.. called the ambulance .. blood pressure 60 over 40 and it took him 10 min in the driveway to find a vein to start a drip.. used 2 bads on the 45 min drive to the hospital.. so constipation is something I have deep concerns over.. all that said.. I was diagnosed with a tortuous colon last fall.. and was referred to a surgeon..but 15 days prior.. I began to use the potty.. 3-5 times a day.. and continue to do so.. since Oct 15th 2024..I'm 71 now.. (I've been hospitalized atleast 3 times for colitis..) so.. the take away..I do use Trulance ..and Miralax (sometimes twice a day) and drink lots of water.. and drink 2 Vanilla plant based Ensures a day (5mg fava pea fiber) and eat 1 Thomas multi grain English muffin ..8 grams fiber a day..have to really watch what I eat.. hiatal hernia, gastritis, GERD..I feel your agony!! Not going to get "preachy here.. I attribute my bowel change to standing in faith.. the surgeon said "I don't know what you're doing.. biofeed back or what ever..but it's working..I said "The Word works"..still standing in faith for complete healing manifestation of digestive system..I hope some of these things might help someone else.. constipation is nothing to be scoffed at..it's real and it's painful in so many ways.. anxiety.. the whole thing.. I'll pray for you all!!

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Great story here. So many times we look at everything else before looking at the Word.

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Oh my heart goes out to you all!! I have battled constipation all my life.. I remember my Mother giving me enemas as a 5 year old..(and running from the sight of her coming.....!!) So.. I even got so backed up, I had to take an ambulance to a hospital and they gave me a lactulose enema (not good.. intolerant of milk).. the next time I almost died.. went into a "sweat out" and sweated out so much fluid..completey soaked.. called the ambulance .. blood pressure 60 over 40 and it took him 10 min in the driveway to find a vein to start a drip.. used 2 bads on the 45 min drive to the hospital.. so constipation is something I have deep concerns over.. all that said.. I was diagnosed with a tortuous colon last fall.. and was referred to a surgeon..but 15 days prior.. I began to use the potty.. 3-5 times a day.. and continue to do so.. since Oct 15th 2024..I'm 71 now.. (I've been hospitalized atleast 3 times for colitis..) so.. the take away..I do use Trulance ..and Miralax (sometimes twice a day) and drink lots of water.. and drink 2 Vanilla plant based Ensures a day (5mg fava pea fiber) and eat 1 Thomas multi grain English muffin ..8 grams fiber a day..have to really watch what I eat.. hiatal hernia, gastritis, GERD..I feel your agony!! Not going to get "preachy here.. I attribute my bowel change to standing in faith.. the surgeon said "I don't know what you're doing.. biofeed back or what ever..but it's working..I said "The Word works"..still standing in faith for complete healing manifestation of digestive system..I hope some of these things might help someone else.. constipation is nothing to be scoffed at..it's real and it's painful in so many ways.. anxiety.. the whole thing.. I'll pray for you all!!

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@marjoriem

I was just diagnosed with a redundant or torturous colon. I also have a hiatal hernia, esophagus motility issues, and acid reflux. What I have discovered is that there is no medications, supplements, or diet that will totally correct these issues. I quit taking PPI inhibitors because of the recently released study that they can cause a 30% chance of early onset dementia and I have a family history of that. So, I have been left with trying to figure all this out on my own. My Gastroenterologist prescribed heavy doses of Miralax to clean me out and said to take 1 capful, three times a day for maintenance. Well, that was awful! I was having accidents (if you know what I mean) so I had to stop it. Then I read on this blog that someone said a supplement called Cleanse More helped them (magnesium supplement) so I asked my doctor about it and he said it was safe to take and told me to take 2 capsules every other day. That was touch and go. Two capsules seemed to be too much and one wasn't enough so right now I just started back on 1 capful of Miralax once a day and two Cleanse More capsules every other day. We'll see what happens. Regarding the high-fiber diet, I have read conflicting reports and my doctor told me that a low-fiber diet is better for this condition. High-fiber foods will cause too much bulk and will be harder to pass through. I have also seen a surgeon regarding the colon issue and he said surgery is a last resort but to come back to see him if I cannot get a handle on this. It is so confusing trying to figure all this out!

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Esophocool supplement

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I tried every med for a very redundant colon. Motegrity has worked for me, along with Miralax. You can safely use several doses of Miralax throughout the day if needed, especially when traveling. Miralax alone did nothing for me. Good luck!

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I also have redundant loopy colon and chronic constipation. I am seeing a colon and rectal surgeon next week to see what I can do since I don't like linzess or trulance. I want to see what else could be wrong with my lower digestive system. I no longer have any bowel movements unless I use enemas or suppositories. I wonder about water irrigation as another possibility. would love to hear suggestions, Lupejoan

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@sueshel

I had surgery in June 2022 for a mobile cecum. The right colon had moved to the left quadrant of my abdomen and created an obstruction. Surgeon just moved the right colon back in place. I just had a CT scan (July 2024) with contrast that showed the ileocecal valve is in the left quadrant, not the right. The radiologist didn’t even mention it as an incidental finding. But I constantly have bloating, constipation, etc. Anyone else have this happen? I had never heard of the ileocecal valve. Does Mayo perform cecoplexy? My surgeon told me in 2022 they don’t work and was thinking of removing the right colon before he moved it back in place. . Looking for viable options if there are any - hoping cecoplexy is a possibility.

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I found your old post and I hope things are a lot better now. I've posted a number of times today to ask people how they were treated when they had mobile cecum and what their experience was if they had surgery. Did you ever find a surgeon or did you decide against surgery? Thank you for anything you could share.

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