Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?

JN: I am a 72y/o woman with severe constipation & a redundant colon. 7 years ago I had 14" of colon removed and 3 additional surgeries for a rectocele, entrocele and another bowel prolapse. I have been severely constipated before and after surgeries. I have tried evert kind of otc med, laxatives, fibers and many prescribed meds, drink 1/2 gallon of water, swim 4-5 times weekly, do zumba nothing works. I have thrown up after 6 days of not going. I have pains in right upper and left lower abdominal areas. I am enema dependent to empty my bowels, it is a painful process and can last for 3 hours every time I do it. 2 surgeons recommended colectomy, 1 did not. 1 GI recommended surgery, 2 did not. I am a young 72 and want to continue living actively with less difficulty. Anyone have surgery that worked, and what kind to eliminate this problem? I have been told that colectomy can also produce bloating, gas, things I am already dealing with. Thank you for your help
JN

That makes good sense, @shawnkthryn. Less is more. If it is something like gastroparesis and it is acceptabley controlled by diet, that would be enough success for me. If I were in my eighties with weak muscle mass, I wouldn't want anything more invasive. I try to avoid as much medical intervention as possible. In my view, such only helps-- there is rarely a silver bullet. It seems like you are doing your homework by Googling.

JN: I am a 72y/o woman with severe constipation & a redundant colon. 7 years ago I had 14" of colon removed and 3 additional surgeries for a rectocele, entrocele and another bowel prolapse. I have been severely constipated before and after surgeries. I have tried evert kind of otc med, laxatives, fibers and many prescribed meds, drink 1/2 gallon of water, swim 4-5 times weekly, do zumba nothing works. I have thrown up after 6 days of not going. I have pains in right upper and left lower abdominal areas. I am enema dependent to empty my bowels, it is a painful process and can last for 3 hours every time I do it. 2 surgeons recommended colectomy, 1 did not. 1 GI recommended surgery, 2 did not. I am a young 72 and want to continue living actively with less difficulty. Anyone have surgery that worked, and what kind to eliminate this problem? I have been told that colectomy can also produce bloating, gas, things I am already dealing with. Thank you for your help
JN

@shawnkthryn, tests are useful, but not the final word if inconclusive. Not everything is testable. The final word is what it takes to feel better.

JN: I am a 72y/o woman with severe constipation & a redundant colon. 7 years ago I had 14" of colon removed and 3 additional surgeries for a rectocele, entrocele and another bowel prolapse. I have been severely constipated before and after surgeries. I have tried evert kind of otc med, laxatives, fibers and many prescribed meds, drink 1/2 gallon of water, swim 4-5 times weekly, do zumba nothing works. I have thrown up after 6 days of not going. I have pains in right upper and left lower abdominal areas. I am enema dependent to empty my bowels, it is a painful process and can last for 3 hours every time I do it. 2 surgeons recommended colectomy, 1 did not. 1 GI recommended surgery, 2 did not. I am a young 72 and want to continue living actively with less difficulty. Anyone have surgery that worked, and what kind to eliminate this problem? I have been told that colectomy can also produce bloating, gas, things I am already dealing with. Thank you for your help
JN

Thank you so much!!

Well, I cannot eat fish or chicken w/o constipation. I do not vomit. An orange its juice would send me into IBS-C purgatory. Bland foods are my ticket too. For your Q, I would use a seed butter that is smooth. Lots of folks like sunflower butter. It is nutritious and sold in grocery stores by the peanut butter. Glad egg whites are working for you. Best to you, too!

@dedhambeth - Slippery elm inner bark works best for me with every meal. It can be in homemade food (bread, hot cereal, cocoa, etc.), added to suitable commercial food (instant oatmeal) or dissolved in hot water. I started taking it with my morning meal, then thought about it, and tried using it with every meal (4- or smaller meals a day).

It definitely works better with every meal. I have an incredibly sensitive gut, so 1/8 teaspoon with a meal. When I was taking it once a day in the morning, I took 1/2 teaspoon. If I can't add it to my food, I put in in a hot liquid.

For me, it seems to work by softening and providing slip best for the meal I take it with. So it does make a world of difference for me when I take it with each meal.

(I think there are slipperly elm bark "chunks" (outer and inner bark) that could be steeped normally like any tea. If so, that may be best for a meal in the work environment.)

Since school teachers are on holiday now or soon, it is a good time to experiment to find a dose that works.

Whether it creates an urgent need to toilet, that may depend on the dose. I find that with my optional dose of 1/8 with a meal.

I am currently checking to see if 1/8 a teaspoon with a meal, when it is a six-meal day, is still the right dose. Maybe taking it four or five times a day is my limit, with a sixth 1/8 teaspoon dose too much.

For those of you that take slippery elm…do you take it at night? In the morning? Did it affect you quickly? I want to start taking it but am nervous about how quickly it will work and so when to take it. I’m a teacher so do not always have the opportunity to run to the bathroom. Thank you.