Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?

Hello all .... I just joined Mayo Clinic Connect. It is my latest grasp at getting information and help with my tortuous colon condition, which has plagued me for 40 of my 54 years. I was diagnosed with tortuous colon in 2012, and had a bunch of tests performed on me which ruled out celiac, Crohn's, gluten allergy, and other stuff. I have some food sensitivities, but essentially all my GI problems are due to my tortuous colon. Basically I am constipated 24/7/365 because my colon is a long and winding road from which nothing emerges at the end without some sort of intervention. In the very best of scenarios, usually with the help of coffee after strenuous exercise, I go once a week, two at most. I start out each day feeling OK, but as the day goes on and as I ingest food, I feel worse and worse with the bloating, gas, and general feeling that I am carrying around a cantaloupe in my abdomen. I am a relatively small person, but my stomach area feels disproportionately big because of my tortuous colon and the stuff in it that I carry around from not being able to ditch it like a normal person. My gut feels best when I don't eat (except for that hunger thing). I relate to @sher71 and probably a lot of others in this. I drink lots of water, exercise every day, and eat as much fiber as I can. So my condition would be even worse if I didn't do these things.

From reading the many posts in this thread, I see that a tortuous colon is not as rare as I thought it is. I feel better at the thought of being able to talk to people about this, people who know what it is like to have to live with this. People who have been told (e.g. @scottisfull), as I have been told, that a tortuous colon is not a big deal and can be totally managed by more fiber, water and exercise. People who know this is not true.

In the last couple of days of reading this thread, I have gotten some ideas that I will try, and just for that I am already very happy and grateful. I learned that there are many like me who have to take 3 or 4 doses of Miralax per day in order for it to do anything. Or, take other stuff, natural and otherwise, to coax the colon to wake up and do something. I relate to those like @lasirvent and @dianecostella who have one thing (or nothing) that works for them.

I started thinking the only solution for me is to take out the extra loops and twists and lengths of my colon in order to get better. Looks like some folks like @thellman and @emma83916 are also thinking about this, and some, like @ellemorgan and @kathyoung, have had it done. I would love to discuss further.

Happy New Year to everyone and I wish all a 2022 with a better stomach.

I was just diagnosed with tortuous colon malposition. I had intestinal malrotation surgery 13 yrs ago . Does anyone else on here have this ?

I am a 66 year old women a reluctant colon. I just found out after colonoscopy. I noticed bloating in the last year and embarrassing gas. On numerous occasions I have had the urge to pass a BM immediately. I literally had to take a shit right then. I was in the woods so I had some privacy. It was not diarrhea. This has happened usually on long walks.
There is always a pain on my right side by the duodenum. I've had ultrasound that found no issues.
So, here I am asking after 20 or so colonoscopy why now know? I never was told this problem with elongated Colon. I had a difficult colonoscopy so the doctor told me. That doctor did one three years ago. I am asking the group to help me understand from a person point of few. I'm perplexed since I never heard of this condition nor has anyone I asked.

Thank you, Jacque, for sharing your experience. I'm still awaiting direction from my GI doctor, so have relied on this site and internet info so far. I've just started to follow a similar regimen, i.e., exercise, fiber, lots of water. I tried Prunelax last week for the first time and found it much better than Miralax. Now I'm looking for a good source of psyllium to add to my diet -- maybe in smoothies? Thanks for your encouraging words and all the best to you! Pam

I am a 66 year old women a reluctant colon. I just found out after colonoscopy. I noticed bloating in the last year and embarrassing gas. On numerous occasions I have had the urge to pass a BM immediately. I literally had to take a shit right then. I was in the woods so I had some privacy. It was not diarrhea. This has happened usually on long walks.
There is always a pain on my right side by the duodenum. I've had ultrasound that found no issues.
So, here I am asking after 20 or so colonoscopy why now know? I never was told this problem with elongated Colon. I had a difficult colonoscopy so the doctor told me. That doctor did one three years ago. I am asking the group to help me understand from a person point of few. I'm perplexed since I never heard of this condition nor has anyone I asked.

I have a similar history and am also seeking answers. Have had five non-problematic colonoscopies in the past, but the most recent was deemed incomplete and I was given a virtual (CT) colonography, which revealed a tortuous colon. Wondering if this can issue can resolve, i.e., become non-tortuous again, or might it change over time?

I started with Gluten free diet. Next I'm setting up televist to discuss issues I'm having with bloating, gas, and fecal incontinence. It was may 3 yr colonoscopy which was by same doctor from last one. I wish I would have asked questions but the doctor was there about two minutes. I can't blame him for this bloating I thought was fluid. I just didn't put and two together untill I read up on reluctant colon. I will get back to you after my televist.

I am a 66 year old women a reluctant colon. I just found out after colonoscopy. I noticed bloating in the last year and embarrassing gas. On numerous occasions I have had the urge to pass a BM immediately. I literally had to take a shit right then. I was in the woods so I had some privacy. It was not diarrhea. This has happened usually on long walks.
There is always a pain on my right side by the duodenum. I've had ultrasound that found no issues.
So, here I am asking after 20 or so colonoscopy why now know? I never was told this problem with elongated Colon. I had a difficult colonoscopy so the doctor told me. That doctor did one three years ago. I am asking the group to help me understand from a person point of few. I'm perplexed since I never heard of this condition nor has anyone I asked.