Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?

Could you shared what kind of diet helped you with your tortuous colon symthoms?

I talked with my doctor about it during the follow-up visits within a few months after the surgery, and everything was typical and on schedule for healing at that time. I have not had any interactions since then, but have just been trying to address the situation via diet and nutrition to restore my microbiome that was completely destroyed by the intense laxatives and antibiotics necessary for the surgical procedure. It has just been a struggle since the foods that are most problematic still are also the foods that are most nutritious. I don't like taking supplements, preferring to get everything from nutrient-dense foods.

Hi @chenry44 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Sounds like you are having a difficult time after your colon removal. You will see that I moved your post to a discussion that talks about the struggles and symptoms you are having. I did this so that you can connect with other members like @seasalted, @brendaharvey, and @euqcaj

Have you had a chance to talk with your medical team about the possibility of introducing new foods and what is normal?

I had about a foot of my colon removed close to two years ago. The mass was not malignant so chemo/radiation were not required. I expected to have digestion issues for a while but am still having excessive, sometimes painful, gas (and sometimes diarrhea and very occasionally constipation) after eating many healthy foods, particularly fruits, vegetables, seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, sesame), legumes (beans, hummus, peanut butter), cheese, eggs, and spicy foods of all kinds. This eliminates the majority of what I have always eaten and prefer to eat. I've tried moving more toward cooked fruits and vegetables rather than raw which seems to help a bit, depending on which fruits or vegetables. I've experimented with probiotic supplements which made things worse. I've tried adding small amounts of probiotic foods such as kefir, kombucha, or probiotic sauerkraut daily while following an ayurvedic diet. The kefir seems to do fine, but the sauerkraut and kombucha sometimes irritate. The problem is especially uncomfortable at night when I am lying down (this is also after my main meal of the day usually). The only foods that seem to be consistently benign are oats, rice, salmon, roasted chicken, potatoes, cooked carrots, blueberries, mango, and homemade granola (made with oats, ground nuts, coconut oil, and a small amount of maple syrup). I'd like to know what other foods would be particularly easy to digest and how/when to reintroduce my favorite foods (fruits/vegetables of all varieties, nuts/seeds, possibly beans...) Thank you!

You described this (our) condition VERY well! And yes, I have suffered with this all my 70 years of living. Then I came down with C-diff from an antibiotic, Clyndamycin, prescribed by my dentist for an oral infection. I almost died, my husband tells me. I felt like I was going to. That will be one year ago this coming February. In the course of recovery from that AND dealing with my tortuous intestine, someone recommended Prunelax to me on this site. It took some adjustment time but it is working well, or a heck of a lot better, than anything else I've tried! i'm very sensitive to routine and times like the holidays, running around, different schedule than normal, can throw me back into the constipation and misery of it all. That just happened. So I had to take some Bisacodyl to clean out the system and start over again. If this regimen continues to work for me, which I pray it will, I can live with that and would prefer that over surgery. I hope that you can find a regimen also and use surgery as a very last resort. But I do know people that have had portions of their colon removed and they are just fine. So I hope you find what works best for you. Happy New Year! Jacque

I’ve had chronic constipation most my life but then add in a rare vascular compression that also affects my digestive system. It’s been a constant battle. I haven’t helped my tortuous colon by having to strain when going. I finally found something that works. It’s called Lactulose. It’s a prescription syrup and it hasn’t failed me yet. I have tried everything else but so far this hasn’t failed even after using it for 8 months. I only take it if I don’t go for 2 days. I have found that if I keep a handle on it and not let it go for more than three days it works better. I had a G.I. doctor tell me what you have a tortuous colon, you’ll never not have chronic constipation. I’ll show her!!

Talk to your doctor about Motegrity. It has been a lifesaver for me. I finally fired my GI doctor and went to a new on 3 hours away that was highly recommended from a friend. He prescribed thus fairly new drug that my previous Dr. or 3 surgeons that I talked to weren't aware of. After 2 days on this medicine I have been going everyday. It. Has been a life changed. Good luck and don't be afraid to get a second opinion.

A subtotal colectomy is a big decision but, I’ve never regretted it. While there are adjustments-as one would expect, they don’t compare to many decades of hospitalisations & surgeries needed to resolve bowel obstructions. I’ll be glad to answer any questions you may have!

Talk to your doctor about Motegrity. It has been a lifesaver for me. I finally fired my GI doctor and went to a new on 3 hours away that was highly recommended from a friend. He prescribed thus fairly new drug that my previous Dr. or 3 surgeons that I talked to weren't aware of. After 2 days on this medicine I have been going everyday. It. Has been a life changed. Good luck and don't be afraid to get a second opinion.