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Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?
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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@researchmaven Slipper Elm inner bark powder. Hi how you doing today? I've eliminated red meat & pork & eaten fish n chix
y's. W rice ahhh wrong answer. Binds like concrete.
Fresh fruit & veggies. Doc says no fresh fruit n veg. Canned fruit & veg. No corn, seeds, nuts, skins. I thought docs diet was gonna help me. Still miserable w salmon, frozen spinach, can beets, sweet tates, w seeded squash. I've fasted 4 days for Gastric Emptying Scan. For T&W I ate salmon n sweet tates w minimal intake or I'll toss food. Yesterday poo balls in toilet look like chocolate w bubble gum wrapped in it. That's salmon. My gosh, not digesting fish properly. Not interested in wrap stomach around another organ. Or if they need remove dead colon tissue from the 3 blockages in 2021/22. Tests ran incl. EUS 2 mo ago. & 4y's CT''s, MRI, x-rays, U.S.'s, EGD- all these to confirm GERD, E.O.E., Chronic Gastritis- i aced these tests & walk away lighter in the financial & no further ahead. 5' 80#'s. Staying hydrated is mission today
@finn22 how are you? Past y w Constipation here, going 1x wk. For 52 wks. I tried Artichoke root 8000mg. w 2 meals. Tossed that. 2- 3 d's later i try again, i accept 1 a
day. There's advice in here to help you go & 🛑. At yer own risk. Psyllium?
WFPB... Whole Food Plant Based.
Yes.
Redundant Colon.
I got off all the this to make me go, this to make me 🛑. I can't eat fiber. Fresh fruits & veggies was the hardest to give up. DX GERD initially, 25y's ago. Researching my chart 5y's ago DX Chronic gastritis, E.O.E, Gastroparesis; stomach's Slow
emptying. 2022 colonscope; redundant colon. EUS. EGD. CT's (xmany). X-rays. & there's no end for tests but i can hardly keep appts w Huge swollen stomach- i thought. There's no test for IBS. Symptoms. D 4y's & C past y. Acidic spit vs Bile spit? w D explosive, oily, immediately after food - bthrm. & C going once every 7 d. I had salmon n sweet taters T & W. on F& Sat, i see pink in poo balls in toilet. It's salmon 3 days digesting. Today stomach ( ctr rib cage) normal from Fast. Colon's painfully swollen, bloated. w 30g Boost & Gatorade Zero drinking all day 3rd day. Trying to reset biological clock & hopefully prepared for Intake & Elimination. GES Gastric Emptying Scan should be very successful tomorrow. Can't say couldn't complete test or Any food could be Something
Slippery elms provides the mucosal support that helps my otherwise "dry" colon move everything through. It doesn't give a "urge." I use a golden kiwi a night for that. Either alone not as useful.
Good to know about artichoke root. I cannot try it though as I am sensitive to most foods -- think FODMAP, but in the extreme. Glad it works for you and others though.
No I decided against that surgery bc of age and nothing is 100%.
@dfloyd1133 I'm w GES re stomach emptying super slow. I'm w redundant torturous colon. My chart 2022 read redundant c. Asked GI re torturous & YES i fit the tab. Was unaware Colon Resection surgery ? Looked at stomach options. No Fundalop re that. Wrapping stomach around another organ. Did you ever resection? How's your life going?
@researchmaven Thanks. I take artichoke root too. Slippery elm for digestion too ?
Thanks. I take artichoke root too. Slippery elm for digestion too ?
Oops, I am not seeing my recent answer to your query, so I will post again, shawnkthryn. I use Frontier brand slippery elm inner bark powder. You can get it from iHerb or Amazon.
My colon is difficult like yours, fin 22, but I don't have pain. I also have other things going on with it; for example, I need to eat a very restricted diet.
I have discovered two other important changes: (1) avoid most solid food. Bread, meat, etc. just doesn't seem to work well in my gut. I focus on hot cereal and soup. What I choose is really healthy, and fairly balanced. I get a ton of protein, greens, other veggies, some fruit and I take a multi-vit.
If I didn't avoid most solid foods, I would be constipated all the time and/or experiencing IBS-C.
The second important change is slippery elm inner bark powder. I can't live without it and take 1/8 teaspoon with almost every meal and snack, either in hot cereal, hot cocoa, hot water, etc. I like the Frontier brand, which you can get on Amazon or iHerb, among other venues.
Though it is a big loss to have an extremely limited diet, it is far better than the gastric upset and constipation I was experiencing.