Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?

I was diagnosed a couple of years ago when having my colonoscopy. I have been following the Low Fodmap Diet and it has helped tremendously! It is the diet that people with IBS follow. Fiber does not help and can sometimes bring on my symptoms. I exercise and follow this diet and drink lots of water. My only question is what can they do the next time I need a colonoscopy?? I took a stool softener and drink a whole gallon of prep and it took hours for me to eliminate it. Luckily the surgeon could still do the procedure and that is when I found out about my redundant colon.

Some things that work for me that may work for you:

Avoid eating "heavy" foods at dinner (meat, fish, fat) and watch your intake of "dense" foods like heavy, dense bread.

Eat cooked veggies and fruit. I eat cooked parsnips and the few other things I can tolerate for their fiber content and low FODMAP status. (some say a long colon can trigger FODMAP issues). Also, ground chia seed is something to consider, as well as lactose-free milk products. I can handle raw kiwi (check out the study on how well it works for stubborn constipation) and papaya.

I have less nausea with the Intoleran brand dietary enzymes for food intolerances. A game changer.

Ten up and then ten down stomach massages expel bloat. Check the UK's National Health System (NHS) posting on constipation: https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/uploads/25773.

Get your rest and sleep.

A huge problem for me was anxiety and sometimes sleep. I cope three ways now:

1) a micro-dose of melatonin (300 mcg pill cut in half) nightly. I am super sensitive to meds and supps. Others may need more, but start with less. Too much disturbs your circadian rhythm.

2) Hilma Gentle Bowel Support (2 a day) - I did not notice a stool improvement but it proved to be the missing link in ending my general 24/7 anxious state. A lot of research on magnesium and anxiety on the net.

3) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for anxiety, which is just a deep state of relaxation. I learned in a 7 week course with a therapist, but there must be some relaxation recordings to listen to. After 7 weeks of daily listening, you have retrained your brain. You only need the tapes for a refresher or because you want to listen.

And make work-life balance a priority. A rested, destressed you will be more productive too. It took me awhile to realize I just wasn't that important ---my ego kept me on the race track.

BTW, good to know about Lactulose.

And when I feel I need to explain my health situation, I do so by analogy. It is as if I had diabetes and managed it solely with food. I have to watch what I eat.

I have a redundant Torturous: COLON. I find that I can’t let my stomach get empty. That’s when the nausea starts so I do have to graze throughout the day which is very difficult for me because I’ve never done that before. This is a tricky disorder. I can’t eat too much or I get bloated. If I don’t eat enough I get bloated if I eat the wrong thing or at the wrong time I get pain. Every morning I wake up with pain scan my body have a few Sips of coffee and usually I can have a decent BM but not always. I have found Lactulose solution which was prescribed by my G.I. has helped tremendously in emptying out however, stress and anxiety are my biggest obstacles

I too have a redundant colon, and have managed it very well for years with a cap of Miralax every evening. The only problem is I just found out that I have stage 2 kidney disease. The Miralax bottle says don’t use it if you have kidney disease. I am so screwed!! Also, how do I know that the PEG didn’t actually CAUSE the damage to my kidneys? I haven’t stopped the Miralax yet. I need to whip up the courage to do so. It’s the only thing that ever worked!

Have you tried warm drinks, blender soups, hot cereals (can add liquid egg white and pea protein isolate to both for a complete protein (avoiding meats and animal fats that may be hard to digest))? If it is your redundant colon, maybe liquid and soft food would make the turn(s).

Hi Jayne,
Surgery to remove some of the colon to relieve discomfort from a redundant colon is not successful. Those who had surgery have endless problems. I read somewhere that surgery for a redundant colon means removing the whole colon, and you will end up with a bag! I take a herbal fiber blend daily and drink a smoothie of cucumber, lemon, ginger, and turmeric at night to help stay regular. It is a battel...
Strongs!

Thank you @farmersmith!

Good luck with balancing your electrolytes + consider going to a Naturopath who specializes in digestion. Having been a nurse why not examine a holistic approach to health. I have and MD and and ND and have used both their services for over 35 years. I often get diagnosis from the MD and then get tips from the ND. Like one of my instructors back in college said, "you will never be lacking in aspirin but you can have a mineral or vitamin deficiency that could be altered for a better lifestyle and better health. If you read the label on some of the laxatives they give the side effects + almost all say not to use for more than a week! Imbalance in our individual biochemistry doesn't always help. Best of luck expanding your support team, @farmersmith

You are not alone with diarrhea and constipation. I have both as well. I use Amitiza to help my motility of moving through my tortuous colon. I was never offered surgery like others. I have trouble getting emptied for colonoscopy.

Hello, All of these comments and links to articles have been very helpful!
I had 4 months of liquid stools that seemed to correct after taking prescribed Miralax…in fact I had some abdominal pain that thankfully did not last and had my first normal BM.
I also note that I fill up fast after a small amount of food.
Now, after almost 2 months of daily, normal stools (previous to all of this I never had constipation) I am starting to experience bloating and abdominal pain after eating. Sometimes the bloating is severe, so besides drinking a lot of water, I have started taking laxatives…Miralax and Milk of Magnesia almost daily in hopes that my redundant colon does not twist.
I am starting to be afraid that this could end up being an emergent situation.
I am a retired RN who has cared for ruptured or twisted bowels, both after emergent surgery or in ICU.
I don’t know if I should reach out to the GI department (who are following me to determine cause of the 4 months of watery stools) or the surgeon who reviewed my CTE with me.
I will let the GI NP know of my concerns (and fear), we have a video appt soon.
In the meantime I’ll try the ground flaxseed (I’m allergic to psyllium seed/Metamucil) and continue fluids and smaller meals.
Thanks for listening!