Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?

I, too, have tortuous colon. I’ve finally found what works for me. Constipation is my enemy. What’s working for me is fiber capsules, Miralax, and stool softener, plus a daily treat of raw carrots and celery. I also manipulate my colon by massaging my belly, to help the stool to pass. I take too many meds already and don’t want to add others if I don’t have to.

It’s comforting to find others dealing with the same issue. Let me know if you have any questions.
Adrienne

I have been diagnosed with a tortuous colon (via a colonoscopy) and am totally enema and laxative dependent, so I'm excited to hear about Vibrant! Would love to hear more about it. Thank you for your post.

I have chronic idiopathic constipation and a redundant colon. Two years ago, my gastroenterologist recommended a new capsule called Vibrant. When a capsule is electronically charged and swallowed in creates parastatals in the colon, thereby pushing the stool along the colon. Most of the time it works very well for me and prevents constipation. Is anyone else using this? There are drawbacks which I won’t go into in my initial post.
Adrienne

I was told I have this also. I have severe constipation then episodes of severe cramping, diarrhea, and vomiting. It’s some of the worst pain ever. It feels like I can actually feel the feces move thru the colon until I have a bowel movement. The episodes generally last about 4 hours then I sleep the entire day. I had an “episode” on an airplane once and you talk about humiliating. The flight attendant busted the door open because he wanted me to come out of the bathroom and I kept telling him I couldn’t and he kept saying I had to and I’m sitting in the toilet with diarrhea and vomiting in the sink at the same time. The pilot then told my husband they were going to make an emergency landing and my husband refused and tried to explain my situation. So then the pilot said they would get an ambulance ready at our destination and again my husband refused and explained it’s a chronic condition and it will pass. I was embarrassed and my husband could have just died, once we landed, my husband looked out the window and there sat an ambulance. I don’t know if it was coincidence or what but thank goodness they let me off that plane. I’m terrified to fly now because of this incident.

cazza, have you tried a mostly liquid diet to ameliorate your symptoms?

Hi Jane,
I too have a redundant colon so I know exactly what you're going through.
I've always suffered from chronic constipation since having my gallbladder removed 13 years ago.
In the last 11 years I've been hospitalised with a compacted bowel 12 times but in the last 18 months I've been admitted to hospital 4 times, last week was the recent.
A colonoscopy 4 years ago showed I had redundant colon but my gastroligist said ...
" What came first, the chicken or the egg?"
He explained when you suffer from chronic constipation which in turn causes a compacted bowel the bowel, over time stretches and stretches until it becomes long and loopy = redundant colon.
I am 71 years of age and seeing a bowel consultant on the 27th of this month. I'm getting to a point where I'm really considering asking him if I can have a Stoma as the amount of laxatives and stool softner is way to much for my likening and my body can't take the daily pain, trapped wind, nausea, bloating and the constant panic, is my bowel going to block and kill me!
A reseaction can cause complications and usually a secondary surgery is necessary.
Regards Carol

Hello Jayne and others,
Best of luck. Stick with it and you can find just the fit for you! I am so glad I didn't even consider surgery. You can form fit the changes you need for just you. Be sure to be active too.

Disclaimer: Only my experience going natural. I have used organic, integrative, functional, holistic Naturopathic doctor's advice along with my MD’s since the early 1980's. There is science in alternatives too.
I work closely with my ND, he told me to study the Migrating Motor Complex and Osmotic Gradient, He bet that I would find something that worked for me. Goal: how to keep a longer than normal pipe consistently moist…. My ND also said because my condition was physical, attention would be needed from now on.

I tried laxatives - not consistent + side effects like bloating, etc. All say for occasional use. They disrupt the system if taken continuously. I liked a response of a co-redundant colon person: “It’s physical” so regular constipation suggestions may not work. Don’t give up. It took me 4 months to feel I could depend on being regular. It is worth going natural.

Dec 2023 the doc had me do non sedated colonoscopy. He went through my colon as I watched on TV. I had had a baby years ago (natural and could stand pain) so it was no big deal. Most people in world don't get put out. Very interesting and it helped allow the scope to get through because I relaxed. He showed me the redundancy. No wonder I had been constipation on and off starting in my teens. I’m now in my early 70’s.

Throw sugar out along with processed and refined foods. Look up foods and drinks that constipate and give them up, at least as a test. OptiMag and K2+ Potassium are great supps. I take them when I go to bed and once in the night (important to keep colon moisture consistent). I include prunes/prune juice, winter squash, sweet potatoes, rhubarb etc in my diet. I eat cups of steamed vegetables each day. I grind 2T chia, 1 T sesame seeds and 2 T flax seeds, then soak in prune juice overnight. I add a T or two of carob now since it can help regularity. Take all in the morning. Drink lot of water starting with a quart of hot water in the morning - boy scouts. I use warmed up diluted chicken broth at times too. It is soothing to my stomach. Have heard kiwi's are good but haven't tried them. Coffee and Smooth Move are my back ups. I don't like coffee and never have drunk it much but it usually works for me in a pinch. Thankfully I only need coffee a few times a month. I depend on this for daily REGULARITY first "chore" each morning. I am an early riser and when off the farm I don't want to wonder if I will have REGULARITY.

Check out helpful research of biological processes that take place in our gut:
- Migrating Motor complex which is the electroactivity in the GI tract during meals and fasting
- Osmotic gradient. If too much water is pulled into the colon, diarrhea results. If not enough water is pulled into the colon constipation results. Balance of minerals is important. Magnesium, potassium and sodium brings water into the colon. I have found balancing these help prevent constipation. I have to watch my calcium supplement intake because it tends to encourage constipation. Calcium carbonate seems to be the most constipating. I depend on blood work from time to time to make sure my minerals are balanced.

Oh and letting stress go is important too - I know how scary it can be. Golly it seems there is no hope for relief but it is worth looking at diet and trying lifestyle changes that can help. Good luck, @farmersmith

caramac, I sit on a firm chair and cross my legs (right thigh over left) and lean into it. If I am in need of this position, I do with with a couple of mugs of warm liquid in me -- my version of hot chocolate. It collapses the prolapse, muscles work better and I have success. Let me know if you have other questions.

Not sure but i think so! Haven’t used them for awhile and I am out of them!