Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?

My dr has suggested an X-ray defography. I believe I read somewhere in one of these posts, I could be mistaken as I read much everywhere!, but I thought it was advised not to use barium with a severely redundant/tortuous colon as to the possibility of the residual barium “hardening-up in all those bends and kinks and causing much difficulty after testing is completed. Anyone recall this or had this test done and had good or bad experience. My previous dr would have done MRI defography which does not use barium. My new dr feels xray gives much better results.

Yes, I am 70 and JUST found out I have a redundant/tortuous colon from a colonoscopy! So crazy- it explains the lifelong constipation, TERRIBLE colonoscopy preps ( longer colon= up all night on the toilet instead of a few hours- and even then it’s not a clean colonoscopy).
I have always just managed this on my own with fiber capsules, a handful of almonds every day. No one has ever diagnosed it before now or helped me with it. It’s a very delicate balance eating-wise for me. Can’t eat too much fiber, must get enough.
Because of this, surgeries can really mess you up because anesthesia stops your colon. So in my life I’ve had rectal surgery (in my 30s) , and after a spinal fusion I developed a rectocele. A very kind Physician’s Assistant (Michele at Dr. Penenberg’s at Cedar’s Sinai- thank you!) gave me a prescription for Movantik to take the day of my first total knee replacement surgery a couple years ago and then a few days after. Miracle! Was able to go the next day. Usually it has taken as long as 12 days after a surgery!
Moral of the story is to be very careful not to let yourself get constipated, even if you need a glycerin suppository. I make sure I go every day and don’t really leave my house until I do. So inconvenient! But it keeps me out of trouble. Easier to schedule stuff later now that I’m older, harder when I had little kids. Hang in there! You can manage it without surgery- just be very diligent.

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.

It's encouraging to hear there is something out there that works for tortuous colon peeps like us. Good for you that you keep up the good fight! This along with Motegrity is in my back pocket of options. Thank you for sharing your experience with Lactulouse.

Thank you for responding to me! I was going to ask you what finally convinced you to have surgery, but I think you have partially answered that question already -- I am sorry to hear that you went through hospitalizations for bowel obstructions for such a long time, actually had to go through that at all. I guess that means you had already tried the usual pharmaceuticals, herbal supplements, and various treatments to no avail. I would totally have made the same decision. May I ask how much of your colon was removed, and how difficult the recovery/adjustment was? Did a partial colectomy require significant changes in your diet or lifestyle for the long term? Are you "cured" or do you still battle colon issues of a different sort? Sorry for all the questions!

I had the same diagnosis re long, redundant , twisty colon and had awful constipation for my entire life. Colonoscopies were a nightmare back in the day when you were lucky to get a Valium. I am 62. 2 1/2 years ago I had a bowel obstruction from a cecal volulous and had to undergo emergency surgery (right hemicolectomy) to remove all of the ascending colon and then some. About 2 feet. It's been a long, hard recovery but with a good doctor, I've done pretty well with the bowel problems. Have been constipated twice since surgery. My colon had a rotated cecum-- rare, congenital bowel malformation that no test can detect unless you obstruct. The surgery itself is an awful recovery but, I'm grateful to be alive since the mortality rate for a cecal volvulus is high. I don't know if the rotated cecum has anything to do with the colon being extra long and twisty.

Yes, and according to my doctors, I have a grossly redundant colon and a doctor suggested removing part of it and said it would help me have a normal life but I did not do that. We moved out of state and the new gastroenterologist said he would never remove part of a colon unless it was a medical reason to because of a problem, but not the case with me, and he told me to take MiraLAX every morning and drink plenty of water each day for the rest of my life. After a week, the MiraLAX did its job and continues to, and if I ever eat badly with not enough water and get stopped up then I do it (take miralax) in the morning and night for a day or two. I also just recently realized I eat faster than everyone and do not chew my food so I now take the time to do that before wolfing it down. Laxatives and fiber supplements never worked for me because they create more stool and MiraLAX just brings water in to the colon. Also, once a month or so I heat up in 8 ounce glass in the morning for five days of prune juice with pulp and drink it . I don’t know if that will help but I’m thinking your doctor can advise you. (I did not want part of my colon removed because my father had that done and it created scar tissue, which created its own problem when he had a blockage that needed emergency surgery, so the thought of doing that scares me unless of course, there is a Medical need.

Thank you for the input. I have this condition. For some reason I tried Metamucil years ago and I didn't like it- I didn't think it helped, so I stopped trying. After reading your comments, I think I'll try it again, as this is really messing with my health. Thanks.