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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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I have redundant colon and and pelvic floor dyssynergia. Doing biofeedback with pelvic floor physical therapist is really helping. I do the exercises religiously three times a day. I hope the MR defacography gives you more information to direct the therapist. Did you also have anorectal Manometry? I haven’t had it yet, but I hear that is very important for the therapist’s knowledge. I’ve been told I don’t have a motility problem, but I know of others who do and have responded to Motegrity. Wishing you all the best
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1 ReactionI saw colorectal surgeon today and have redundant transverse and sigmoid colon. He wants me to do a Gastrografin enema to look at the sigmoid and is considering laparoscopic sigmoidectomy. Anyone been down this road yet and know what to expect with this test and possible surgery? Any input appreciated.
She called it a bowel marker test.
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3 ReactionsYes. It was a smart pill study. She just told me about stopping the meds for a week. Then they would give me five of something. I would swallow one every
day for five days and could go to my local hospital to have the X-rays taken. Could also not take anything during those five days.
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3 ReactionsWas the transit study you did called a smart pill test?
I had the other transit test where you swallow the 24 rings in a capsule and they xray you every day for 5 days. But they never told me to stop the laxatives beforehand or during 😭 and on day 5 of the xray I only had 5 markers left so they said it was normal transit. I struggle with my bowels everyday. I take Miralax nightly and Motegrity every morning.
Thanks! Feel so dumb. I did figure it out!
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I am adding here some coping strategies which I hope will be useful for others:
Drink a full bottle of water in the am upon awakening. This flushes me out in about 10 minutes.
Take 1-2 T of virgin olive oil at night before bed. This is a natural laxative which works well.
Peppermint gel caps are a natural antispasmodic. I take two in the am and pm. No side effects.
Ice packs help quell diverticulitis pain better than heat. Calms the internal inflammation.
Eat smaller portions. Watch high fiber foods until you are healed.
Pray fervently for your insides to be cleansed and restored to good health.
Hope this helps someone.
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3 ReactionsI saw a colo-rectal surgeon on Friday. The surgeon I was scheduled to see on Dec 7, cancelled me for the third time and wanted to move me to Dec 28. Or I was given the option to see a colleague. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. She had an opening two days later and I absolutely loved her!
The apt did not go at all as I
expected. She reviewed all my records, all my testing and asked a ton of questions. She also did an ahem, exam. She felt I had multiple things going on. My transit study showed slow motility from stomach through
Colon, with colon at 86 hours. Extremely slow. She feels bowel is big problem and stool is getting hung up in multiple locations. Nothing to do with tortuous colon. Everything to
do with motility. Second. Pelvic floor dysfunction. My brain is not communicating appropriate signals to PF to move stool out. Also, levator muscle pain also related to pelvic floor.
Options. Bowel Marker Test. 5 days of X-rays to determine where bowel isn’t functioning correctly. Problem. No drugs 7
days before and 5 days during me and I would be in misery. I pass. Defecating MRI would show exactly how my PF is working or not. Not too unpleasant. Pelvic Floor Therapy. Though I’ve done locally in past, not type she wants. Ileostomy. No removal of colon. Great candidate. I’m thin, no prior major abdominal surgeries, active. She could give me a great stoma in an unobtrusive location. But doesn’t think I’m to that point yet. Decide what I want to do.
I decide to have the MRI (😬), looking into having right PF therapy locally. And putting together all my questions for possible surgery at some point. It could always be reversed. She said the gi I’m seeing is the best so I’ll continue working with him on meds. Sorry so long but it was a lot of information. Hope maybe some could help some of you.
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9 ReactionsI have redundant colon and IBS. I am having a big problem with my running program. After just a couple blocks I have to run back to the house to go to the bathroom. Sometimes I don’t make it! Very embarrassing! I am taking Benefiber and probiotics and nothing seems to help. Any ideas?