Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?

I've mentioned several times on this thread that I found that the squatty potty really helped. It's a stool that you can buy on Amazon or wherever and it puts your colon in the correct position for bowel movements and it's very helpful. I would recommend getting one of those. Also I don't know if this needs to be mentioned cuz you're probably already doing it but you need to drink a lot of water. And then people have also mentioned magnesium. I've read a lot about magnesium but haven't started taking it myself but apparently magnesium draws water into the colon and helps with constipation. I have also found that a probiotic has been very helpful for me. I take one for women that's called unbloat. I would start a food diary and keep track of everything that you eat and how it affects you. I think that's the only way to figure out what's best for you to eat. Once you do that for a while you'll know what bothers you and what doesn't bother you and what you can eat moving forward. I hope this helps.

JN: I am a 72y/o woman with severe constipation & a redundant colon. 7 years ago I had 14" of colon removed and 3 additional surgeries for a rectocele, entrocele and another bowel prolapse. I have been severely constipated before and after surgeries. I have tried evert kind of otc med, laxatives, fibers and many prescribed meds, drink 1/2 gallon of water, swim 4-5 times weekly, do zumba nothing works. I have thrown up after 6 days of not going. I have pains in right upper and left lower abdominal areas. I am enema dependent to empty my bowels, it is a painful process and can last for 3 hours every time I do it. 2 surgeons recommended colectomy, 1 did not. 1 GI recommended surgery, 2 did not. I am a young 72 and want to continue living actively with less difficulty. Anyone have surgery that worked, and what kind to eliminate this problem? I have been told that colectomy can also produce bloating, gas, things I am already dealing with. Thank you for your help
JN

I was just dx with redundant tortuous colon after a colonoscopy. For the last two years and seeing 4 gastroenterologists I was told I had IBS-C and was trying to manage symptoms but not really successful. Miralax was prescribed which only caused nausea. Research has shown that Miralax is no more effective with IBS than a placebo. I also have diverticulitis.
I suffer with pain every morning and sometimes after I eat. Constipation is just a common part of my life with bloating pain, loss of appetite and weight loss. I’m down to 100 pounds. I live alone with no family around. I’m scared. I don’t know what to eat. My doc said just soft food. I’m trying to get this test Sitz beads test completed. Any advice or support is welcomed. I feel like I’m paddling away from the shore.

Hello. I just had my first colonoscopy and the report on it says I have a tortuous colon. For some time now I have complained to my doctor that I get full after eating very little. I had loads of test done that tested my stomach and at what speed it emptied. They said everything was fine. I still have the problem and, to be honest, it's worse since the colonoscopy. I have had no contact from the doctor since the colonoscopy about the results (tortuous colon and a tubular adenoma) which I find strange and if I don't here soon I'm going to ask my primary care doctor what to do. I'm wondering if the tortuous colon is the cause for the full feeling and how it will effect future colonoscopies because with the tubular adenoma I think I'm gonna need colonoscopy more than every 10 years. If anyone has a similar experience I'd like to hear about it.

I was recently diagnosed with tortuous or redundant colon and as a result, have had severe constipation. I also have GERD and LPR reflux that causes too much stomach acid and have a hiatal hernia. A lot of the remedies for constipation are not good for me because of the GERD etc. I hear how good Apple cider vinegar is for you but I definitely shouldn't take it because of too much stomach acid. My doctor put me on a Miralax detox (very high dosages) and then maintenance and I hated it because it caused emergency bathroom situations even on the low dose and it never made me feel purged. I recently read from this blog that someone recommended Cleanse More by Renew Life. I investigated and decided to give it a try. I found it at Whole Foods and started on it two days ago. You would not believe how much better I feel already! I will contact my doctor to get his advice on this supplement and hope that it is safe to take at a maintenance level.

I supposedly have a severely redundant colon (just a nicer way to say it) and have had constipation for a good long time. Lately (I am 68), I have found that meat slows transit time, which leads to constipation, so I just eat fish (not much), egg whites, pea protein powder, and Lactaid nonfat milk as protein sources as I am intolerant to a legion of other protein sources (as well as FODMAP intolerant and grain intolerant). I add Bragg apple cider vinegar to each meal (the regular vinegar) or one can take the Bragg pill form. I find that helps with my redundant colon constipation. If you don't have enough stomach acid, your system can't prepare the food material to "move along." It has been a game changer. In addition, I don't eat regular-sized meals, but may six smaller ones, depending on my appetite. I also use mineral oil as my laxative. I find that, as a "mere" lubricant, it works better (and gentler) than the OTC softeners and stimulants. I take it at bedtime, away from food (supposed to do that as the oil can interfere with vitamin/mineral absorption from food otherwise). I don't need it often as the apple cider vinegar prevents constipation (via better digestion). I also notice that I tend toward constipation if I don't get adequate sleep. Rest to digest, perhaps. I hope you get some mileage out of these ideas, which I note one seldom, if ever, hears from MDs.

JN: I am a 72y/o woman with severe constipation & a redundant colon. 7 years ago I had 14" of colon removed and 3 additional surgeries for a rectocele, entrocele and another bowel prolapse. I have been severely constipated before and after surgeries. I have tried evert kind of otc med, laxatives, fibers and many prescribed meds, drink 1/2 gallon of water, swim 4-5 times weekly, do zumba nothing works. I have thrown up after 6 days of not going. I have pains in right upper and left lower abdominal areas. I am enema dependent to empty my bowels, it is a painful process and can last for 3 hours every time I do it. 2 surgeons recommended colectomy, 1 did not. 1 GI recommended surgery, 2 did not. I am a young 72 and want to continue living actively with less difficulty. Anyone have surgery that worked, and what kind to eliminate this problem? I have been told that colectomy can also produce bloating, gas, things I am already dealing with. Thank you for your help
JN

JN: I am a 72y/o woman with severe constipation & a redundant colon. 7 years ago I had 14" of colon removed and 3 additional surgeries for a rectocele, entrocele and another bowel prolapse. I have been severely constipated before and after surgeries. I have tried evert kind of otc med, laxatives, fibers and many prescribed meds, drink 1/2 gallon of water, swim 4-5 times weekly, do zumba nothing works. I have thrown up after 6 days of not going. I have pains in right upper and left lower abdominal areas. I am enema dependent to empty my bowels, it is a painful process and can last for 3 hours every time I do it. 2 surgeons recommended colectomy, 1 did not. 1 GI recommended surgery, 2 did not. I am a young 72 and want to continue living actively with less difficulty. Anyone have surgery that worked, and what kind to eliminate this problem? I have been told that colectomy can also produce bloating, gas, things I am already dealing with. Thank you for your help
JN

Kjn72.
Do you know if the wavy part of the colon was removed ?
I don’t understand why it wouldn’t alleviate the passage and speed of food ?
Regards
Sheila

I am 72 with the same problems for years. About 8 years ago my then doctor recommended that 14" of colon be removed and I had it removed. I was left with continued severe constipation and ultimately became enema dependent. I read on this site how a woman was experiencing with the same issues until she found OTC Prunelax. I purchased it from Amazon and have been using it daily. For me, 2 and 1/4tablets work combined with 1/2 ducolax. I had to cxperiment to find the right dosage for me. Good luck.