Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?

@jaleh
@notmoff
Have you tried adding a stool softener(Colace) or a psyllium fiber (Metamucil) in the mix ? Are you are taking senokot tablets and Mira lax consistently every day? If those combinations are not working after giving it a good try, vaying the dosages of each, and being consistent, etc., then on to something else!

I found, as others here on MCC, that the OTC Prunelax works very well to get things moving without being too harsh. There are two different strengths sold on Amazon.

If I were to go to a stronger, but non-stimulating laxative, I would try Dulcolax Liquid.

The above regimens always work for me. Let me know how it goes after trying something different.

I’m taking a Senna Lax, made by Good Neighbor Pharmacy. I found them on Amazon.com. I’ve been ordering on Amazon because I’m dealing with chronic pain and am not out everyday. I can order online and get them in 24 to 48 hours. They work good and I’m figuring out dosage now. I’m taking 2 or 3 at night. As long as I drink enough water, I have movement every morning. If I do go more than a few days, I have a scrip for Lactulose from prior to colonoscopy I can use at 15 to 30ml once a day. I’ve only had to use Lactulose a couple times. Lactulose is a liquid, like cough syrup. It’s a prescription and I won’t be using it long term. As I learn what foods to eat and what to avoid, I hope to adjust softeners too. Are you drinking enough water? I’ve had a hard time drinking enough water in the past. Upping my intake during this has helped a lot and has become easier for me. I don’t always drink 8 glasses a day, but I get that and more with a combination of coffee, juice and water, etc. daily. I know that’s super important!
I think you’re absolutely right about doing what we can on our own to live with these conditions. Doctors do what they can and it’s important to know what we’re dealing with, but much of our health is how we advocate for ourselves. Learn what you can do with diet, exercise and support! I also use stuff like meditation and distraction techniques for chronic pain. I can apply that to stress from other diagnosis! Stress works against me making improvements with physical health! Feel free to reach out!

Yes, totally agree. As I just found out at my apt on Friday, if it’s not a pill they can give, they are lost. Wouldn’t even discuss tortuous colon as being an issue. On my own again, except for all of you, to figure out how to deal with this.

Have you tried chia pudding? I don’t remember proportions, but it’s chis seeds, almond milk and maybe some vanilla. Put in frig overnight. It becomes somewhat like tapioca pudding, if you like that. I think it’s pretty tasty myself. Might have to give it a try again.

"I get the general impression that even gastro docs really don't want to deal with this issue."
I agree with you. My first GI doc never even told me I had a redundant colon until I happened to read it on a colonoscopy report. Seven years and many scopes after I started seeing him. It took me a year to get him to admit it "might" contribute to chronic constipation.....I believe it is the main cause. For me at least. I've had two other Doc's recommend having my colon removed if I didn't want to deal with it anymore.
They were serious. The "wizard of oz" effect is right on the money. I could go on and on, but I'm sure you have experienced it all. At this point my problem is that I have to take so much stuff to keep things moving, that I'm stuck in the house most of the day.
Anyway, I'll stop whining and go take my Linzess now.
Excellent post, by the way.

My problem is constant. I have a couple of BM in the morning and then by afternoon I feel constipated. Incomplete evacuation, they call it. I am trying everything and nothing works. It's pretty depressing. The gastroenterologist basically said "there is nothing you can do"...I take miralx and also smooth move tea. I don't know what else to try? Psyllium doesn't work.
As someone said "what works one day, it doesn't work the next". I drink tons of water. Eat lots of vegetables. Exercise a lot. what else to do?
After reading the comments here it seems that everyone has the same problem and there is basically nothing we can do.

Your suggestion about adding tahini & applesauce to butternut squash sounds good to me. I've read that dairy can be constipating so I might replace the yogurt with hemp powder to get the protein I need. I've been relucatant to use acacia or psyllium fiber for fear I might not accompany it with sufficient water. I'd like to reduce my senna and Miralax usage.

Recently constipation has been less of an issue for me, maybe because several times a day, I've been putting about 1/2 teaspoon of chia seeds in the bottom of a drinking glass, adding about 1/4 C of water, stir with a fork to break up the seeds, wait about 15 minutes until they have gelled up and then stir in about 1 - 1/2 C more water and drink. If I mix them all at once, the seeds clump.

I enjoy the "sliminess" of steamed okra, but find it pricey. I haven't noticed how it affects my gut.

Thank you for the good ideas.

I get the general impression that even gastro docs really don't want to deal with this issue. It is unrewarding for them. I read in one scientific article on google scholar that if pain is a significant symptom for the patient before the resection, it is likely that it will be also after resection and even possibly worsen. I do recognize that there are times when the patient has no choice because the disease has progressed to the point that there is a danger of perforation. That is a difficult lesson I learned from caring for my husband through all his illnesses and surgeries: the illusion that docs will have an answer for every condition or even a correct diagnosis. There is a bit of the wizard of oz effect going on in the culture of medicine. As one wise poster said some time back, we glean what information that we can from a provider and then move on. I am grateful that Mayo has made it possible to learn from all of you. One thing that I learned on this Mayo site that has really help me with gas is to do the abdominal massage. I also read that they use that in caring hospice situations. I started looking at hospice/ and constipation due to cancer because it is a serious problem in those situations. I have learned that even in these conditions, the issue of constipation is not fully addressed.

I recently put together a reliable breakfast routine. I steam butternut squash, cut it up and store in a covered dish in the fridge. In the AM, I add yogurt, applesauce and tahini butter and mix it up with a spoon. It is actually quite delicious and adding a little cinnamon may suite some. I find that moist fiber, such as is found in the squash family, including all other hard shelled winter squashes and the the summer squashes such as zuchinni and crook neck yellow squash are a gentle bulking fiber that retains its moisture and does not dry out and absorb water from the colon like the dry fibers do. I am going to experiment with different nut butters for the calories and also adding flax oil. I remember my father telling me that in the small general store his father had in west Texas in the early 20th century, they kept dried okra powder on hand for stomach problems because of the gelatinous and moisture retaining nature of the fiber. My next step is to try steamed frozen okra. May have to wind up putting it in the food processor and then eating it on whole grains like rice, buckwheat groats or millet in order to glug it down and not get those round seeds caught in my colon. I'm not sure fried okra would work well, as fried anything is hard to digest. I am also going to try the gelatinous qualities of chia seeds. Has anyone tried it? Since eating my butternut breakfast, I have been able to cut down on the miralax and hoping to do so with the one senna I take. It is extra effort to prepare these meals, but I do not want to end up in the ER again. Nothing is certain and this could stop working tomorrow. I think it is really good that we share recipes with each other. I am experimenting with smoothies as well.

Thanks for the reply. It is very discouraging to have one's hopes up and then not get the advice requested after asking a direct question - repeatedly.