Anyone else have a Redundant/Tortuous Colon?

Posted by onaquest @onaquest, Nov 7, 2018

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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Profile picture for kjn72 @kjn72

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

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Buy the Magnesium Oxide as a vitamin supplement. Much cheaper than Renew Life. I take 750mg of Magnesium Oxide a day. Many name brands that use it have higher doeses. Around 70% of the magnesium you consume is expelled from your body within 24 hours which is why so many people experience a deficiency.

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Profile picture for sallyw133 @sallyw133

Obviously, just my non-medical input, but though Prune Lax sounds like it would be a “natural” way to solve your constipation, it is actually senna. Do some research if you plan to take on a daily basis or consult your gi. Senna is an osmotic laxative and can actually cause changes in your colon. Like I said, just an opinion here but my gi only recommends 2 a week at most.

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I also checked out PruneLax and found the same thing. It can be one cause of melanosis coli . Glad you shared. It can change the color of your colon. My research said it is not life threatening. It causes a dark brown mucosa pigmentation in the colon. It clears up if you stop the cause of it, but can take awhile. Don't even know you have it, usually detected by a colonoscopy. But something to research and think about.

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I have a redundant colon too( noted on colonoscopy)... Not sure if that had given me constipation over the years or not... Interestingly enough I had a rectocele which I just had repaired last summer... I attribute that more to having 3 children.. I'm about 5 '0 and weigh 100 lbs .... but I also strained and had a lot of constipation for a lot of my life.. I was never told anything was abnormal about the redundant colon but assume it takes longer for waste to travel... One thing I use that is natural and really helps is a mixture of 1 cup applesauce, 1 cup prune juice, 1 cup wheat bran. I take a couple of TBS per day and it keeps things moving...

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Profile picture for clou @clou

I also recently found out I have a redundant colon with a fixed closed Bend in the sigmoid. I've had one surgeon blow me off and tell me that either increase fiber or full colostomy bag. I know there has to be other options so I'm seeking a second opinion. I suffer with bladder issues due to the constant pressure. I struggle daily with getting things moving and the urinary issues.

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I had surgery 3 years ago. I learned the redundant colon had caused the rectocele I had repaired several years earlier. When I hear urinary issue it sounds like possible rectocele. Sadly in my area 2 different surgeons do the two surgeries.
Make no mistake although Robotic surgery lessons scar tissues and healing time incision wise its still a major! surgery. Good luck!

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Can anyone tell me what surgery is like for a redundant tortuous colon please?
How long are you in the hospital? What’s the recovery like. I live alone so wondering if I need someone with me awhile. Thanks

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Ive had these same col9n peoblems for almost 30 years now. Im looking for help too. Ive been to 2 different may clinics and all they do is ignore all my tests and paperwork and refuse to do anything all while playing dumb. I finally after over a year of tests and appointments had a surgeon aggree to operate and look for the problem. As soon as that happened my insurance was no long good in az and i couldnt get help. So i moved to florida hoping to get surgery in mayo jacksonville but the surgeon there rufused and help. Got bounced around and surgeon and gi refused to send any supporting info to insurance at all. Lots of bills. Im looking to try and travel overseas for surgery since 30 years in the USA all i got were surgeons lying and playing dumb.
Anyone done any research on overseas colon surgery. Im hoping they just find a hernia and adhesions and solve my problems. I havent seen a dr in about 6 years bc all they do is drain my wallet and refuse service. Help help help!

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Profile picture for marmoldav @marmoldav

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.

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I have IBS-C and a severely redundant colon. Before I got on top of it, I had lost 25 lb and was technically underweight. This is what I learned works for me, through trial and error:

NOS: No grains (including no gluten) and no lactose. No legumes. Trace animal/milk fat. No beef or poultry. No fruit. No to most low and all high FODMAP foods as rated by the Monash University app. No coffee, caffeine, carbonation, most herbal teas. No to most vegetables. No sugar or most liquid natural sweeteners. No artificial sweetener. No hot pepper spice. No to large meals. No to bulking fiber supplements. No emotional stress (good emotions and bad emotions - however I am starting to see a GI psych to engage in a seven-week hypnosis program to cut the connection between my emotions and gut - they call it creating muscle memory. Recommended by my gastro doc.)

YESES: Green plantain flour, fresh green and hard plantains, pea protein isolate, potato starch, egg whites, low fat fish (tilapia, cod, shrimp, Lactaid nonfat milk, 1-2 heaping teaspoons of Lactaid cottage cheese/day. Brewers Yeast, Yeast, Chia (in moderation and well soaked), Swiss chard (no stems), tender kale (no stems), collard greens, common radish, the green part only of green onions, patty pan squash, mung bean sprouts, kobocha squash (Asian grocery), parsnip, fresh and dried herbs, olive oil (not a lot), Peppermint tea, lattes with my ingredients (I make a turmeric one), Rhubarb. Pure stevia. 1-3 raw brazil nuts. Walnuts for baking. A bit of maple syrup. Korean 100% sweet potato noodles. Maille dijon mustard, trace Mayo, A couple of olives, a few capers. Fody brand condiments, in small quanities. 0.5 teaspoon Bragg's apple cider vinegar with every meal (to give me more acid to digest my food -- a key change for me). 4-6 small meals a day. Always a warm drink or tap water to sip. My system doesn't work well without that. Mineral oil as a laxative, at bedtime, 3/8 - 1/2 teaspoon. Note: my gut is hypersensitive, so both the oil and vinegar are only needed in small quantities. Adequate sleep - lack of such disregulates my colonic processes.

End notes: I don't get constipated (incomplete evacuation) much due to the vinegar. Emotional distress (from politics for me) really sent my IBS-C into overdrive and triggered my need for a very limited diet. For brief times I was on a small dose of an anti-anxiety med that had a side effect of helping IBS-C. Then I stopped, and for some reason, some months later, I was depressive and then again on a small dose of an anti-depressant and then stopped. I have used relaxation apps and the IBS-C, doctor recommended Mahana app (the free, initial series of information) and still do its square breathing. I do stomach massage as laid out by the National Health Service of England.

IBS-C is functional. I think a redundant colon contributes to its manifestation. I can elaborate on the above if you want, in any way.

Keep trying until you find what works for you. A GI/IBS dietitian may help or the GI psych route I am now taking.

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Profile picture for marmoldav @marmoldav

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.

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Have you tried abdominal massage? I do it every morning before I get out of bed. Then there are acupuncture points that you can do with belly breathing that also helps.

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Profile picture for marmoldav @marmoldav

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.

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Thank you for your response. I’m already doing most of what you’ve mentioned. I take magnesium, lots of water, keep a food journal and I use a potty stool. I also meditate daily and I’m active in spiritual groups with sound therapy etc. thanks anyway.

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Profile picture for kjn72 @kjn72

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

Jump to this post

Sorry for the long post but wanted to share this. I recently posted regarding my tortuous colon, GERD and LPR reflux that causes too much stomach acid and hiatal hernia issues. The Miralax regiment for severe constipation that my GI doc prescribed was awful. I really tried to make it work but couldn't as it caused too many emergency bathroom issues. Someone on here said that Cleanse More by Renew Life helped them. I decided to try it and just after a couple of doses, the results were amazing and I felt so much better, and no emergencies. But before I started taking Cleanse More on a regular basis, I thought I should check if it was safe to take everyday. I spoke with a Renew Life representative and was told no, it is not intended for everyday use. So I sent my GI doc a message and told him about my progress with Cleanse More and I sent him the ingredients. He told me that it is actually a very reasonable amount of Magnesium to take indefinitely. The reason they mention it is not meant to be taken every day is because it is an OTC supplement, not a medication. They have likely never been able to study this particular product when being used in the long term, but Magnesium based laxatives have been around for a long time. They can be effective and in the absence of a person who is highly prone to magnesium dependent cardiac arrhythmia, which is quite rare, they are safe to take long term. The bottom line is, always ask you doctor before committing to something you buy without a prescription. And what works for one person might not work for someone else. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this supplement will help me long term.

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