Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?

Anyone have any experience with a tortuous colon? Mine apparently winds so much that no Dr. has been able to see all of it. They did a colonoscopy and could only see about 50% of it, did a barium enema and could still only see part of it after using 3 bags of barium.
My only symptom has been some blood in my stool and lifelong constipation, but it (blood in stool) has been going on for a few months but I'm getting no answers. My blood tests were done right away and they were normal. I'd just like to hear from ANYONE with experience with this. The unknown is scary. Thanks!!!

Here it is 5 of 2022. Just saw this…prolly cuz I was moved to “bones & joints”. hip rev in ‘20. Stomach STILL a mess. No I’ve not been diagnosed w/ Crohns or UC. IBS, gastritis, diverticulosis, spastic colon…& anything else that fits in there. Have 10 mg Amitriptyline, may help for a short time, not usually, or completely. Better than nothing. I give

@sallyw133 Don't use MiraLax/ClearLax for your colonoscopy preps unless your doctor says it's ok.

Hi, this is very helpful. Would you mind sharing a little more about your smoothies you do for breakfast and lunch. What kind of protein powder do you use and vegetables and fruit? I too have a tortuous colon. Struggled my whole life with constipation. Diagnosed with colonoscopy at 18, now 34. Tried all kinds of medicine. I take miralax and motegrity and still get blockages on my lower left side where the kinks are really bad. I'm thinking about doing smoothies for breakfast and lunch too now from your suggestion. Thank you so much to everyone on this site. It gives me hope.

That would seem to be less dehydrating than the Golytely. I was actually shaking and then had diarrhea for 5 days after. I’ll try this next time. Thanks!

@sallyw133 By the way, at my first appointment with my gastroenterologist, he had me do a bowel purge before doing anything else. If you're interested, you mix one 32 oz. Gatorade with 7 capfuls of Miralax and drink it all over a 12 hour period. And you can eat like you regularly do, no fasting. And needless to say, you don't want to make plans to go anywhere after drinking that concoction. I have a membership at Sam's Club so I buy their cheaper brand called ClearLax - it's the same thing as Miralax.

Hello @sallyw133 A couple of tips here. I buy my calcium supplement and my multivitamin from http://www.vitacost.com. Free shipping if you spend $50 or more. I'm on their mailing list so sometimes I get a coupon now and then. Their prices are much cheaper than if I buy at a health food store. The calcium citrate brand I buy is Solaray 1000mg per serving -- that's 4 capsules. Calcium is best absorbed when it's taken in smaller doses (typically less than 600 milligrams at one time). If you take 1,000 mg of calcium a day, split it into two or more doses over the day. Also, if you take a thyroid medication, you need to wait 4 hours before taking any calcium, and at least a half hour before taking an antacid of any kind. The multivitamin I buy is Bluebonnet Maxi One. The calcium in it is calcium citrate and I buy the one that's iron free. Good luck and good health to you!

Your post was very interesting. I take extra calcium because if osteopenia and it is calcium carbonate! No idea that could be causing a problem. The morning routine is critical for me. Generally, if I don’t follow it and go in the morning, I won’t go the rest of the day. That is terribly disruptive as I love to go out to breakfast and we go to mass on Sunday mornings. This disorder is very life altering for me right now as I can’t seem to find a happy medium and I just don’t feel well so much of the time. I’m either uncomfortable because I haven’t gone or have diarrhea or afraid I’ll have diarrhea so I can’t leave the house. I’m going to try some of your ideas. Thanks so much!

Hello. Just chiming in here. I'm a 70 yr old female and have dealt with constipation issues all my life. I found out later in life that I have a redundant colon, but also a poor diet didn't help matters. Today I take my usual multivitamin, an extra 250mg magnesium citrate, and 2 stool softeners in the evening. At breakfast I drink one serving of Miralax, and I also mix Fiber One with another fiber-rich cereal and some blueberries. I found a multivitamin that has calcium citrate and is iron free. I take an extra 1000mg calcium citrate every day. Most multivitamins contain calcium carbonate and iron. My doctor told me to go with calcium citrate because calcium carbonate can be very constipating, and so is iron. Years ago I tried taking a fiber caplet supplement every day. My constipation got worse, and it was because it contained calcium carbonate. And for some reason Metamucil doesn't agree with me. I also try to eat fiber-rich foods every day, and eating a little broccoli every day at lunch seems to help. I've noticed that many people with bowel issues have a morning routine they need to stick to. Me too. I try not to plan to go anywhere until after lunch. I also have multiple sclerosis (diagnosed in 1999) and Parkinson's (diagnosed in 2018) -- doing very well -- to look at me you'd never know I have these two conditions, I'm very lucky. Hope anything I said here might help someone.

With a tortuous colon with twists and turns, its all about food. In the beginning, my Gastro did give me a stool softener to get everything getting around the turns, that with the smoothies with my Ninja really did the trick, I have since stopped the softener, smoothie for breakfast, or oatmeal, soups, sometimes blended, for lunch, and regular dinner (staying away from beef) with vegetables, sweet potatoes. I do take laxative stimulant at night, because of incomplete evacuation.