Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?

I had 1 month ago It is not an easy surgery and is a major surgery If you have other option I would do option I will tell u my dr said it will take 2 months to be 80 percent myself It’s been 1 month for me I won’t lie to anyone it’s not an easy surgery

I have Crohn's disease and a redundant/tortuous colon. I have had two bowel resections, one in 2007 and again in 2015, but constipation was never a problem for me until after the second surgery. I've had the Crohn's disease for many years, but did not even know about the redundant colon until a few years ago. I was reading the report after one of many colonoscopies, and saw those words for the first time. I asked the doctor about it, and he said it was nothing to be concerned about. But I am concerned about it. After about three minutes of research, I realized that there was a direct connection between my redundant colon, and my daily battle with constipation and bloating. I go back and forth between trying to get my bowels moving, and spending the whole next day in the bathroom. Sometimes I feel as though there is a lot of trapped gas in the kinks and loops. The doctors haven't offered much advice on any of this. When I asked if the redundant colon was the cause of the chronic constipation, the answer was "maybe".........
Anyway, I accidentally landed here while once again searching for ways to manage this situation, or at least make it a bit more tolerable. The posts I have read here today have been very helpful. I think I will give the Sennokot a try, because my daily Miralax just isn't doing the job, and I don't even want to think about Milk of Magnesia anymore. It sounds like I need to get more fiber as well. But I'm a little concerned about getting too much because of the Crohns. All I have to do is eat a bowl of oatmeal or a banana, and I'm all jammed up. If any of you have Crohn's and redundant colon, I'm open to any ideas. Or even if you don't have Crohn's. I'm also wondering if there are any exercises that would help.

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

Miralax makes me extremely sick. I also have no gallbladder and ask to get labs to check enzyme levels, test amylace and lipase and do a fecal fat test on my stool but nope, they just think surgery. I have 4 pancreatic cysts that are watched yearly with an mri and report always states backed up bile ducts. Thanks for your response..Joanne

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 am curious, as yy journey somewhat mirrors yours. I started taking ZenWIse several weeks ago and found that to be a game changer. I also take Cholacol occasionally since I do not have a gall bladder. I have always been in excellent health, exercising 16 hours a week, but since I started ZenWise, my energy levels are off the charts. My stomach pain went away, I do eat whatever I want, in moderation and mostly healthy but I have not given up one thing and all the stomach issues went away. The one thing I do differently than you, is I take Miralax every morning and have concluded I will for the rest of my life. 3 years ago I was in the hospital as I had gone 6 weeks with no movement. 2 weeks was the norm for me until I started taking Miralax.

I feel your pain. I have dealt with constipation by whole life. It was nothing to go a week without having a BM. Growing up I thought that was normal. Six years ago it became a big problem. I was exposed to mold for a prolonged period of time and it really messed me up further. Doctors kept telling me to take Metamucil but that made it worse. I finally found a naturopathic doctor who helped me figure things out. Going totally gluten free helped enormously. Also, cutting out sugar, mainly desserts, sodas or anything high in sugar was also a huge help. Today I have a BM every morning. Even with a redundant colon I am able to evacuate daily. It really helps to have a routine. I drink a warm glass of water first thing before breakfast. I continue to drink water throughout the day. A clean diet- fruits & vegetables, very little alcohol, daily exercise, abdominal massage before getting out of bed. Specific supplements have also helped keep me on track. Vitamin D3/K2, Vitamin C, digestive enzymes, probiotic. It’s a lot and I know every person is different and has their own specific needs, but I just wanted to share in case it was helpful to someone. Even if you test negative to Celiac disease some people are still sensitive to gluten. That was my case. Good luck to everyone on this site.

I am curious, as yy journey somewhat mirrors yours. I started taking ZenWIse several weeks ago and found that to be a game changer. I also take Cholacol occasionally since I do not have a gall bladder. I have always been in excellent health, exercising 16 hours a week, but since I started ZenWise, my energy levels are off the charts. My stomach pain went away, I do eat whatever I want, in moderation and mostly healthy but I have not given up one thing and all the stomach issues went away. The one thing I do differently than you, is I take Miralax every morning and have concluded I will for the rest of my life. 3 years ago I was in the hospital as I had gone 6 weeks with no movement. 2 weeks was the norm for me until I started taking Miralax.

I feel your pain. I have dealt with constipation by whole life. It was nothing to go a week without having a BM. Growing up I thought that was normal. Six years ago it became a big problem. I was exposed to mold for a prolonged period of time and it really messed me up further. Doctors kept telling me to take Metamucil but that made it worse. I finally found a naturopathic doctor who helped me figure things out. Going totally gluten free helped enormously. Also, cutting out sugar, mainly desserts, sodas or anything high in sugar was also a huge help. Today I have a BM every morning. Even with a redundant colon I am able to evacuate daily. It really helps to have a routine. I drink a warm glass of water first thing before breakfast. I continue to drink water throughout the day. A clean diet- fruits & vegetables, very little alcohol, daily exercise, abdominal massage before getting out of bed. Specific supplements have also helped keep me on track. Vitamin D3/K2, Vitamin C, digestive enzymes, probiotic. It’s a lot and I know every person is different and has their own specific needs, but I just wanted to share in case it was helpful to someone. Even if you test negative to Celiac disease some people are still sensitive to gluten. That was my case. Good luck to everyone on this site.