Anyone else have a Redundant / Tortuous Colon?

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.

It is remarkable how different our digestive systems can be and you do have a more complex system to treat. I think it is great that you found a supplement that works for you. I will note it down, in case my needs migrate. Thank you for your response. I appreciate it.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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