I was obstipated - stuffed to the gills - for over 40 years, from undiagnosed untreated PID which resulted in all lower organs being connected with scar tissue. I have been advised to remove my colon by 6 doctors but want to avoid that. The discomfort and misery and worry of this condition dominate my life absolutely. I have avoided grains which hasn't helped. I am very careful about my diet though now I see a low fat no dairy diet is recommended and I do eat nuts and have cream in coffee and small amounts of yogurt. I have no choice but to eliminate all that. I also see that a high fiber diet is recommended --this is contrary to what my acupuncturist and doctor recommended.
I keep hoping that if only I find the right grain to bulk up my stool and push up against the sides of my intestine to stimulate a bowel movement maybe that will help me considerably.
I have been having acupuncture and chinese herbs but without results. My acupuncturist even ended up recommending surgery....
Sorry to go on for so long (this is my first time on any forum). I will end with two questions: has any particular diet helped anyone? has anyone tried prucalopride (a kind of zelnorm, the motility drug that was taken off the market) which isn't available here.
I am not a doctor or have any knowledge of this other than what I have experienced and my treatments. I was also diagnosed with severe colonic inertia and the tortuous colon. After my 2nd opinion they both determined that I needed a complete colectomy. I am not prepared for that step yet. I have been working with a chiropractor, massage therapy and accupuncture and have found my condition improving. I have had numerous bowel movements without the use of laxtives and the bloating has really subsided. This is such a huge step in making this decision for this surgery. Anything can happen and I am not prepared for the complications and/or the wearing of a bag the rest of my life. I made a decision to try other means for 6 to 8 months, not being real optismistic at first, but wanting to give it a chance. The chiropratic is covered by insurance, but the other is out of pocket. I didn't want to spend the money, but if it keeps me from having the surgery then it is worth it. So far it is working. We have tried some enzymes and Chinese Herbology and I am now very optimistic that I can strengthen this muscle and and have a more normal life. It may not be perfect, but it's already so much better. I can live with this and I wasn't able to continue the way I was. I hope this helps and I hope you will find a way other than the surgery. I have had this for 40 years, although it's been much worse the past 3 years. Good luck to you.
I can't comment about a diet, but you may also want to read some of the posts by Morecambe who had his large intestine removed for reasons other than constipation. His posts will give you some information that may help if/when you do have your large intestine removed since taking that organ 'out of the loop' will produce changes that may involve copious output of fecal material.
I have also had a constipation problem all my life. My colonoscopy five years ago showed my having a tortuous colon. I have taken miralax, benefiber, magneseum citrate (for 20 years), the last five years. A year and a half ago it just quite working. I am bloated and hardly ever feel "empty." I saw the gastroenterologist three times from Dec. 2011- Mar 2012. He basically patted my hand and called it IBS. I have been on anti-fungals now all fall and winter. I eat no gluten, little other breads or brown food, no dairy, and very little sugar. I have lost weight, but I still have rumbling and bloating a minimum of 5 days a week. I am in the bathroom at least an hour a day for the "sludge stool" to move through all the twists and turns. I thought about going to a new gastro person, but from all the posts about it, it doesn't look as if they can help much. I am interested in what you posted about message therapy. Since that seems to be helping, what therapy do you call it? How do I find a special therapist who might be able to do the right techniques? I will take all the help I can get...I've quit complaining to most people except my husband...poor guy!
What kind of diet can ease a tortuous colon and help prevent blockage to elimination? frustrated203
Thank you. I am trying to find out if there are really that many choices out there prescription wise that this specialist could possibly give to me that has not already been tried etc. So far I havent been able to find anything, another reason I am leaning towards surgery. Apparently there is no cure other then surgery since my colon is not working. Medication would only be temporary fix etc.
Amitiza and Lactulose were the only ones that needed a prescription. Amitiza makes some people very sick. Things like milk of magnesia won't make your condition worse.
Thanks CalGal - I actually have been discussing the surgery with Morecambe in another forum regarding the surgery in general. I am hoping to find people on here with the same condition as me to see if they have found other ways to help their condition other then surgery. I feel there really is no other option at this point as I have had a million tests done on me and have tried so many different constipation products, drugs fibers etc.(my story here:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Gastroenterology/Tortuous-Colon/show/1535243#post_7437935) I dont want to waste more time, money etc with seeing this specialist if surgery is really the best bet for me.
Thank you so much for the feedback,... out of the meds you listed were any of them dr prescribed? I recognize a couple of the over the counter ones I have tried (Miralax, Milk of Magnesium, Magnesium Citrate, Duculax etc). And I have been prescribed Amitiza only for it to make extremely sick. Just wondering what possible drugs this specialist could possibly have that other doctors cant prescribe. I dont want to be a guinea pig and be trying stuff that is not safe. I dont want my condition to become worse because of them where I cant later have surgery etc.
I also have colonic inertia and a tortuous colon, but I have small intestine, stomach, and rectal problems too so my case is a little different from yours. For the constipation I have tried Miralax, Milk of Magnesia, Magnesium Citrate, Docusate, Doculax, Senokot, Lactulose, Amitiza, and probably some others that I am forgetting. I am tube fed so my diet doesn't really apply.