constipation

[MartaWootten]

when i was 5 (50 years ago) i was diagnosed with an enlarged colon. It took me 2 weeks to have a bowel movement and when i did it hurt sooo bad. I was hospitalized and I was told that the docotrs somehow found a way to keep my colon from growing until i grew up to it. I took 2 tablespoons f mineral oil every night til I was 12. Once in a while I would get backed up in my teen years and have to take something called black powder which was like a bomb going off in my colon. In my 20's i started smoking pot and basically all colon problems went away. In my 40's I went for regualr colonostopys and besides a few pollups all was fine. 3 weeks ago, i quit smoking pot and have been constipated ever since. i have tried miralax, milk of magnesia, cut out red meat, loaded up on fruits and veggies and water and nothing but a little bit of runs....what's next? I lost my job of 25 years when my beloved boss died and until i find another job, i have no health insurance so doctors r out of the question.

[patient915]

An enlarged colon isn't really a specific diagnosis.  Why did you stop needing the mineral oil when you were 12?  Why do you get colonoscopies every year; are they finding abnormalities that they want to look at again?

[MartaWootten]

I dont really know as I was only 5 at the time and all i know is what my mom told me. i had to take 2 tablespoons of mineral oil every night til i was 12. i havent had any test done on my colon...just colonostopys once a year starting about 5 years ago but i dont have health insurance now so i havcent had one done in about 2 years.

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  What do you mean by an enlarged colon?  Do you mean a tortuous colon?  What testing have you had done?