Tortuous colon

[Best_me]

At my last colonoscopy (at age 60) the doc told me, upon awakening, that I had a "tortuous" colon. This was a surprise to me as I've had 3 or 4 previous colonoscopies in my life and have never been told that before. I have suffered with bloat, discomfort, gas, and other issues throughout my life, though.

I read that "tortuous" colon is congenital - you're born with it. Is it possible to DEVELOP tortuous colon? (The doc did not specify that mine was long - I should've asked him more questions but I was shocked and, like I said, waking up from anesthesia.)

[edwangy]

I have exactly the same, have always had bowel problems but now it's constipation and pain. Tortuous colon is longer and can cause slow bowel transit, this causes the colon to reaborb too much fluid resulting in constipation

[Best_me in reply to edwangy]

I rarely have constipation - quite the opposite. I have upwards of 3 bowel movements a day, for some reason. He (the doctor) mentioned "tortuous" colon but NOT that it was longer. Is a tortuous colon always longer? Anyway, I was more interested in finding out if it's something that develops over time, because I'm reading that it's congenital, not acquired!

[edwangy in reply to Best_me]

Tortuous colon is also known as redundant colon and is usually longer and loopier than normal

[casares8]

Yes i was told mine was highly dilated and loopy (not sure if this means tortuous), on my last colonoscopy, but like you had never been told that before on previous times. When i was talking to my doctor recently i mentioned it, and he said constipation for a long while can make this happen by distorting the bowel

[Best_me in reply to casares8]

Hmmm... wonder what else can cause it? I don't plan on going to back to see him for 5 years (when I'm due to next have a colonoscopy), but I'll have to see if I can ask this question without paying for an appointment!

[kenta]

I must have a similarity problem with my colon! Last time I had a colonoscopy the Consultant suggested that if there had to be a next time, could I make sure he was on holiday!