redundant colon - long colon (mechanics of it)

I'm not sure if I have read why it happens.I think the width is similar. I don't know if the mechanics of straining is the issue...there doesn't seem to be an association with chronic diarrhea in anything I have read.K.

on heather van vorous website they attributed senna abuse and i think - don't quote me - aloe vera abuse - with this syndrome - and it was b/c "is causes chronic D". but i've never heard that before even though it makes total sense from a physics of the tube standpoint. however i'm not sure how the muscles are wrapped in the colon etc.

I'd guess the mechanism of chronic D while taking laxatives is different from other causes...K.

thats a good point. i know the colon being flushed with too much water can cause D, and then strong contractions can cause D - 2 different actions with possibly different implication regarind how structure might be affected, as the first probably doesn't involve exaggerated persistalsis. or does it? why does the colon empty out when it has a lot of water in there?and i'm still wondering if you've had exaggerated persistalsis, if that would cause the elongation in your colon. and if so, how? if that is what they mean by senna and other laxatives causing redundant colon. OR if stimulating the colon by way of laxatives actually causes the colon to grow in length for some reason - there is actually more tissue there and why that would happen?i wish someone knew.

I too, have been diagnoised with "long, redundant colon" This, after 2 years of severe intestinal problems (following antibiotic use), but before that I could eat anything!Doesn't seem logical it could have "grown" from 6 ft. to 7 l/2 ft. in that short of time.My guess, flora is so messed up, having a hard time getting reestablished. Trying high doses probiotics now.

quote:i have heard that long term laxative abuse can cause this. is that true?

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It may depend on what is meant by redundant colon. It appears that certain laxatives can result in loss of the haustral folds so perhaps this appears on x-ray if the colon had been stretched out. But I'm not sure if it is identical to having been born with a naturally elongated colon.

quote:and i'm still wondering if you've had exaggerated persistalsis, if that would cause the elongation in your colon. and if so, how?

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I don't think it could, but it might probably increase muscle mass of the colon. That would be a change in width. However, what exactly does exaggerated peristalsis mean. In slow-transit constipation, it appears there is much less peristalsis present. In some with IBS, there are more frequent power contractions, but this peristalsis is normal in amplitude, only more in frequency. So I'm not sure that would alter its muscle mass.

quoteoesn't seem logical it could have "grown" from 6 ft. to 7 l/2 ft. in that short of time

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I doubt the intestine can grow in adulthood like when we think of growth as in a person gets taller, but the intestine is a flexible tube and when it is unflexed, so to speak, it would be longer. It could be that certain laxatives can cause that.

maybe it is the loss of those folds that makes it appear longer then. iowa grad i also doubt it would have grown that long so fast.i'm intrigued by your idea of increased muscle mass due to exaggerated peristalsis. all i know is that when i have gas or anything in my colon it feels like i have a MAJOR muscle pushing all arouind. even when i'm empty i feel hte loops as snaky tubes lopping over my jeans. also, even when my stool is solid it pops out under major force and in like 2 seconds flat. people are amazed how little time it takes for me to go. and i in general constantly have that feeling of having too much muscle in my gut. i wonder if i do have Popeye's Colon or something. oh dear god!