Hi @kariulrich. I do have some questions if you don't mind. I never heard of a celiac block, can you explain that briefly? Also, did you get SIBO, small intestinal bacteria overdose after your surgery? That is when things got so difficult for me as far as pain. Trying to distinguish between the two, arteries or sibo . I used to be able to tell but after awhile, it just overlaps and hurts. I also had an ulcer so throw that in and really hard to say. One of my GI drs said he can't cure the sibo due to the lesser blood flow. He didn't even really try, but I do believe that. My surgeon said there's enough flow I should be fine, but yet even though the arteries are patent, there is severe stenosis. In Feb. 2014 I had SMA and Celiac arteries compressed by diaphragm. Had the open surgery. July I felt that pain and I knew it was back, but my dad suddenly passed and it was so difficult for me, I didn't pay attention to what was happening to me.I also had to take care of my mom who had beginning dementia and it was progressing. Finally Sept 2015 dr said I had to do something, both were narrowed. I guess I have a lot of scar tissue too. I was to weak to go through the open surgery, decided to put stents in. Seemed to help but still had so much of the bloating and gas and hurting after eating. Since then my focus has been on SIBO, I have done so much research, I should be a dr. everyone says. Unfortunately I do know more than many drs. when it comes to SIBO, that is the problem. My GI referred me to mayo because of this. She also believed the sibo and MALS was connected. I was so happy I thought I could finally get some relief. Unfortunately my dr. at mayo asked if I was going to get an appointment with the vascular dept as well. I thought they all worked together, I don't want to treat them separately. Of course they are two specialties, but they work together I thought. My dr. also did a sibo breath test, but it is one they don't use anymore, it doesn't get the bottom 12-15 ft of the small intestine and the large and colon. That was useless. I am doubting my care here. I don't know if it is procedure to go through all testing first to see what is causing the pain, but I told them I was diagnosed 3 times with SIBO and the MALS. The dr. also said that my last report said the arteries were patent , but severe stenosis. I said I was a little concerned because I was having a lot of 'chest 'pain which is increasing. They did no testing for that. I'm sure you know that a test result of the artery flow can change at any time. I am not sure what to do. The dr. also in her report had my symptoms wrong, and wrong information. For example said I had abdominal pain and bloating my entire life. That is not true. I said this all started after the surgery. I would think that is a crucial point.
Anyway, has anyone experienced anything similar? Any advice? She also wanted a psychological appt. and said I could benefit from biofeedback since I had pain and will have pain my whole life. I did not appreciate that . She made me feel like it was in my head or something. I had records too!!! I also have chronic fatigue syndrome and the surgery brought it out of remission, and back problems. Like you have said, I don't think people understand the pain we are in every day and I know that I have a high tolerance for pain now since I am so used to it, but that doesn't make it better. Before surgery I was a middle school special education teacher. I worked long hours and tutored as well. Now I am lucky to go to the store then home and a nap. I won't eat before I go out because I don't know what will happen. You all know. Any ideas what I should do?