Jmmb, I totally agree with you. Knowing I have two arteries that are as compressed as mine is very nerve wracking to me. However, in meeting with both vascular surgeons and the general surgeon, all three said I have developed collateral blood flow. It is their opinion this is what is giving me enough blood flow, but not optimal. I understand this collateral blood flow to be alternate circulation around the blocked arteries by nearby small blood vessels. I can feel the tightness and pull of the median arcuate ligament if I take in a really deep breath and try to expand my ribcage as far as possible. I also can feel it when I do the back stroke in the pool. It feels so tight and hurts when I have stretched it. When I first went to Cleveland Clinic, I had an appointment with a well known GI doctor. He first sent me to an interventional cardiologist. When I went to see him, he did not feel I should have a stent placed because he said the ligament could crush it, move it, or tear the artery. He called in a second interventional cardiologist who said the very same thing. They referred me to the vascular surgeon, Dr. Parks. He is (was) the only vascular surgeon at CC doing the MALS surgery. I just received a letter informing me he has taken a position in another country so I will have to wait and see who will replace him.

As for the SIBO, I researched it until I was blue in the face. I am very familiar with Allison Siebecker's work and her website. I listened to many of her youtube videos when I was desperate for help and to keep my hopes up. For me, the antibiotics were critical. I was so low in B12 that I was put on a prescription for them along with vitamin D. I will have my levels checked again next week when I see my PCP. My B12 was so low (under 200) that my doctor wanted to do shots, but I wanted to see if the tablets would work. I don't think they have because I am so exhausted there are no words to describe it. I have felt this way for over a year now. It has to be the MALS and SIBO. I dread SIBO being a chronic problem for me but I suspect it already is. My GI doctor where I live wants me to do one week of antibiotics every month. I may give it a try. The GI doctor in Cleveland totally disagrees. He wants me to have the surgery right away. I asked him what my percentage was that it would help the GI symptoms that I deal with and he said 10%. I said would you do that huge surgery for a 10% chance of it helping and he said yes. I am not so brave.