← Return to Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS)

Discussion

Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS)

Digestive Health | Last Active: 17 hours ago | Replies (1153)

Comment receiving replies
@sclindajanssen

“Feeling crummy” for a week is very alarming and concerning to me. I had lap surgery and it was way more difficult than the C-sections I had. I was back at work after 1 week but should have taken 2-3 weeks off. Recovery was 2 steps forward, 1 step back. Serious nausea lasted exactly 2 months after surgery and that is the norm. Intermittent pain lasted 6-10 months and was aggravated by sitting. I still can’t tolerate sitting very much and it’s been a year since surgery. My recovery from lap was average or better than average. I’ve read many, many testimonies on Facebook MALs Awareness and learned from them that open is more difficult than lap but most have better long term results tha lap. Much pain and nausea for 2 months and many say the 3rd week and 3rd month are tough set backs.
“Feeling crummy for a week” sounds very disconnected with actual MALs patients’ recovery. It’s a highly deep, invasive surgery. They start in the front and go all the way to the spine, cutting through many tissues. Pain is in front and in the back and it’s very hard to roll and sit up for a couple weeks.
A desk job is harder on the surgical site than a standing job because sitting causes compression in the MALs area. I got an elevating work station after 2 months and that is when I really noticed better healing and reduced pain.
Just be aware that surgery recovery for most of us is very challenging, especially the first 3 months but fatigue up to a year for some. So plan accordingly and avoid any major energy consuming tasks and events for 3 months.
With that said, I’m still so grateful for surgery because life is 95% better now. Life is great and I’m full of joy again. I wish you well with a quick recovery.

Jump to this post


Replies to "“Feeling crummy” for a week is very alarming and concerning to me. I had lap surgery..."

Wow, I have to agree with sclindajanssen. If you can recover in a week, everyone will want that doctor’s number. 😊 But seriously, I had lapriscopic surgery as well. I have a desk job too and I attempted to go back after two and a half weeks. That did not work. I was so uncomfortable and exhausted. When you are sitting at home all day it seems like you could go and sit at a desk but don’t count on that. I ended up taking four and a half weeks off. Then I returned half days until I hit six weeks. I am back full time and doing ok. I try to move a lot.

My PCP was more helpful guiding me with the recovery. She said she has patients that have had a hysterectomy and take a minimum of four weeks off and this surgery is much more involved than that. I look forward to being 100% but I realize that will probably take months. Maybe if I were younger 😊. I wish you well but prepare for a longer recovery and consider it a bonus if it does not take as long.