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Update on median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) situation

Digestive Health | Last Active: Oct 8 2:00pm | Replies (29)
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Profile picture for davidshivers @davidshivers

I am 5 hours away as well and I see the surgeon Monday to determine whether I have surgery or not. If not I’ll have wasted 8 trips and more than a dozen tests. I can’t understand why they are so reluctant to do that surgery.

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Replies to "I am 5 hours away as well and I see the surgeon Monday to determine whether..."
Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | Oct 7 11:17am

@davidshivers
I was diagnosed with MALS some years ago- it took time to get the diagnosis.
The surgery to cut the ligament is not too complicated, but does not always get rid of symptoms.
I was fine initially after surgery but symptoms recurred after 6 months. The artery had been so deformed by the ligament pressure that it never really straightened out. I had a stent placed and symptom’s disappeared for 7 years. Again, the pain and nausea returned and a new stent was placed inside the first one. I had to have another procedure this year, 3 years later- a balloon opened the artery up again, not complete, but enough to be pain free again.
I still have nausea and poor appetite for 3+ years, but no pain.
The alternative is open surgery with vascular repair. I wouldn’t mind, but vascular surgeon does not think it’s a possibility for me.

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