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Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS)

Digestive Health | Last Active: Oct 29 2:54pm | Replies (1225)
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@hannat

Hi, I am a 46 year old female and have just been diagnosed with MALS. I have had abdominal pain since my teens and have always treated it with either omeprazole/PPIs and antacids. I have not experienced the weight loss described in the symptom list, have been around the same size my whole life give or take 15 - 20 lbs. I am able to exercise just fine and don't have significant abdominal pain as long as I limit my food intake. However, I do have episodes lasting a couple weeks or so where my stomach hurts no matter what.

I am confused by the treatment options for MALS. Since I have gone my whole life without the significant weight loss, I am wondering if I can continue as is and avoid surgery. Or will it eventually worsen and cause long term problems if I don't. I live in North Carolina and would love to see a Dr who specializes in the syndrome. Any recommendations?

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Replies to "Hi, I am a 46 year old female and have just been diagnosed with MALS. I..."
Amanda Roe | @amandajro | Aug 2, 2021

Hello @hannat and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I can imagine that finally getting a diagnosis after all of those years was bittersweet. Sometimes not knowing why you feel a certain way is worse.

Members like @jayson and @astaingegerdm may be able to help share their experiences and information on who they saw for care to help support you.

Is finding a specialist on the top of your priority list now that you have been diagnosed?

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Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | Aug 4, 2021

@hannat - I’m happy that you have a diagnosis! I also went years with abdominal pain of different intensities, thinking it was GERD or gallbladder problems. However, it got progressively worse and I was diagnosed and had surgery 6 years ago. They had to place a stent in the celiac artery after a few months since it was still compressed. Since then, I have been fine. Towards the end I had severe pain 1-2 hrs after a meal.
I preferred not to eat much each meal. I never lost weight either.
I was told that many people go through life with this without symptoms.
If you can manage the pain by the way you eat, I think you probably don’t have to have surgery.
However, it may be a good idea to get an opinion from a vascular surgeon.

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