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Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS)
I am looking for other patients that have been diagnosed with Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome. Although it is caused by compression of the celiac artery many people experience abdominal pain after eating, diarrhea, food avoidance. Usually the first doctors they see are GI doctors. It is a diagnosis that is made after everything else is ruled out. I am curious if anyone else has had surgery?
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Yes he did. But I forget the details of what that entails. I went to the appointment alone and was taken back when I heard surgery.
Did your surgeon address the celiac nerve as well as ligament release?
Hi Mark. May I add an important question to your list for the surgeon? Ask how the surgeon addresses the celiac nerve ganglia. If the surgeon does not remove it, or partially remove it, be very very careful. You can’t image how much worse things got for many who had MALs ligament release without addressing the celiac nerve ganglia/plexus. Many good resources to read and stories to hear on Facebook MALs Awareness group. Good luck to you!
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1 ReactionThank you so much for the information. I have an appointment scheduled with Dr. West on October 22. He would not review my test results without an appointment. I will be sure to keep the doctors you listed in mind as well.
Thank you so much! I’m able to eat but my symptoms are definitely getting worse. I’m in pain and nauseous daily (sometimes one or the other or both). I’m going to get a second opinion from a Vascular Surgeon who specializes in MALS named Dr. West, in Fort Worth, TX. The surgeon I’ve seen is a general surgeon who specializes in bariatric surgery.
That’s fantastic your surgery was successful. I’m going to see Dr. West in Fort Worth for a second opinion. What is your doctor’s name?
Full recovery is much better for those who had ligament release AND celiac nerve plexus/ganglion removal vs those who only had ligament release.
My celiac nerve ganglia was partially removed and I’m doing well: pain is gone, no nausea, no early fullness, blood pressure stabilized, brain fog gone, abdominal and upper body swelling is gone, no more constant burping, can sleep well again, no more pounding and racing heart, no more “spraying” feeling under ribs, no more intense sweating and heat, no more arterial spasms (had 3 and those were excruciating), no more difficulty breathing due to hard diaphram, can exercise again, can take deep breaths and hold and swim under water long distance again.
So grateful!
Hope you do well. I would not trade the difficult time for anything because the gratitude found later is one of the greatest gifts one can have.
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1 ReactionThis is good to know. Everyone Immediately wants to know how I feel, if I can eat like normal and if all the problems are gone that I had before the surgery. It’s just hard to explain this to people that don’t have it and that it may take months for every symptom is gone.
I had MALs lap surgery at Mayo 1 year ago. I’m doing great now. About 15 signs/symptoms disappeared after surgery. Lap surgery was tougher than expected. Much more difficult than my C-sections. 2 months of nausea, 8-10 months of fatigue. But very well worth it.
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2 Reactions@annief thank you so much for this information. For my initial surgery in 2014 I had the chief of vascular surgery at UMC Medical center in Tucson, AZ. He was great. Unfortunately for me, he moved to Texas and became chief of vascular surgery at Baylor. I was going to follow up with him once I get my next scans. in 2015 I had stents put in, and 2017 balloon. My celiac is narrowing again. My surgeon at Mayo is awesome, but doesn't have MALS experience. I was also looking at Cleveland Clinic...this is great. Now I wonder if I can get in....he should remember me though, he published a journal article about me because my case was so rare!