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Anyone else have Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome (SMAS)?
"With only about 500 reported cases in the history of English-language medical literature, recognition of SMA syndrome as a distinct clinical entity is controversial, with some in the medical community doubting its existence entirely. SMA syndrome is also known as Wilkie's syndrome, cast syndrome, mesenteric root syndrome, chronic duodenal ileus and intermittent arterio-mesenteric occlusion. It is distinct from Nutcracker syndrome, which is the entrapment of the left renal vein between the AA and the SMA.
SMA syndrome is estimated to have a mortality rate of 1 in 3. Delay in the diagnosis of SMA syndrome can result in fatal catabolysis (advanced malnutrition), dehydration, oliguria, electrolyte abnormalities, hypokalemia, acute gastric rupture or intestinal perforation (from prolonged mesenteric ischemia), gastrectasia, spontaneous upper gastrointestinal bleeding, hypovolemic shock, aspiration pneumonia, or sudden cardiovascular collapse from increased velocity of bloodflow in the SMA due to the reduced mesenteric angle. Go here to this link to know about my fight http://rare-disease-day-belfast-2011.blogspot.com/2011/02/paula-mattis-is-real-super-hero-she.html
Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is a very rare condition characterized by recurrent vomiting, abdominal distention, weight loss, and postprandial distress. The cause is compression of the duodenum between vessels and the vertebrae and paravertebrae muscles when the angle between the superior mesenteric vessels and the aorta is lower than 18°. The diagnosis is difficult and usually is made by exclusion. Conservative management is helpful at first; however, symptom recurrence would indicate surgical treatment. EVERY LIFE COUNTS Let's get people the Public, Doctors start taking this more seriously and get Awareness/Prevention, researching possible causes and work towards early detection
Thanks, Paula
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Hi I am a SMA Syndrome survivor. It was a long and very painful journey. I had a PICC line for 2 years. I infused 1 to 2 liter of NS daily to keep myself hydrated. When I would try to eat I would end up in excruciating pain. So off I would go to the E.R. this occurred 2 to 3 times a week. My quality of life was awful. I finally had surgery. Two gortex graphs were placed. So I take a blood thinner and will for the rest of my life. In to surgery I go...but when I woke up the nurses asked me if I knew were I was. Of course I told them. Come to the puzzled look of there face was due to the fact that I arrested after surgery and was flown to a larger Pittsburgh hospital. My recover was about 2 months, which i felt that was fast considering how long I was sick. Mine was due a congenital anomaly.
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1 Reaction@bkatz43
Katz, glad u received that be good.
@jamiemj
Thank you for replying. I am waiting--not patiently-- to be seen after the referral arrives. Hopefully will be scheduled this week. Good luck to you!!
@jamiemj
can a moderator get my reply to Katz..to Katz?
Sorry for this...
@bkatz43
Well Katz, we both have Mesenteric probs. I am 50% calcified in superior mesenteric artery also splenic artery aneurysm and now I just found out that after hip surgery I have plaque in common iliac artery. I have other problems too go along with all that but won't go into those right now.
It will go just fine for you.
I intend to go to Mayo Clinic in Jax fl to get tests to thoroughly look into me. this all happened within 2025. I wasn't the picture of health that you were but who knew it would get here? Not anyone. We seem to think we are industructable ! Please let me know how good you are, before and after. 🙂 ps I am 79 on feb 15 .
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1 ReactionAfter battling with daily MAJOR bloat for 3 years, having multiple tests x2, having a collection of Rx's that fill a large Amazon box, 2 days ago I had an Arterial Mesenteric Ultrasound. My G.I. doc learned that this test might yield something--finally. I had always thought and said that I felt that blood wasn't flowing properly in my gut area, but no previous test would show anything wrong except a "moderate stool burden."
Results came that day: arterial blockage enough to warrant vascular intervention. A vascular surgeon read the scan. So I have my PCP referring me to his department which is actually close to where I live. I am crossing my fingers that I will be able to be seen soon. My condition causes daily pain, affects walking, head pain, and forget eating. Eating makes it worse. I've read that this condition occurs in "older" age (I'll be 69 in 2 weeks). Until age 66, I was the picture of perfect perfect health.
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4 Reactions@jamiemj I have calcification and opaque-ing. I honestly have no idea what that means still 🤦🏻♀️
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2 ReactionsHas anyone had SMAC (Superior Mesenteric artery calcifications?) I just found out that I had this And a 1 cm splenic artery aneurysm.
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1 ReactionThe veterans affairs hospital put me on Olanzapine after 10 years of trying to find a remedy. I'm 36 and was diagnosed at 26. I've been on the med for 3 weeks and it's given my an appetite and helps the vomiting and stomach pain. Hope it helps.
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1 ReactionMy daughter in law has been diagnosed with SMA and she’s only 22. No one in Arkansas seems to know anything about this and it was by sheer luck they found out what was wrong with her. She has a picc line now and has to be on TPN 18 hours a day. These “flare ups” as I call them keep her from eating for days to weeks on end and the pain is excruciating as I’m sure you all know. I was shocked to learn how rare this is. Any advice anyone has would be greatly appreciated!
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