Patient Reacts to Grey's Anatomy S15 E5 MALS Diagnosis

Our daughter Hannah has been through a major health battle for over 16 mths now. We paid thousands of dollars to have her seen at the Mayo and thankfully had a Dr listen to us about MALS. Which after an ultrasound and CT it was clear this is what she is suffering from. She has been bullied by the medical field and made to feel miserable for something that is completely out of her control. Thankfully we are going to see a surgeon in OKC next week. Praying she can help us.

My pain definitely came in that fast. 1-3 bites of food would have me collapsed in the floor unable to move or speak due to the pain. As far as the red sunken in eyes that is realistic for some of us MALS patients that became severely malnourished secondary to our MALS. How they respond with a quick 20 min lap surgery there in the hospital is not a reality. Even if individuals choose lap they need to see a surgeon that specializes in MALS after a CTA confirms compression of the CA secondary to the MAL from a low sitting diaphragm. I think they did a great job up until that point though. Also, most of us need the nerves addressed so would have good from them to talk about the celiac plexus and nerves that become damaged from the compression.

I’m in the middle of being tested for MALS- I literally cried watching this video…I’d never seen this episode of G.A. They hit the mail on the head 100%!

Another voice to the list. It took me a year and a half to get diagnosed. I had an injury that caused a lot of damage to my abdominal wall and MALS. I was also told for a year that it was panic, anxiety, psychosomatic, random normal GI issues. I had one doctor tell me I was playing a victim, I've never done anything with my life, and I should see a psychiatrist. I was also ready to end my life. I called the suicide hotline 15 times between December 2021 and December 2022. I was in so much pain I would howl on the floor of my bedroom like a dying animal. I started doing breathing exercises to strengthen my diaphragm, and they helped...but only because I wasn't getting treated, and it still took a long time and hurt badly. Eventually I had a CT angiography and a Vascular ultrasound that showed an 85% and 90% stenosis around my celiac artery, that was a year later. I feel all your pain, and hope for recovery for all of you.

My MALS is always presents in my lower stomach. Always. Never under the diaphragm. I’m getting robotic MALS surgery this Thursday. So yes it absolutely presents in different areas of the stomach.

I’ve had stomach pain for 18yrs (I’m 37) I’ve been to multiple Doctors and GI Doctors, CT scans with contrast, ultrasounds, colonoscopy, endoscopy (2), and they can’t find anything wrong. My pain is different, if I don’t eat my left side kills me. If I’m too active, it kills me. I have to eat every 2-3hrs (full meals) If I’m really active and stay out all day. I can’t lose weight because of this. I can’t eat a banana and yogurt for breakfast and be fine till lunch. I literally gag trying to consume the food I need in order for my stomach not to hurt. SMH I’m so miserable

I agree with you. Getting a diagnosis is THE BEST! Maybe you should react to The Resident MALS case. 🤔

Thank you Alyssa for making these information videos.. I am also affected by MALS and in Italy we are thousands of years back in the past, we cannot even find good doctors that can make a proper diagnosys or surgery… I hope to find some more information on the facebook page you suggested. Thanks again🌸

I’ve had stomach pain for going on 15 years I’ve seen several drs been to GI drs I’ve had hysterectomy because they thought that might be the cause of my pain. I been to the ER several times because the pain was so intense. I’ve lost teeth because I throw up so much acid from not eating because of the pain. I’ve had so many test and been giving so many medications that never worked and had so many side affects. I woke up the other morning and couldn’t take it anymore I called my GI dr just praying that maybe this time she could do something to help me I can’t keep going like this. She ran more blood work ordered more test. I when home and couldn’t sleep because of the pain I was watching Gray’s anatomy when this episode came on I stopped it and woke up my husband crying this is what I have. I researched the rest of the night and morning which lead me to this video. Everything you are saying feels like me saying it. This last dr app I didn’t even put makeup on so the dr could see the dark circles under my eyes from not sleeping. I begged her to please help me. I’m call her Monday morning to ask her about MALS.

Great video. Thank you for making it. My brother is suffering with MALS. His insurance will not pay for the surgery out of state because the vascular surgeon in his state will not give the referral needed.

I told them I had this!!!!! I just got diagnosed today 😢😢😢😢 this episode helped so much

I really believe my son has this. He’s 11 and I also cried when they told her they have no more tests and the pain she has. No one will help him!!! He’s in constant pain and it’s been going on for two and a half years.

How messed up was it that the doctor said “should I call Psych?”

I love your Mickey Mouse shirt! I haven’t watch Grey’s in years, I can’t believe how much catching up I need to do. Wonderful video!!

I have MALS , I had surgery with Dr Hsu in Connecticut , he addresses the nerves and compression

1st thing is that if a doctor at a hospital wants to discharge you then you can’t fight it. I’ve tried at multiple hospitals. The only time I was able to stay was when I cardiology group happened to have a doctor on staff and I begged that doctor to help me. But otherwise I have been kicked out too many times in really horrible physical conditions

nice to meet you. I am Japanese. Whether after eating or not, I felt nausea, heartburn, and a dull ache, and I couldn't sleep well. At times I felt nauseous and anemic and had to squat or lie down. I don't know if it's related, but I fainted once due to abdominal pain. Burning sensation under left rib. I had occasional pain under my left breast. Even though I was breathing, it felt like I was starved of oxygen. I was recently diagnosed with MALS. I heard that during exhalation, there is almost no blood flow and the blood vessels are almost occluded. I'm scheduled for surgery next time. Various tests were performed at the first hospital, but no abnormalities were found. Like you, I was disappointed at the hospital because I was told it was a mental illness. The symptoms were very similar to those of pancreatic cancer, so at the second hospital I went to the pancreatic outpatient clinic and had a contrast-enhanced CT scan, which luckily discovered MALS. It seems that only a doctor who knows about this disease can understand. It seems that many people go undiagnosed, and in my case I was lucky that the cause was discovered soon after the onset of symptoms. I hope that awareness will spread in the medical field so that more people can be diagnosed with this disease as soon as possible.

Hello, I diagnosed the same disease in China, is there a patient group? Or do you have someone who is well treated in Thailand or Canada? Thank you

I cannot stop crying. I was very fortunate that my gastroenterologist was aggressive in finding an answer. CT scan showed it right away (with barium AND contrast). I am nervous about being pushed to have a long open cut down my stomach. Hoping it’s the lap. Some patients say it didn’t help at all or that the pain is worse. I’m starting to freak out.

Im on the journey too i had a er/urgent care doc agree to do a cta scan just on a whim and it was clear as day 50% blocked. I will probably be starting the other tests also.