SMA, May-Thurner and Nutcracker Syndrome

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I not only have MALS, I have 3 other illnesses too!
  Let's start off with SMAS. Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome is a condition that occurs when the duodenum is compressed between the aorta and superior mesenteric artery. This type of compression causes partial or complete blockage of the duodenum.  It is so rare that 0.013% of people have it! 

  Symptoms vary from person to person but I personally experience fullness, severe abdominal pain and weight loss. My weight got so bad that I went from 115 lbs to 93 lbs in a few weeks. I was so scared to eat because of how excruciating my pain was. SMAS is life threatening because someone can get so skinny and become so malnourished that it could kill them. I don't have to worry about that since I'm receiving my food through a feeding tube, not to mention I gained all my weight back!

  Moving on to May-Thurner Syndrome. May-Thurner Syndrome is a rarely diagnosed condition where patients develop what is called iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis (DVT). This happens when the right common iliac artery overlies and compresses the left common iliac vein against the lumbar spine. To dumb it down, it's basically a compression, like MALS or SMA.
  I don't experience many symptoms with this but when I do, I experience leg pain and I have very restless legs. Other symptoms include leg swelling, feeling of heaviness in the leg, leg ulcers and enlarged veins in the leg. 

  Lastly, we have Nutcracker Syndrome. This is yet another rare vein compression disorder. It occurs when the aorta and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) squeeze the left renal (kidney) vein. It can cause many symptoms in both children and adults. These symptoms include blood in the urine, flank pain and pelvic congestion in women. I personally do not experience any of these symptoms. 

Patients with NCS are usually tall and thin. I'm not tall but I sure am skinny! Many patients remain asymptomatic and are incidentally discovered during radiological imaging for other causes. 

I know this was a lot to take in but I'm hoping I can shed some light and spread awareness for these rare and painful illnesses. It took 5 years for me to be diagnosed and it completely ruined my 4 years of high school. But I know God has a plan for me and maybe he is putting me through these things so I can become the best nurse I can possibly be! 
  


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