- Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome
- Interviews
Staci's interview
How did all start?
I was in a high speed car accident.
Do you already have a diagnosis? How long did it take you to get it?
I was diagnosed 20 months after the accident.
For what medical specialties have you been treated? What has been the most useful specialty for your?
I have seen GI, General Surgeon, Vascular Surgeon, Functional Medicine, Pain Medicine, Rheumatologist, Neurologist. Each Dr has been useful in their own way.
What has been the most useful thing for you so far?
The most useful thing has been surgery for SMAS.
What have been your biggest difficulties?
Finding qualified Drs to take care of my problems.
How has your social and family environment reacted? Have your social or family relationships changed?
They have been supportive and continue to be helpful with my medical care.
What things have you stopped doing?
I am unable to work, stand for long periods, exercise.
What do you think about the future?
I'm not sure what the future holds at this point.
So far, which years have been the best years in your life? What have you done during them?
The best years have been before I became ill. I was able to work, do anything I wanted and the only thing that held me back was my migraines.
What would you like to do if you didn’t have your condition?
I would like to go back to work.
If you had to describe your life in a sentence, what would it be?
Life isn't easy, but I'll never give up.
Finally, what advice would you give to a person in a similar situation?
Having SMAS is a roller-coaster, lots of ups and downs, starting with finding a diagnosis, getting proper treatment, and living with any long-term effects. It is helpful to find someone to talk to, a friend who can understand what you are going through, to help you emotionally.
