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Kayla’s Story (SMA Syndrome)

KaylaHi, my name is Kayla. I am battling SMA syndrome and believe that I am on the upswing.

I started having stomach problems a few years ago, but I’d beaten them after personal research into a holistic route and using food as medicine. I was fine for quite some time until about a year ago when I started having an overall sense of discomfort, malaise, and just this sense of sickness in my stomach. I would have random bouts of indigestion, heartburn, acid reflux, bloating, shooting pains, and food sensitivities/intolerances. I felt really fatigued and seemed to need a lot more sleep than usual. I was also very limited in what I was eating because I was still trying to eat the way I had when I beat the first bout of stomach issues, which was clean but loaded with onions, garlic, ginger, and other irritants.  But this time, what I was doing was not working.

As of almost 5 months ago, I began vomiting almost everything I ate daily. At first, I was in denial about it and just hoped that it would go away. I think there were even days where I just wanted to avoid food and thinking about it altogether. I also had random moments of food binging as I was going through some emotional things. At night, I would feel encountered by my God and had these realizations of, “Wow, it’s been three weeks, and I’m still vomiting daily and can barely keep anything down.” Healthy or unhealthy, it’s hit or miss.

Finally, there were a couple days in there where I was vomiting up even water and realized I was dehydrated, so I checked myself into the ER and received fluids and an ultrasound, but nothing was found. Time went by, and after almost three months of vomiting, weakness, and minor weight loss, I went back to a different ER. They did an X-ray with barium which showed a delay and a CT scan which showed that my mesenteric angle was abnormal. I was admitted to the hospital where they would do an endoscopy and observe me.

I have to tell you that God has preserved me through all of it, even the three months. I would pray and ask for guidance about what to do, and I would have dreams about what drinks I could have, the supplements I needed, and just by the power of the Holy Spirit, He would tell me when to eat, what not to eat, and what I could have for that moment. It’s taken a lot of trust, submission, and obedience, and I cannot say that I’ve done perfectly every day, but I’ve definitely grown.

The hospital sent me home. Upon leaving, they didn’t take much time to tell me what the upper GI series showed. They just gave me a packet of discharge papers as I was still slightly loopy coming out from under the anesthetic, but I was told I needed to keep trying to eat and gain weight. Lol!

So I’ve incorporated a soft food diet, the BRAT diet (treating it like an ulcer), liquid diets, blended whole foods, and a wonderful brand called Kate Farms, which is an amazing alternative to Ensure drinks.

The hospital also told me to do the Goldthwaite maneuver stretches after eating. I did everything I knew to do plus stretching and lost more weight upon leaving the hospital. There have been moments of frustration where I just have a nice meal even though I know that it’s probably not going to stay down. For the most part, I stick to what I know to do, and I do have go-to foods that always stay down.

I went back to the ER a month ago for dehydration because that particular morning I woke up shaking. They took another CAT scan with contrast, and it still showed that mesenteric angle to be off. They sent me home although I went in with the plan/hope that they’d need to give me a feeding tube of some sort. Luckily, I was already scheduled for an outpatient GI appointment. I’ve had the appointment, and she is wonderful.  I’m soon to be scheduled to receive a J-tube. I’ve had to learn to fight for myself, and I’ve also been one to struggle with low self-worth and value. So I’ve had a couple of decisions to make in this: I’m either going to allow myself to waste away, or I’m going to stand up and care for myself and fight through the medical system to receive the proper care that I need.

I have to mention, some of the times that I have been dehydrated were because of my own missteps. At times, out of frustration, I decided to eat things that I knew I shouldn’t which caused more vomiting that irritated my digestive tract and esophagus.  That then made it hard to drink even water. So I would have to reset my system all over again by fasting for a day or so, just to be able to eat the blended and liquid foods again. Not that this is the way I should live or anyone should, but there is a level of awareness and responsibility in caring for oneself and exercising self-control despite the restrictions.

I have a list of foods, different methods, and other tactics I’ve discovered that work well for SMA syndrome and for health in general. I’d love to share this information as I see many people struggling and not knowing what to do.

I feel the Holy Spirit’s inspiration and guidance has kept me afloat. He has led me to the people, foods, research, and resources I’ve needed to make it this far. I owe it to Him.

Hope to see you there. Blessings and hoping all will be healed and well for all of you.

Kayla
California
Submitted December 13, 2018

This story is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.

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25 comments

  1. Chantel

    Thank you for your willingness to help others. I am happy that God has helped you along the way. Best wishes to you.

    • Jacqueline Jensen

      My cousin has SMA and we have been looking for more information. Could you send me a list of foods and any info you have!! Thanks!

  2. Jenna

    Bless your heart. You’ve been through so much and still have such an upbeat attitude. Thank you for sharing your story. You are an inspiration.

  3. Sergio Pietramale

    could you please send me info? My wife has been diagnosed with SMAS and is really struggling

    • Kayla Diaz

      hey yes definetly
      email me and I want to help!
      sorry for the delay I just saw this!

      • Melanie

        Hello dear
        Could you please help me too? I have sma too I am so scared

      • BDS

        Hi Kayla, could you send the information you’ve learned that helped you with SMA? I don’t see how to send you an email. Thank you so much. How are you doing now, it’s 2023 now. I hope you are improved. God Bless.

  4. Sondra

    I would love any information you can provide! It took 4 years to get the diagnosis of SMA and I am still not getting any real medical assistance. They have decided to do more tests to make sure I have SMA. I have already had every gastro test under the sun. It is their way of making more money. There really is not a lot of good information on the internet.

    • Kayla Diaz

      hi yes please email me so I can help!

  5. Patricia connelly

    Could you please give me some help with this awful illness.

  6. Angela

    I would love more info pls. I have been dealing with this for 2 years.

  7. Hollee

    Hello ,
    I hope your ok .I have SMA and nutcracker.
    There is a group on fbk I don’t know if you’d inside . I’m sure that alot of people there would be so interested to hear your story

    Superior mesenteric artery awareness.

    Please join if u can we are all one big family.

    Hollee

  8. Leda Papa Brent

    Hello
    I wonder if you could share your diet tips or anything else you found helped you. I have been struggling with SMA for several years and my symptoms are getting worse everyday. I would really welcome any help you are willing to share. Thank you and God bless.
    Leda

  9. Monica

    My daughter was just diagnosed. Can you send a list of foods that were easier to eat?

  10. Sudhir

    I just diagnosed with SMA.PLS SEND THE LIST OF FOOD

  11. Renee Grendow

    Our daughter was just diagnosed could someone send a list of foods and beverages too? Thank you!

  12. Amira

    Hi Kayla 😊 thank you for your willingness to helped others. I just recently diagnosed with sma syndrome. Can you please share with me the list of food. Thank you very much!

  13. Amy

    Hello, I can’t believe I stumbled across your story. I am 45 woman and 2 years ago I had a stent placed in my pancreas and 11 months later I had my breast implants removed after 17 years and doing really good sto,a huge wise but the last 6 months I lost weight and been having stomach pains everyday. Had a mrcp done and received the results from my doctor and said I have SMA syndrome and he wants me to gain 10 lbs in 6 weeks by eating soft foods high calorie diet and avoiding high fiber and fat?? How is this even possible?? I have a hard enough time eating everyday I don’t see how I’m going to gain 10 lbs. Plus, I have high cholesterol but not on any meds for that my family doc recommends staying away from dairy because it raises cholesterol. So no ice cream or milkshakes for me! 😩I am so confused lost and frustrated. Could you please share with me your knowledge on this?
    Please and thank you!!!

  14. Amber Whitmire

    Hi! I have. 20 year daughter with cerebral palsy who was just diagnosed with SMA (nutcracker syndrome) I just thought she was having food intolerance. It has been a year and the note I read about this syndrome it scares me to death. She is nonverbal and I feed her by j/tube route. I’m switching to Kate farms peptide blend to see if that helps some of her symptoms and hopefully she will put on some weight. She was taken to the ER for stomach distention and she was in septic shock, it was not good and symptoms appeared overnight it seemed. It’s so difficult because she is nonverbal. Anything that you an provide would be greatly appreciated. I would hate for this to get any worse. Thank you so much -Amber

  15. Emily Simmons

    Hi, I know this is a long time since you posted. I thank you for your story and hope you are well.
    I have recently been diagnosed with mas. I believe I had it for a very long time but it has shown up now as weakness from 2 years of CFS/ME has started taking it’s toll. I would appreciate any info you have please, I know I will recover and improve again but it is difficult at the moment. Thanks again.

  16. Michele

    Hi Kayla, , thank you for sharing your SMA story. Can you share your list of,cooperative, foods and the Goldbraithe positions I read about . Thank you!

  17. Cee

    diagnosed with SMA. Any info would be appreciated

  18. Katie

    Just diagnosed with SMA, but have been miserable for years before being diagnosed. I would soo appreciate the list of foods & drinks that have helped you along the way. Thank you!

  19. Diana Conrad

    Please describe to me what the Goldthwaite maneuver is. Did it help you? Also what was your diet?
    Thank you!

  20. Diana Conrad

    Please describe to me what the Goldthwaite maneuver is. Did it help you? Also what was your diet?
    Thank you!

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