Chelsea Bagnall has endured significant health challenges for much of her life, beginning with recurrent urinary infections and gastrointestinal issues as a child. Her condition worsened at 15, manifesting in daily vomiting, fainting spells, and severe weight loss that brought her down to a dangerous 40 kilograms, with a BMI of just 13. Instead of receiving appropriate care, Chelsea was misdiagnosed with an eating disorder, leading to a year in an inpatient program where she was force-fed.
After years of suffering, at 19, Chelsea finally received the correct diagnosis: Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS) and Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome (SMAS), both rare conditions impeding blood flow and causing extreme pain while eating. In 2021, she was admitted to a New South Wales hospital due to her alarming weight, where a nasal feeding tube was inserted in an attempt to stabilise her condition. However, she quickly realised the misjudgment of her situation, as she was inappropriately grouped with other patients who had entirely different struggles.
Despite Chelsea’s repeated assertions that she did not have an eating disorder, she was persistently questioned about her eating habits and ultimately diagnosed with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Her mother, Emma Bagnall, felt immense pressure from healthcare professionals to accept this diagnosis, despite Chelsea’s pleas to be heard and understood.
During her treatment, Chelsea faced strict protocols that included morning weigh-ins and time-restricted meals, yet her unique medical issues rendered these methods ineffective. While other patients were discharged after recovery, Chelsea remained hospitalised longer due to a lack of understanding of her condition. Emma lamented the inadequate tests performed to ascertain the true cause of Chelsea’s health issues, as she felt the medical team failed to consult specialists who could have delved deeper into potential underlying conditions.
A turning point came when they relocated to Canberra and a new physician noted the absence of movement in Chelsea’s stomach, prompting further testing. This led to a CT angiogram that revealed a compression of her left renal vein, confirming the diagnoses of SMAS and MALS. Additional ultrasounds indicated further complications, necessitating surgery set for May.
Despite the scepticism surrounding MALS and SMAS, experts believe these conditions may be more common than previously assumed. Chelsea hopes her upcoming surgery will restore her quality of life, but her experiences have left her emotionally scarred. To others facing similar struggles, Chelsea urges them to trust their instincts about their bodies and to persist in advocating for their health, regardless of how often they are dismissed. The message is clear: self-advocacy is crucial in the face of health challenges.