Meal and symptom diary for MALS
Pain after eating is one of the main reasons people are tested for median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS), but it is hard to describe from memory in a short appointment. This free diary helps you record meals and symptoms for a few weeks and turns them into a one-page summary you can print or download for your doctor.
How to use it
- Add an entry after each meal, and whenever pain, nausea or vomiting happens without a meal.
- Note how soon the pain started and how long it lasted: doctors use this pattern when they think about MALS and other causes of pain after eating.
- Two to four weeks of entries usually show a pattern. Weigh yourself once a week if you can.
- Your entries stay in this browser on this device only. Nothing is sent to us.
Summary for your doctor
Entries
| When | Meal | Pain | Started / lasted | Other |
|---|
Your entries are stored only in this browser on this device. They are not sent to us or to anyone else. Clearing your browser data deletes them, so download a copy if you need one. This diary helps you describe your symptoms; it does not diagnose anything.
What the summary shows your doctor
- how often meals were followed by pain, and whether larger meals hurt more than smaller ones;
- the usual time from eating to pain;
- how often you had nausea, vomiting, bloating or pain with exercise;
- your weight at the start and end of the period.
A diary cannot diagnose MALS. Many conditions cause pain after eating, and the pattern is only one part of the picture. Read MALS symptoms, how MALS is diagnosed and eating with MALS.
Bring the printed summary together with your questions for your doctor.
MALS Compass is an independent educational website, not a medical provider, and is not affiliated with any hospital, clinic or university. This page is educational information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. For any question about your health, please contact your doctor or an official healthcare institution.
