So many factors to weigh in. MALS can cause such bad ischemia (restricted blood flow) that it can cause other organs to shut down. It can cause anorexia (purposefully not eating) this is not to be confused with anorexia nervosa. and it can cause dehydration from pain when drinking. It is truly chronic and life altering. It can SOMETIMES be fixed with surgery but it doesn't always work long term with everyone. But someone who truly has MALS would not be able to carry a quality of life for that long because it only gets worse as the body ages.