How long is the treatment process for an enlarged spleen due to hardened liver

[Ivanechimpo]

I went to the doctor on Monday and got an ultrasound to see how my liver was doing due to the fact that I’ve been bloated for about maybe three weeks I spoke with the doctor and told him that I haven’t been feeling well and this is never happened to me before me of course thinking that it was Ascites I was wrong he told me that my liver was hardened and that my spleen is enlarged He prescribe me some medicine but didn’t let me know more or less the healing process of the spleen to go back to normal and for me not to be bloated because it’s bothering me and and i can’t do my every day activities If this has happened to anybody can you please let me know thank you very much

[AyrshireK]

What medication is it that you have been prescribed? I am assuming it's a beta blocker - either carvedilol or propranolol - both of which are used in the treatment of portal hypertension which is a side effect of having cirrhosis.

An enlarged spleen is a fairly common side effect of having cirrhosis and is linked with portal hypertension - blood is unable to flow as normal through the liver due to the damaged tissue there so it tries to find alternative routes causing a sort of back flow which is what can lead to varices in the oesophagus and enlargement of the spleen.

An enlarged spleen can also lead to the reduction of platelet numbers and issues with blood clotting.

The beta blocker will try to reduce this pressure though whether it will actually have an affect on reducing your spleen size I don't know. Many people with cirrhosis have an enlarged spleen and I am not sure whether it will indeed shrink again - maybe other forum members have experience of their spleens reaction to beta blockers.

My husband's spleen reached a size of 19.5cm though he had other complications which resulted in his spleen dying. As he had already had a variceal bleed he never prescribed beta blockers. He never experienced any abdominal bloating even with his enlarged spleen.

Katie

[mantana]

Did you have blood tests for hepatitis B and C to rule them out?

[Yellowsydney]

My spleen is enlarged and I've had a transplant, surgeon says it never goes back to a normal size nothing to worry about.Hilary