Splenomegaly

Hi everyone my spleen is very painfull what can i do?

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero]

Have you discussed having treatment for it? Where are your platelet counts? Are you sure it's your spleen and not cardiac related?

Sometimes a splenectomy can be performed.

mayoclinic.org/tests-proced...

~chris

[Newdawn Administrator]

Aylinn, I’ve noticed your general levels like WBC and ALC seem reasonably low. Have you had an ultrasound or CT scan to assess what’s going on with your spleen and to make sure it is spleen pain?

My spleen is huge but then my levels are high too but I’m not keen to start CLL treatment based on it because so far the spleen isn’t gobbling up my haemoglobin or platelet levels. That’s the key issue.

What advice are you getting from your medics about this?

Newdawn

[Hazel33 in reply to Newdawn]

Hi Newdawn

Sorry to sound vague, how do you know if your spleen is causing pain or it’s inflamation in your stomach (7 years dx). I had ct scan which showed mildly enlarged spleen. Gastro doctor thought I had IBS so have tablets but still having pain.

My WBC was 60 in January and stable. Any thoughts. Thanks

Hazel

[Newdawn Administrator in reply to Hazel33]

I think it’s probably hard to be definitive about this Hazel which is why you’ve done the right thing in exploring other causes apart from the mildly enlarged spleen.

Usually an ultrasound and certainly a CT scan can give a fairly clear picture of how large and obtrusive the spleen can be and in my case the haematologist said discomfort from it would be inevitable. Once the spleen starts to impact on the stomach (and the bowel I discovered), it can be hard to distinguish the origin and reasons for the pain. In my case it’s fairly textbook spasms, feeling of having a stitch and an ache in that area especially after eating.

IBS is usually a diagnosis given once other possibilities have been eliminated but I doubt it would account for all the discomfort if the spleen is enlarged and pressing where it shouldn’t!

I noticed spleen discomfort when mine was 15cm (should be about 11cm) and it’s now 19cms. However I also have some stomach discomfort at times but the CT scan has reassured me even though there are some small abdominal nodes.

Hope this helps,

Newdawn

[Hazel33 in reply to Newdawn]

Thank you Newdawn. This is very helpful. It's not very pleasant to have this sort of pain. I do hope your spleen shrinks back to 11cm and you are feeling much better. Hazel

[Hidden in reply to Newdawn]

Thanks newdawn

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer]

While you are sorting out how to deal with this medically, try many small meals, rather than regular meals. If the pain increases suddenly get to an Emergency room. Make sure that your doctor understands just how painful the area is!

[Shedman]

Not only small meals, but 2 more aspects: hydration and soluble fibre; hard or dense or slow moving bowels will be unhelpful. So it feels to me.

This is a me too moment: no significant splenic pain for weeks, and then, last night, a worrisome load of pain. CLL, or SLL in my case, demands discipline!

I eat dark chocolate - a product packed with fibre (the wrong fibre - insoluble - by and large) and not hydrating. I need to regularise my dietary routine to give greater assurance of keeping things regular, but I've even been forgetting to drink enough water.. Really stupid.

Oats with a little fruit for breakfast.

Water throughout the day.

Less dark chocolate.

More doses of green veg through the day.

I wish the exact recipe was to hand! Yet would I follow it reliably?

But my pain, this time? Likely caused by carrying a heavy backpack and running for the bus; a sort of prolonged stitch and sensitised interactions of spleen/gut/diaphragm - maybe. I hope so, as I've got plans involving physical labours, and clutching my side not wishing to move is no part of that.

[Hidden in reply to Shedman]

Hi shedman get well soon .

[Quarry]

I am sure others have given good advice. However, fundamentally you need to understand what is going on. So do a CT scan re size (might pick up anything else swelling) and ask why it is larger than it should be (if it is)

Before my spleen was removed (as it was destroying my red blood cells in a big way), it was massive (clogged with red cell bits) - from memory 12 times weight it should have been - however it never caused me any discomfort. So it is very individual.

[Hidden]

I hope you are ok. Now..either red blood cell or white blood cell normal only my lymphocyt raised