Is it my spleen?

[TLSAtlanta]

I have SLL, W&W , generalized lymphadenopathy but last dr visit 6 weeks ago doc said none were bigger than fingernail or so. Bloods not bad. Fatigue comes and goes. But just recently I have had 3 or 4 bouts of pressure under my rib cage with some pain off and on going down my sides. The pressure feels like a fist under my rib cage, where the V is and my whole abdomen feels bloated. Its quite uncomfortable and generally have to lay down most of the day when its happening. My heme onc on phone visit dismissed it and wrote in notes it was probably IBS- but other than the bloating that comes when I have the ribcage fist thing happening, I have no other IBS symptoms and never have had any intestinal issues. The episodes come in 2-3 day periods, my other lymphs ache then too, then get better. Am I crazy or do SLL spleens act and feel like this? thanks.

[CycleWonder]

I don’t know. When my spleen was enlarged enough, the doctor could palpate below my rib cage. Prior to that, in certain positions, my spleen would hurt when it came in contact with other body parts. For me, it was bending forward to put on my socks. I learned to avoid bending straight over when sitting.

In these cases, the pain was not persistent. After five minutes, it was gone.

It could still be your spleen. But as always, there are many potential causes of pain in that area. What your CLL doctor may be suggesting, is to check it out with your regular doctor.

[81ue]

My spleen discomfort was only on the left side. It could feel "tight" on the left if I was bending over. There wasn't pain on both sides or center of abdomen for me. It did mess with making me feel full sooner when eating. Discomfort at it's worst could be a throbbing 'hey I'm here' , such that elastic shirts or pant waistbands were very uncomfortable, but never painful like a leg cramp. It also expanded my rib cage so that I had to get bigger circumference bra bands. I also wore pregnancy tops to stop the discomfort and throbbing. I looked pregnant with how big mine got. On a 1 to 10 scale of pain it was mostly a 1.

[TLSAtlanta in reply to 81ue]

Thanks. helpful to compare notes.

[SofiaDeo]

A physical exam will indicate if yours is enlarged, or tender. When mine was huge it pushed out more on my abdomen, I looked like I was pregnant. And I could not eat enough to maintain my weight, I got full so quickly.