Enlarged Spleen

[Livmar]

Hi all, I have posted my journey here previously detailing my situation. But just briefly, I was diagnosed with Cirrhosis stage 4 fibrosis February 2022. I have large varices both in my stomach and esophagus for which I was prescribed carvedilol. I also have Portal hypertension with an enlarged spleen currently 15.5 cm. I have always been compensated, no bleeds, HE or other symptoms other than slight pain below my ribs on my left side. I am thinking it is due to my large spleen.

My MELD score is 7, my ELF (Enhanced Liver Fibrosis) score is 10.52. I have lost 20 pounds since February 2022. I am on the Mediterranean diet and totally came off my diabetic medication. My A1C is 5.9. I exercise on the treadmill 1 hour M-F.

My question for anyone here is, have you had cirrhosis with portal hypertension or varices with an enlarged spleen and thru exercise and diet, has your spleen returned to normal size or varices shrunk or disappeared? I have done many searches but I have not found anyone whose spleen normalized. Is there such a person?

[nash2 Partner]

Hi Livmar

I'm not exactly a comparison as my cirrhosis was diagnosed before I had significant portal pressure but my spleen enlarged to 17 CM. That was 2015. I lost 30% of my weight and my liver stiffness has improved and my spleen has shrunk to 14.5 CM so my view is that improved liver health can make things better for the spleen but talk to your doc for sure.

Wayne

[Livmar in reply to nash2]

Hi Wayne, thanks so much for your reply. I am hoping that thru diet and exercise, my spleen will also come down. My understanding is that a men’s spleen size is normally 10-12 cm while a woman’s is 8-10 cm. There are exceptions for tall folks which is a couple cm’s more. You are one of my hero’s I look up to for inspiration and motivation. Bless you.

[kensimmons in reply to Livmar]

I have read that a spleen can return to normal if it is not too badly damaged and if you follow a healthy diet and lifestyle. This does not happen to all patients, but it does to others. Keep your chin up!

[Livmar in reply to kensimmons]

Hi, thanks so much for your comments. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that my spleen can make a comeback as well as my liver. I am willing to keep at it with diet and exercise for the rest of my life. Best wishes !

Mike

[LIVLORI]

Hi Liv Mar, Since you a\had asked this question, I went back to research see what my spleen measurements have been over a time period. I hadn't reallybeenpaying close attention after I knew it was huge and I had hyper portal tension.

Quyick history. I knew I had cirrhosis since 2010 or 11. It was always something else was going to kill me first... until in 2020, I ended up in the hospital, unable to breathe, with a decompensated liver and ascites, pleural effusion, needing a thoracentesis.

Wake up call!

My spleen was:

2017 - 23 cm

2019 - 20.1 cm

2020- 20 cm

2021 - 19 cm

2022 - 18.4 cm

2022 -19 cm

Over this timeframe, I have lost weight from 260+, down to 200, down to 165, and now back up to 295. So does weight loss and eating right play a role? Maybe!! I see my Transplant team tomorrow and will ask the question you posed...

[Livmar in reply to LIVLORI]

Hi LIVLORI, OMG, you have been at it for a long time with liver disease. I am on the Mediterranean diet and I plan to stay on it for life. My believe is that eating healthy and losing weight most definitely plays a huge roll in our overall health. I will see where I am in the following years. You were doing so great when you were down to 165. For me, it is a new lifestyle. I don’t even consider it a diet. I wish you all the very best. Prayers and blessings to you 🙏.

[LIVLORI in reply to LIVLORI]

Typo on my last weight, it is NOT 295, but 195...

[Livmar in reply to LIVLORI]

Good to hear. Keep at it, don’t give up stay healthy and well 👍.