HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Anyone else have an enlarged spleen?

Support Forums
>
Lupus
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/20/2010 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
In 2003 I had a sonogram and MRI and I was told my spleen was moderately enlarged, well then in 2009 I had a sonogram and the hematologist said it was not enlarged ( different hematologist). But something is bothering me on the left side of my abdomen below my ribs. Some days when I'm really tired I have pain in that area (or the pain makes me really tired, haven't figured out which way that works) and it can be so bad that I just have to stop and lay down. Sometimes I chalk it up to gas and my NP did say something about the majority of the large intestine, i forget what she called it, is on the left side so it's possible to have gas pain just on the left side. It's usually days that I have had to just go and go all day. And then some days like today I can feel pressure and discomfort in that spot, it's hard to describe, I don't know if pressure is the right word it's kind of like i'm running out of room. if I try and lay on my right side I get a sensation from the left like something is pulling or not supported or it puts pressure on my abdomen and I have to turn onto my left side and then I'm ok. I'm really having a lot discomfort in that area today. and the pressure has gotten worse recently, yesterday I felt pressure all the way up into my left shoulder. Does anybody have an enlarged spleen or understand what I'm talking about?
Posted 11/20/2010 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
I forgot to mention I've had chronic low platelets for about 12 years and then since last year my white blood cell count has been low. 2 hematologists, one in '98 and one in'03, said there is no way to tell if my spleen is destroying blood cells or just collecting blood cells that are already damaged. I've had three bone marrow biopsies over the years and all were normal.
Posted 11/20/2010 3:41 PM (GMT 0)
I had low platelets and mild anemia for at least 15 years before symptoms appeared.  about 10 months after my platelets dropped my first clinical symptoms appeared.

Bill

Posted 11/20/2010 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
Bsime, so you had low platelets for years and then they dropped more and you started having symptoms? I also have just had low platelets for years and then leukopenia (about a year ago) and then after that I started having more symptoms.  Doctors said I would eventually start getting more problems but after so many years I began to think it was just ITP and that was all. I started wellbutrin (generic) in july and after that i started having more pain but not everyday. My husband thinks it's the meds but my NP thought the pain would happen every time I took the wellbutrin if that was the cause.... so confused lol. I don't know anyone else with ITP, have you had to have bone marrow biopsies?

   J.P.

 

Posted 11/21/2010 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
Actually had 2 bone marrow biopsies and they found nothing.  They are so much fun!

There is something going on if your platelets and rbc are getting eaten up by your spleen.  Many things that can cause it and my hematologist guessed I had lupus before the symptoms but that was just a good guess.  Initially thought it was leukemia or some bone marrow disease.

Just don't ignore any changes or new symptoms.

Bill

Posted 11/21/2010 6:42 AM (GMT 0)
i think that you should go see your dr. J.P. that isn't good and as I found out that things can be missed, I had an ultrasound in 07 and they found no stones or swelling inmy gallbladder, well the other Dr. didn't think to check the function of it and that is what is wrong and gallbladder attacs really suck.

I also worke with a kid that had his spleen rupture, he didn't get to the hosp. soon enough and ended up with sepis(septic shock )and darn near died also spent 2 wks in the hosp. so I wouldn't put it off sweetie get yourself looked at ASAP!!!

Hope you feel better soon
waves of hugs
Pugpuppy
Posted 11/21/2010 7:34 AM (GMT 0)
pugpuppy,

so true, things can get missed a lot. I hope you're feeling better and I hope you're hanging in there, with everything that's going on right now.
Posted 11/21/2010 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
I have experienced what you describe except that mine was on my right side underneath ribs. It felt as though I had a tennis ball, or an inflated balloon in there. I had sonogram, etc. to check out my gall bladder but nothing was discovered. After months, it went away. At the time (couple yrs. ago) I searched the internet and found a thread of conversation on a website in which other people were having the same problem and some had gone to extreme measures to try and discover the source of the problem, but never did. I have a feeling it's part of an autoimmune response. Hope you're better and have found out what was wrong.
Posted 11/21/2010 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
Caring, that's no good that you couldn't find out what was going on. Chances are I won't either. I agree with you it has to be some kind of auto immune response.
Posted 11/22/2010 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
J.P. doing ok, I hope you are able to get it checked out and Caring you should get a H.I.D.A. scan done, it is what they are saposte to do if the don't see any stones or swelling in the lining of the gallbladder (infection) I started back in 07 with this problem and the Dr. never went past a ultrasound, well I have faught it for three yrs. now and after seeing a new Dr. I am on my way to getting it out after I see the surgen and schedule the surgery. The H.I.D.A. is a test to see if it functions and guess what mine doesn't.
I am exsited to get mine out.
Waves of hugs Pupggy
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply