Big Cyst on Spleen- What do I do?

H

hit me with a crowbar

New member
I'll try to make this brief.

Two months ago, I went to the ER with severe bloating and moderate abdominal pain. After a CT, doctors told me my spleen had "spontaneously ruptured." They admitted me overnight and monitored me, things were fine in the morning, and they sent me home, saying everything was back to normal. They referred me to a hemotologist.

The hemotologist ordered another scan a few weeks later, and when I went back for the results he told me I had a large cyst on my spleen (10 cm). Apparently, it was the cyst that had burst before (when I went to the ER) and not the spleen. Now, of course, this cyst can burst again. The hemotologist was vague and unconcerned, saying I can monitor the cyst, or remove the spleen...it's up to me.

Then, I went to a surgeon, who basically told me the same thing. Monitor the cyst (again, it's huge), or remove the spleen.

I am having daily discomfort, including bloating, random aches and pain in abdomen, sporadic left shoulder, upper left chest pain (caused by the cyst/spleen pushing against my diaphragm), and most of all, anxiety. I don't know when/if this thing will burst again.

So, my questions are: Can the cyst bursting cause the spleen to rupture, or is there a difference between the two things?

Why are the doctors so unconcerned? Aren't big cysts like this generally treated?

Sometimes a spleen can rupture with a small tear and thus a slow blood loss, and you don't notice anything until it's too late and your blood pressure drops and you pass out and need immediate surgery...how can I avoid this or spot that something has happened?

I asked the surgeon about marsupialization, or roofing, or draining the cyst, as opposed to removing the whole spleen, but he said that wasn't possible. Why would he say that? Can't he just take out the cyst?

Any other info anyone has, or any things I should watch for while I deal with all these seemingly lazy doctors?

Thanks.
 
Don't know if this helps a year later..I just had a very large cyst removed from my spleen laparoscopically. You need to find a surgeon who has done a lot of spleen surgeries and has done this procedure before. My surgeon specializes in minimally invasive surgery and he successfully removed my cyst and saved the spleen, even though the cyst was covering 90% of the spleen. It is still a night or two in hospital and a 1-2 week recovery, and there is always a chance the spleen will bleed which would necessitate splenectomy. It is a major surgery but waiting for the thing to burst or become infected is not worth the risk.
 
An adult can live without a spleen. It mainly serves to help build childrens' immune systems. If a surgeon has to remove the spleen, they will vaccinate you against the harmful bacteria the organ normally protects you from. Then you have to get booster shots every 10 years.
 
yes, you can live without the spleen but it is important as it does provide immunity from infections. We also believed after the age of 10 the spleen didn't do anything. So wrong My husband had his spleen removed. He has to be careful not to get sick and always has antibiotics on hand. He was told a fever to start taking the antibiotics and get to the dr asap
 
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