What can a surgeon do for an enlarged spleen?

F

Fretz

New member
Yeah, makes sense, but now I'm worried of a rupture. They didn't sound very concerned on the phone, but I guess I'll just have to wait and see on Monday. Thanks for your reply
 
That is good.....means you aren't in danger just yet but the doc is making sure to have everything ready just in case...good planning on your doc's count.

Also means that they still have time to figure out what is wrong and treat it. So don't worry about it rupturing...you'll know if it does...it HURTS! But seems like your doc is just being prepared.

SounRAB like are in good hanRAB.

Good luck and let me know what happens, okay?

Jenny
 
I've been having some health issues and I found that my spleen is enlarged. I'm trying to stay positive and hopeful, as much as I can not knowing what's causing it. My doctor is sending me to a surgeon on Monday and I'm curious to know what exactly a surgeon will be doing for an enlarged spleen? Any ideas?
 
The only thing a surgeon can do for an enlarged spleen is remove it. Not like they can cut it down to size. It's either in or out.

Do you know why you have an enlarged spleen?

Jenny
 
Sure thing thanks again, I'm sure I'll ask more about it though, I'm a bit of an anxious person, so please don't get annoyed by my posts ;)
 
Hey, if I had an enlarged spleen and was being sent to a surgeon for a consult, I'd be as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs!

Post away!

Jen
 
The surgeon removed my husband's spleen because of hemolytic anemia. Whoever sent you to the surgeon probably did blood work prior? Do you have your labs? Did you have mono?
 
LOL


If surgery isn't an option, they can use radiation therapy to reduce the spleen's size.
 
Well, I just had the ultrasounRAB and blood work done today. The blood work hasn't come back, but the ultrasounRAB were sent to my doctor who then referred me to the surgeon. I was just wondering why she would send me their with no other tests having come back yet.
 
If your spleen is so big that it is in danger of rupturing, that is an emergency and they remove it so it won't. A ruptured spleen is life threatening. You can bleed to death very quickly.

So your ultrasound may have shown that you are getting into the danger zone but not there yet so you can wait to see the surgeon while the blood work is being processed.

Many thing can cause a spleen to blow up. But when it's so big it might rupture, they don't care. You can live without a spleen. You may not live if it ruptures.

so if it doesn't get too big and they can find the reason for it, they might be able to treat it and let it come back down. but if it gets too big and puts you in danger, better to take it out and then worry about why. things like mononucleosis can cause it. So can blood disorders. All sorts of things. But none of them are as serious as the possibility of your spleen rupturing while they try to treat you so they take care of the serious thing and then address the other stuff.

It's like trying to treat appendicitis with antibiotics. You get antibiotics and hope the appendix doesn't rupture(which can be life threatening) while the antibiotic kick in. It makes more sense to just take out the appendix and the infection that got into it will clear itself. Same with the spleen. If you get mono and your spleen blows up, don't worry about the mono...it will never kill you...but if your spleen ruptures, it will, so take out the spleen and recover from the mono after warRAB.

Does that make any sense to you?

Jenny
 
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