I just found out I have a aneurysm in my spleen. The doc recommended removal of the spleen. I have read a lot about all of this and I am pretty frightened. The doc said I could wait awhile but the option of waiting or removing the spleen is scarey. The aneurysm is 13mmx15mm--I guess that is about 3/4 x 1/2 an inch. They say that is small but I think it is big. anyone out there missing a spleen. How are you doing?
pat
Is it in the spleen itself of on the artery leading to the spleen...a splenic artery aneurysm? They remove the spleen for both types...I have one on the artery just before it goes into the spleen.
My doc said I should have it removed too until he talked to a vascular specialist who said they don't remove them until they grow over 2cms.(20mms long). Mine is actually bigger than yours....about 18mms long and I forget how wide. So I get a CT of my abdomen about every 2 years to watch it and it hasn't grown at all. My doc now thinks I was born with it and it's been this size all along.
It is so scary to think about letting it sit there but what else can I do...they won't touch it just yet.
As for living without a spleen, lots of people do. it is so often hurt in car accidents and other injuries that removing the spleen is very common. Brings your immune system down a little so you have to be careful about getting sick but many docs think of it as being like the appendix...we really don't need it that badly.
Once mine gets just the tiniest bit bigger, that thing plus my spleen are outta here...gone!
Jenny
The Following User Says Thank You to jennybyc For This Useful Post: Iluvboomer (11-09-2011)
Well, I found out today that it is in the artery leading to the spleen--between the kidney and the spleen. I am headed to a vascular surgeon next week. I went to my doc and a general surgeon but I think I want to check this out with vascular guys. I feel a bit better about the whole thing but I am still a bit scared. I was going to cancel a trip to NY City this weekend and then I decided I was going to go. I played golf today and feel pretty good so what the heck. I think for awhile fear captured me. thank you for your response. pat
I have a question for you. Do you ever get an achy feeling on your left side? I can be sitting just watching tv and suddenly get a dull ache on my left side. I panic thinking it is the aneurysm. I think I am getting a bit neurotic with all of this. Other than that I feel pretty good. Any thoughts? pat
Last edited by Iluvboomer; 11-15-2011 at 04:22 AM.
Reason: mistake in wording
I have a question for you. Do you ever get an achy feeling on your left side? I can be sitting just watching tv and suddenly get a dull ache on my left side at my waist line or above. I am getting a bit neurotic over all of this but was wondering if you ever experienced this. pat
when I first found out I kept thinking I had all sorts of symptoms and even ended up in the ER thinking it had ruptured....it was a bad stomach virus that made my stomach cramp and hurt like mad.
So my doc told me that I wouldn't feel anything with it until it ruptured or more likely, began to leak. They don't hurt....according to him.
See what you vascular surgeon thinks...when do you see him?
I don't see him until Dec 5. That seems a long way away right now. thanks for your thoughts. I thought maybe I was just imagining it but you never know. I called the vascular office this morning and told them if they had a cancelation to please call me. I guess they are not as worried as I am.
Oh my God, are you OK? I just read this. An achy feeling on your left side means BIG trouble for a splenic artery aneurysm.
PLEASE let me know if you are OK
I am fine. Docs tried to coil this thing last February. Did not work. Now they want to observe it. The achy feeling last only a few minutes. Most of the time, I am fine. I am hesitating getting the surgery because my blood clots easily and so I have to have a screen inserted in my artery before any surgery. Big process. I go back for another scan in a month or so and I will make a decision then. Thanks for asking.
I also discovered that I have a aneurysm on the large artery leading into my spleen. The vascular surgeon said that it needs to "grow" 1 more cm before he cuts it out and because of the location, he will most likely remove the spleen along with the aneursym. I will go back for another ultrasound on Oct. 3.
I don't have nor have I ever had any symptoms--or at least nothing that presented as a symptom.
A few years ago, a doctor wanted me tested because he thought (because of blood tests) that I was losing blood, but we could not find out from where. During an ultrasound, he aneursym was discovered--it was mentioned in the doctors report, but no one (including me) followed up on it. Now 4 years later and a new doctor--who actually read my file, had it checked again--it is 1.5cm and needs to be 2.5cm before being removed??? I joking asked wthat happens if it ruptures before we get it taken care of and he got very serious and said I could not get to the hospital fast enough to make a difference. So I asked why are we waiting--he said...Insurance will not cover the surgery until it becomes 2.5cm or it ruptures.
