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Anyone ever had a partial splenectomy?

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15 years 2 months ago #6725 by PedroInfeliz
Anyone ever had a partial splenectomy? was created by PedroInfeliz
Has anyone here had a partial splenectomy? I ask this because my spleen is abnormally large, and I wondered if there would be a benefit... i.e. reduce the size of the spleen by 90% and get a proportional improvement in platelet counts.
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15 years 2 months ago #6727 by Michelle
Replied by Michelle on topic Re:Anyone ever had a partial splenectomy?
Yeah but some people who have an accessory spleen - which, some are very tiny, from my understanding - still experience significant drops.

I'm no expert, but I always thought that as long as there's any amount of spleen - assuming it's the spleen causing the ITP - the platelets will still be impacted just the same.

I could be wrong - eager to read the other posts -

Do you know the reason for your slpeen being enlarged?
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15 years 2 months ago #6731 by eklein
Replied by eklein on topic Re:Anyone ever had a partial splenectomy?
OK, this is only from television medicine, but I thought the spleen was so (what's the word for having tons of blood circulating through it) that injury to it like from a car accident meant they had to take it out or you'd bleed to death, which would make it really hard to cut off a piece of it? I know they do what you are suggesting with livers, like you can donate a slice of your liver to someone.
Erica
And she was!
Diagnosed May 2005, lowest count 8K.
4/22/08: 43K (2nd Rituxan)
10/01/09: 246K, 1/8/10: 111K, 5/21/10: 233K
Latest count: 7/27/2015: 194K
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15 years 2 months ago #6763 by PedroInfeliz
Replied by PedroInfeliz on topic Re:Anyone ever had a partial splenectomy?
> Do you know the reason for your slpeen being enlarged?

I'm of the opinion that it's due to steroid injections I received for a skin problem back in the early 90's. I was injected weekly with celestone, and I experienced growth in my feet, head and broadening of my shoulders. It's not stretch to think it could have had a similar effect on internal organs.

Since my spleen is so big, I was hoping that a partial splenectomy could give me a benefit of having less splenic tissue where platelets are killed while retaining the ability to fight off infections better.
  • Sandi
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  • Sandi Forum Moderator Diagnosed in 1998, currently in remission. Diagnosed with Lupus in 2006. Last Count - 344k - 6-9-18
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15 years 2 months ago #6773 by Sandi
Replied by Sandi on topic Re:Anyone ever had a partial splenectomy?
I don't think it works that way. If a splenectomy is going to work, ALL splenic tissue must be removed.

I don't think steroids would cause an enlarged spleen. Have your doctors looked for a cause at all?
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15 years 2 months ago #6778 by PedroInfeliz
Replied by PedroInfeliz on topic Re:Anyone ever had a partial splenectomy?
> I don't think steroids would cause an enlarged spleen.

Doc said there is no conclusive evidence either way.
  • Sandi
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  • Sandi Forum Moderator Diagnosed in 1998, currently in remission. Diagnosed with Lupus in 2006. Last Count - 344k - 6-9-18
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15 years 2 months ago #6781 by Sandi
Replied by Sandi on topic Re:Anyone ever had a partial splenectomy?
Did your head and feet stay big after all this time? That's a weird side effect.
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15 years 2 months ago #6782 by PedroInfeliz
Replied by PedroInfeliz on topic Re:Anyone ever had a partial splenectomy?
> Did your head and feet stay big after all this time?

Heheh... yes. My hat size went from 7 3/8 to 7 3/4 as a 30 year old. Feet went from 9.5 to 10.5-11.
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