2 years no spleen, are counts here to stay???

Hi,

have not posted in awhile, I was just in to see my hemo. doc. my counts are in the low 200, which is great. it has been two years since my spleen was removed. but I asked him if this is going to last, and if I am cured and he said it might come back??? I know my counts have been dropping over the last 3 months, but are well within normal range, and my white counts has always been elevated. But is this going to all come back???

Hi Mary - it may or it may not. Only time will tell. Some people have relapses and some do not. Hopefully, you will be in the latter group. Nice to hear from you again!

Hi Mary,

I have been without my spleen 9 years now and when I was discharged from hospital the discharge dr (on call) did say one thing that I can never forget "see you back when you are close to 50" was in shock and wasnt too sure of what to make of it.
But I am thinking its something that might come or not like Sandi said. Only time will tell.

But till today I hate the DR for saying that......

There are no guarantees in life and yes it is a possibility it could come back, it is also a possibility it won't come back. It is just something that we don't know for sure and you shouldn't worry about it unless you begin to show symptoms of your platelets being low again, just try to relax and not let it worry you until u know there is something to worry about.

Its as everyone says which is the hardest thing to do and yes that is relax. Honestly

am a veteran splenectomy patient in that I had mine removed in 1995 and 1997. Yes I have had ITP on and off since then but have had a lucky 8 year break with annual check ups to allow me to contact the ward or day unit if any questions about any symptoms etc. This year was it was discovered to have a known drop down to 10 then risen again without treatment. (Not my normal pattern or my normal symptoms and hence went to local A&E rather than ringing the ward). Which is a tale in itself.

But it is something no one can answer. The best thing you can do is make sure you look after yourself really well taking care with Pheumococcal (spelling) infection and believe me I do know what am talking about there through contracting both Meningitis and Septicemia 18month later and now on lifelong penicillan because of the two diseases that were so very nearly fatal each time. Always always tell the doctor you haven't a spleen when you see them about infections. It isn't enough that its on your notes.

I can't answer anything about insurance as am English and our system is very differet of what is termed 'social' by others on here so it seems but I can try and help reassure etc where I can as a patient without a spleen.

I forgot to say that in fun that whenever I go for the annual blood test, the hemo who sees me that day sometimes jokes with me by saying, 'hope we don't see you this evening'. I know that it means I could have a platelet drop that quickly and they know it is perfectly possible and it is okay for me to go through to check it even though just been in the outpatients.