splenectomy

I am a 19 year old who entered the hospital at a count of 1, and didn't respond to IVIG or steroids(after a few days at 20 mill a couple times a day, then even the 1000 milligram 3 day treatment), although at age 16 I responded well to the combination of the two. Then rituxin did not work. After a 10 days and the fluctuation between 1 and 2 counts, my doctors decided a spleenectomy would be the next option because nplate isn't covered by insurance until the spleen is removed. It's been a week since my surgery and although I don't feel too sore I have side effects that are concerning to me. For one, since the surgery my lower stomach looks very bloated. Has anyone else had this? I am now going to the bathroom normally, so I don't think that is necessarily the problem? I am a fit guy and now I look pretty weird, almost as if I am a couple months pregnant. If anyone knows when this will go away or how that would be great! Another side effect is from the steroids. My doctor immediately stopped the treatment a few days before I left the hospital, and cut me off from steroids cold turkey. I would say I was on steroids a little over a week. I have gotten really bad acne, something which I don't get,it has covered my whole upper body as well as my entire face. Does anyone have any good suggestions to keep the acne on my body under control, because my face is something I can control, its just the acne honestly feels like a sunburn everywhere. Any advice on this or more would be great

jnalder

Upon reading your post I can actually visualize my son Zachary having gone through everything you are experiencing with the exception of being taken off the steriods cold turkey. My son Zachary is 6 weeks post splenectomy as of Wednesday and I can honestly say it will get better for you, he started really coming around in his 3rd week and had the acne and everything.

Make sure you are getting up and walking and be aware of any pain in your legs, we are dealing with a bloodclot that Zachary got after his surgery, it is in his lower left leg and he is now on blood thinners. don't hesitate to call your doctor if you start getting pain in your legs.

Jeff

A week on steroids isn't a long time, so it should be okay to stop like that. I'd imagine the side effects would go away in the next few weeks.

As for being bloated, did they pump air into you before the surgery? It could be from that.

I can only speak to the bloating. I assume you had a laproscopic splenectomy? They pump your spleen area full of CO2, and after the surgery, they try to pump it out again--but they can't get it all. I didn't have the bloated feeling in the area you did though--mine rose to my shoulders! It took a few days to dissipate. No one had warned me about that pain. I didn't have any other real pain though, and I healed quickly. If one has to have a splenectomy, laproscopic is the way to go. Hope yours works! (Mine didn't, but your chances are better since you are young.)

If they did the splenectomy through just a small incision, using a scope, (do they call that a laproscopic for the spleen as well?) they usually do blow up your belly with some gas, because that way it gives them a better view and more room to maneuver in. This usually does result in bloating and looking 4 or 5 months pregnant, until the gas eventually dissipates or is reabsorbed. For many people, thiscsn be the worst part of a surgery. As the gas doesn't have a natural outlet in this area, it often 'rises' and results in pains in the neck or shoulder areas. One thing that you can do to get rid of it quicker, is to pick up a homeopathic remedy from your health food store called 'Carbo vegetabilis" (Vegetable carbon) 30X or 30C. Take one pill under your tongue (tap it into the cap without touching it, so you don't rub the active ingredient off), and tip it under your tongue to dissolve. If you're still feeling bloated, take a second dose after one hour. Once you see marked improvement, no need to take any more. If you have not seen any change from it after taking 3 doses, then discontinue it, as it is likely not the correct remedy for you at this time (There are other possible remedies, though this is the most common one for this). But, usually, just one or two doses will do the trick. It can be a good remedy to have on hand if you ever tend to get trapped gas, as it will help your body quickly dispel it. It is in a nano-dose and will not interact with any other medications.

What you say about the 'acne' feeling like a sunburn everywhere, does make me have some concern. That does not seem normal--at least I have not heard of that burning sensation. That is a sensation often associated with a MRSA infection, though, which can look like really bad acne or impetigo, to start with. It can spread very rapidly and is a very serious infection. MRSA stands for Methycilin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, which is essentially a staph infection that has mutated to be resistant to most antibiotics. It is rampant in hospitals and a serious health issue as they have no good answers. Please be proactive about this and insist that your doctor or a dermatologist take a culture to rule it out. My 8-year-old son got C

I'm pretty certain it is acne, and my hemo did say it was,the only reason my face burns or feels uncomfortable is because of what I use to treat it. The acne rashes on my body only hurts when pressure is against it naturally, and since it is everywhere basically when contact is made with something it hurts (like lying down a certain way, etc)

As far as my splenectomy it was laparscopy so I do think it is just all the gas inside, although the first few days it did rise to my shoulders, causing pain, now all it is is a bloated feeling and a an appearance of a couple month of pregnancy. Anyone have experience with how long it took to go down?

For me, I think it only took two or three days for the gas to go down. It got better each day. Maybe they managed to push more of the gas out of me than of you. I had another, different laproscopic operation a few years later, and I had much less of the pressure that time.

For me, I think it only took two or three days for the gas to go down. It got better each day. Maybe they managed to push more of the gas out of me than of you. I had another, different laproscopic operation a few years later, and I had much less of the pressure that time.

Thanks for clarifying about the acne. I'm probably extra alert to MRSA, as my then 8-year-old son got Community Acquired MRSA, and the ER doctor and nurse variously guessed that it was acne (I mean, seriously!? He was 8!), herpes or impetigo. I say 'guessed', as they out and out refused to do a culture. I was given a two-sided prescription and told that i should choose which one I wanted to give him--one was for an anti-viral for herpes, the other was an antibiotic (which is given for a bacteria). Having seen many cases of both of these, I did not agree with this doctor's assessment. When I told him I suspected it was MRSA, he laughed derisively. When I was finally able to get him in to a dermatologist a few days later, MRSA was the first thing they suspected. Both blood test and culture came up positive for MRSA. So, just saying, that it can very often be confused with other things, even by doctors, even at highly renowned hospitals. I've come across quite a few cases since then, and nearly all describe it as a "very dry, burning pain", thus my concern.

As for the bloating, while I know each person is a bit different, it may be 4-8 weeks before you're back to normal. At least, that was how long it usually took for me after laperoscopies that I had for ovarian cysts and endometriosis. (I had a total of 3 operations.) I did look pregnant for 1-2 months afterward, and at that time, I went into it with an extremely flat abdomen. But, good news is that it soon goes away, and so will the acne. Maybe you might try something less astringent and drying to your acne. The acne will go away after you stop or lower the Prednisone.

April

i had my spleen removed about 5 months ago...and i had all the same issues but mine was taken out the old way i have a big scar now it's all normal and it will take time the acne to i was on high doses so bad that i had to be weened off dont worry it will get better just take time took my 5 months before the doc let me go back to work and school...but if u were on the steroids a short time u should start feeling better in a few weeks good luck to u

that is normal it took me over 5 months for my bloating went down