Joined: Apr 13 2002 Posts: 3569 Location: enjoying the fresh air,moors and beaches of devon and cornwall
Monday may 19th 2014 i had my Spleen removed. We always knew it was heavily enlarged,a bit smaller than an A 4 sheet of paper as opposed to a normal fist sized Spleen. Due to my blood clots and other medical issues i have there was a small chance (20ish %)that my clots might move during surgery and go where the surgeon didnt want them to go as it would have certainly been good night vienna for me. Obviously they didnt move as i spent 6 nights in hospital and ive been out a week tomorrow. As i said earlier we all knew my Spleen was enlarged, but none of us knew infact how enlarged it actually was, the 1st Doctor to visit me after my Op said it was MASSIVE, the 2nd Doctor said it was HUGE, My Surgeon held his hands apart to show me how large it was, approx 1 and a half times the size of an A 4 sheet of paper.If that had ruptured id have bled out very quickly. My spleen was removed also to help cure a couple of other problems i have which would have eventually killed me,sooner rather than later. I have a near 10 inch scar across my belly(as opposed to 5 inch the surgeon thought i would have originally) and about 30 staples which are coming out on monday. I have to take 1000mg of penicillin v daily for the rest of my life to fight off potential life threatening infections,but if having the spleen out cures some of my other problems then it will be worth it. Dont mention the pain. Hoping for a long hot summer as im off work for a minimum of 3 months.(no driving allowed though for 6 weeks!!)
Good luck to anyone who has recently had surgery or will be having it soon.
"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion" – -- Unknown
Joined: Jun 28 2002 Posts: 4961 Location: Outside your remit
CORNISH wrote:Monday may 19th 2014 i had my Spleen removed. We always knew it was heavily enlarged,a bit smaller than an A 4 sheet of paper as opposed to a normal fist sized Spleen. Due to my blood clots and other medical issues i have there was a small chance (20ish %)that my clots might move during surgery and go where the surgeon didnt want them to go as it would have certainly been good night vienna for me. Obviously they didnt move as i spent 6 nights in hospital and ive been out a week tomorrow. As i said earlier we all knew my Spleen was enlarged, but none of us knew infact how enlarged it actually was, the 1st Doctor to visit me after my Op said it was MASSIVE, the 2nd Doctor said it was HUGE, My Surgeon held his hands apart to show me how large it was, approx 1 and a half times the size of an A 4 sheet of paper.If that had ruptured id have bled out very quickly. My spleen was removed also to help cure a couple of other problems i have which would have eventually killed me,sooner rather than later. I have a near 10 inch scar across my belly(as opposed to 5 inch the surgeon thought i would have originally) and about 30 staples which are coming out on monday. I have to take 1000mg of penicillin v daily for the rest of my life to fight off potential life threatening infections,but if having the spleen out cures some of my other problems then it will be worth it. Dont mention the pain. Hoping for a long hot summer as im off work for a minimum of 3 months.(no driving allowed though for 6 weeks!!)
Good luck to anyone who has recently had surgery or will be having it soon.
Good job, I had my appendix out a few years ago - nothing like the risk that yours was and I was terrified when the anesthetist put that mask on.
Joined: Nov 19 2005 Posts: 2359 Location: Marys Place, near the River, in Nebraska, Waitin' on A Sunny Day
Glad to hear all went well. I've had my gall bladder removed (the only op that didn't involve replacing anything ) Isn't it amazing all these internal organs we can live well without, makes you wonder why we have them in the first place
Molly will be glad to have you around for the 3 months (and Mrs Cornish too!)
Take it easy. xx
A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.
When you rescue a dog, you gain a heart for life.
Handle every situation like a dog. If you can't Eat it or Chew it. Pee on it and Walk Away.
"No amount of cajolery, and no attempts at ethical or social seduction, can eradicate from my heart a deep burning hatred for the Tory Party. So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin. " Anuerin Bevan
Joined: Feb 20 2002 Posts: 1437 Location: Leigh, where else?
Always nice to hear some good news, wishing u a speedy recovery.
"If the American people knew tonight, exactly how the monetary and banking system worked, there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning."
-Abraham Lincoln
Joined: Nov 19 2005 Posts: 2359 Location: Marys Place, near the River, in Nebraska, Waitin' on A Sunny Day
West Leeds Rhino wrote:Well would you look at that, even the NHS couldn't get rid of you!
Only joking! Glad you've got through it. Now is the hard recovery part. You've just got to make sure you don't try and rush it.
How was coming round from the anaesthetic? One of the last times I had one I was singing all sorts! Do you have to avoid travelling to certain countries now?
What exactly does the spleen do
A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.
When you rescue a dog, you gain a heart for life.
Handle every situation like a dog. If you can't Eat it or Chew it. Pee on it and Walk Away.
"No amount of cajolery, and no attempts at ethical or social seduction, can eradicate from my heart a deep burning hatred for the Tory Party. So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin. " Anuerin Bevan
Hull White Star wrote:What exactly does the spleen do
I'm not exactly sure, but I think it's something to do with the immune system. It also means you can't have inoculations that mean you can't go to certain countries. One of my dad's friend fell off his motorbike and ruptured his but I don't know if the recovery after removal has improved.
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) Isn't it amazing all these internal organs we can live well without, makes you wonder why we have them in the first place 
