Medical Questions > Conditions and Diseases > Spleen Forum

Enlarged Spleen, pain, and excessive gas with no answers?

Must Read
Got pain under your left side ribs? Is your left abdomen swollen or tender to touch? You might be dealing with a problem related to the spleen!...
Certain diseases can cause the spleen to swell to several times its normal size. Learn the signs and symptoms of spleen problems here....
An enlarged spleen is the result of an underlying disorder. What spleen disorders do doctors consider during diagnosis? What tests do they use?...
A bit of background on my diagnosis and surrounding issues.

Back in October 2011, my father was admitted to the ICU with NHLymphoma complications and passed away a month later. This was unexpected - he was only 55, and I am only 27. A lot of stress from that month until current, not to mention grieving.

In mid-January I began to have spasms of pain on my left side underneath my rib cage. I went to see my GP and after palpitating my left abdominal area he said he felt I had an enlarged spleen. They took bloodwork, urine sample and scheduled me for a liver/spleen scan (nuclear medicine with the dye). Bloodwork came back normal, a few insignificant things just a tad high but RBC and WBC were fine. Urinalysis was clean. Liver/spleen scan showed mildly enlarged spleen. GP said to come back in 6 months and rescan or if symptoms get worse.

Fast forward to this month, mid-February. I was pretty annoyed my GP didn't do anything else, including a VERY NORMALLY prescribed scan - ultrasound or CT. Considering my age he probably thinks I just had an infection or pulled muscle or something. I set up an gynecology appointment to rule that out. Ovaries were fine, exam went well - awaiting PAP results but OB-GYN didn't seem concerned. To be honest I was hoping it was a simple vaginal infection causing the spleen enlargement.

I had no other symptoms except pain and spams underneath the rib cage. In the past month I noticed I've had a lot more gas - no burping but definitely more passing gas than normal. No change in bowel movements, no fever or jaundice, no change in eating habits or nausea. Just the constant pain which now started to radiate to my back and down into my hip (all on the left side). Two weeks ago, after going to the bathroom, I saw what looked like two small white balls - almost chickpea size - in the toilet. Never happened again, and I had accompanying diarrhea and terrible cramping right before. After going to the bathroom I was fine.

I feel generally okay. I still don't seem to have many symptoms beyond the pain and the excessive gas. I am looking into seeing a second doctor since I'm still unhappy with my first one. I've read as much as I could on spleen enlargement and the results aren't comforting. Considering my father's illness and death, Lymphoma is a big concern for me, but the accompanying 'symptoms' I have don't seem to match up with anything.

Since this morning, my middle back just under the rib cage hurts severely and is tender to the touch. My hip still hurts and I get small stabbing pains all along my left abdomen and side once in a while. I don't know where to go from here and I'm pretty scared about especially Lymphoma, pancreas and kidney issues. I'm unsure if I should go to the emergency room now or if I wait until Monday to try and get an appointment. I can't imagine this could all be stress related and no one seems to have an answer as to WHY my spleen is enlarged. They don't tend to enlarge just because - usually infection but I've not been sick and my bloodwork is normal!

Anyone have any ideas on what type of scans or tests I should specifically request or maybe you could offer some insight if you've had these issues?

Thanks
Did you find this post helpful?
First Helper bellasweet
|
Users who thank bellasweet for this post: Talyn69 

This post has been removed because it did not meet our Community Guidelines.

replied July 16th, 2012
I am currently experiencing exactly what you described. I also have a sytemic disorder and am at risk for cancers esp with the treatment i've undergone. have you found out anything yet that you could share with me? Thank you and i hope your feeling better.
|
Did you find this post helpful?

replied July 18th, 2012
Sorry to hear you are having the same issues I've been experiencing.

Unfortunately I don't have too much to add, but I can tell you what's happened since then.

Since February, I've been experiencing the same pain. It is intermittent, not always in the same spot but always localized to the left half of my torso. I've had pain at the base of my ribs in the back and down onto my left hip. Areas near my spleen and to the left of my belly button have been tender with some shooting discomfort off and on.

There seems to be no difference in time of day, gas or no gas, what I've eaten, etc. It just happens when it wants to. There are times when I am being strenuous at work that I can feel the pain but otherwise it's random.

I was referred to a gastroenterologist for the pain. I was supposed to have a CT scan done, but my insurance called me the night before to inform me I had to pay $800 up front.. so that was out of the question.

I had an endoscopy to rule out cancer and acid reflux. No signs of stomach/intestinal/throat/esophageal cancer, but I do have acid reflux.

Still living with the random pain, no answers yet, but I have changed my diet a lot on my own. I eat more fruits and vegetables, little to no caffeine/soda and eat out at fast food only once a week now. I feel the shooting pain much less now, some days not at all. I have not attempted to go gluten-free or anything special - I have simply cut out most sugar, caffeine and greasy fast food.

I hope you get some answers, I am still looking for any clues as well. Good luck and I hope you feel better!
|
Did you find this post helpful?