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Enlarged spleen - tests good so far

About 8 or 9 days ago I was experiencing pain on my left side which then moved about the whole abdominal area. Finally got blood work done last week and everything came back good. Doctor had me get a ct scan which was good other than an enlarged spleen (14cm)

Today I had a chest X-ray (negative) and more blood drawn (8 tests in all). I've gotten 3 back and so far everything was good on those. I'm meeting with the oncologist/hematologist on Thursday though my anxiety isn't helping at all.

I turn 40 this year. About 5ft 8 and 173 pounds. Last year I had a bout with LPR (silent reflux) but I got over that in mid October. Not sure if this could in any way be related though.

With all the possibilities of what can cause an enlarged spleen, Im worried. Guess I'm looking for others who had similar issues but had good news when all was said and done?

Thank you for reading
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Cipro and Swollen Spleen was started.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yeah, the tricky part is my wife's schedule. My mother in law said she would take me but she lives a bit over an hour away. So I'll have to play that by ear.

Worst part is just not knowing what it is. The lack of diarehhea or constipation and just the abdominal cramping seems like ibs is unlikely. I keep reading how those symptoms are common with ibs although my doctor knows my symptoms and said it can't be ruled out

The thing I don't quite understand with ibs is I though with ibs it comes on and lasts for a few days/week but I've been having this issue since last week of December so I'm nearing 1 month
Helpful - 0
1415174 tn?1453243103
Sorry you got ill when you went out. If you have a colonoscopy you will need someone to drive you there and back but you should be okay other than that. Maybe have a friend or family member drive you and have them on call just in case. They won't let you drive yourself.
take care,
mkh9
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you. Unfortunately it was short lived. Grabbed a bite to eat before hand and shortly afterwards had naseau which I hadn't had before except when I was in Cipro. So I ended up coming home within in an hour.

Talked with my dr and again he said I needed the colonoscopy but said a second opinion is fine too.

I'm going to make some calls tomorrow and try to get an earlier one than next Friday but that may be unlikely.

And of course my wife is going out of town tomorrow so I'll be home alone
Helpful - 0
4851940 tn?1515694593
Good idea to get out and socialise with friends - gets the mind off feeling so ill sometimes.  Have a great time.

Hope that your health problem gets solved soon.

Best wishes.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I contacted my doctor about kidney stone and he said the ct scan I had in early January ruled them out.
He did say it was a good thought though.

At least when I woke up today, I didn't feel too bad. Just a little achy here and there. Hoping to get out tonight and see a few friends. Been awhile since I have actually left the house outside of doctors or needed errands.
Helpful - 0
4851940 tn?1515694593
I don't think that a blood test would show that someone has kidney stones.

Getting frequent kidney infections and also getting dehydrated can certainly lead to getting them.  There are other reasons too, depending which type of stone you have.  A cysteine stone is hereditary and doesn't show up (so I have read) on normal xrays.  I am sure if you or your dad had that type of stone, you would have know about it way before now.

Sounds like you had a reaction to the Cipro.  Make sure you tell your doctor or consultant when they need to prescribe an antibiotic so that you can avoid getting this one again.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I talked with my dad earlier today. He did have a kidney stone a few years ago. He said he had no pain whatsoever but had intense vomiting so I guess I need to keep that in mind (so far no vomiting or nausea - except when I was on Cipro earlier in the week)

I would have thought with all the blood tests, something would have flagged the doctors of a possible kidney stone?

Not sure what the ct scan captured. When I went it for it all I had was normal blood work and side/lower abdomen discomfort. I know they did tell me how it covered and I think it was bladder area up to ..well high enough to see the spleen and liver (and assuming that would have see the colon too but they never said anything about that)

Helpful - 0
4851940 tn?1515694593
I did have kidney stones.  And you won't feel any pain and won't even know you have one until they start to get large enough to press on things or start to move and cause pain, damage as they move and infections.

It depends on how big the stone is to what degree of pain you could get.  I had been in extreme pain in passing blood and green gunge and kept getting infections, vomiting and diarrhea when a stone was moving.  Things would settle down for a while and then flare up again.  Sometimes you can just feel a discomfort like wind in the belly and this is referred to as renal colic.

At its worst point the pain was so severe that it thrust me into a sitting position when I was lying down in bed very ill and very strong pain killers did not help.

I don't know if a CT scan would have picked up any stones or problems with your kidneys.  It depends what the CT scan was scanning you for.  It also depends on what type of stone you have and the size of it.  There are 4 different type of kidney stones.  

I initially went to my doctor with pins and needles in my feet and was treated with Vitamin B complex and then later on for depression when I walked in crying with the severe pain in my feet.  It was only 6 months later that xrays revealed the stones.  Whilst waiting for months to see a specialist, that is when the stone started to break up and cause severe problems.  Even the specialist got baffled by the symptoms and thought the stone was stuck in the bladder - only the dye xray showed exactly where it was - most of it had been passing out (when I was very ill), but the last bit got stuck in the ureter and had to be removed urgently by surgery.

I do hope that you do not have a kidney stone, but it is worth keeping it in mind should you still continue to have those symptoms and everything else is ruled out.

Hope you find the cause of your problem soon so that you can receive the appropriate treatment.

Best wishes.
Helpful - 0
1415174 tn?1453243103
Well, I guess you have to rule these things out. It may be that you had something and it will resolve on its own.  Yes you could get a ultrasound of the kidneys to rule that out as well. Usually, kidney stones are most of the time, extremely painful. Although, some tiny ones may pass with less pain I believe. I'm not an expert in this area. I would understand the lab work more than the patient symptoms.
mkh9
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yeah, I just wonder if my primary doctor is at a loss and just said colonoscopy as a last resort.

I understand he wants to rule out some more possibilities before chalking it up to IBS. Of course I don't understand how IBS would suddenly turn up after not having any issues for nearly 40 years.
If it is IBS and this is a flare-up, I thought flare ups would last several days. So part of me is thinking it won't be IBS but obviously I know nothing about medicine

I figure meeting with a gastro and getting a second opinion from someone who deals with colons and that area of the body couldn't hurt.
Maybe he will tell me to check with a urologist or recommend the colonoscopy. If it's the later, then I will have no choice and go thru with it
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for the reply.

Kidney stone crossed my mind but everyone I talked to who has had one was in excruciating pain and I'm at the mild pain/annoyance level.
I have had doctors bang around my back and I didn't flinch. They said If I had a stone, I would have reacted.

I also had a ct scan a few weeks ago when they discovered the mildly enlarged spleen and would have thought if I had kidney stones it would have shown up then?

I'm still keeping that in mind as well as a hernia but I've had doctors poking and pushing and they never said anything about a possible hernia.

Now that I've had so much blood work done, they seem to have gone from blood disorder issue to colon-related
Helpful - 0
4851940 tn?1515694593
I have read all the posts, and with the intermittent pains that are being experienced on both sides "Today I actually  have dull aches on both of my sides/back" makes me think of the kidneys.

As no infection has been detected, you still may have a kidney problem.  You do not necessarily have to experience that type of pain/discomfort on both sides at the same time - it could be just the one side, both or intermittent.

If you have not had an ultrasound scan done of your kidney and urinary tact (including the bladder), it may be a good idea to have that done.

You may have kidney stones.  Kidney stones can vary in size from as small as a grain of sand.  They don't cause any problems until they start to move.  Some of the symptoms you mentioned earlier did point to kidney problems and even though there was no urinary infection detected, it does no mean that there is not a problem there.

It is the urologist that deals with this, but your doctor can still refer you for an ultrasound scan.  Kidney stones can make you feel very ill and also cause the sensations of bloating and wind - this is called renal colic.

It is extremely important that you drink plenty of fluids and especially water.  Getting dehydrated is not good.  2 litres a day is usually recommended, but more if you sweat a lot.  The doctor or urologist may advise you to drink a little more than this, so do follow their advice.

Helpful - 0
1415174 tn?1453243103
Well, if it is IBS you have to change your diet. It is way too high in meat and low in carbs and not enough plant food. This can also cause a problem for the kidneys. High protein is hard on the kidneys. You really don't need that much of it. The colonoscopy isn't that bad. The doctor gave me pills which doesn' t make you cramp but you don't eat anything that day except You stop eating this at a certain time start taking the pills and lots of water. Then you go but I asked if I could take them a few hour earlier and I got to sleep around 10 p.m. Things settled down around then. If there is a good reason to do it I would. I get it done every 5 years due to family history. I just meant I am better at microbiology but I have experienced a lot of things in my life and also have some background in biochemistry and hematology and immunology as well. So, it doesn't matter. As long as I can help.
mkh9
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My CPR came back this morning and it was good.

I turn 40 this year.

I actually eat a lot more meat than I do fruit and veggies (more veggies than fruit..in fact, I probably rarely eat fruit).
I also probably drink too much diet coke (I don't drink alcohol).
I definitely eat way too many cookies too :)

In all this time (since late December), I've never had fever, vomiting, bloody stool, constipation or diarrhea.
I felt constipated/full but my blood doctor said that was because of the enlarged spleen pushing against my stomach. I haven't had that sensation in a week or longer though.

I wouldn't say good and bad days but during each day it's more noticeable at different times. When I wake up and for the first hour or two is most noticeable

Today I actually have dull aches on both of my sides/back but I'm not having any cramping or spasming. It's just odd how my symptoms vary but never would I say I'm in pain. It falls under 'annoying discomfort'

I do appreciate the replies even if it's getting out of your area.

I did start a new thread about the colonoscopy in the Gastro forums:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Gastroenterology/To-colonoscopy-or-not-to/show/2448916#post_11907641

And yes, everything I read says the prep is worse than the test. Sounds like I would have to sleep in the bathroom.
I
Helpful - 0
1415174 tn?1453243103
Probably a good idea. I have had a couple of colonoscopies. The preparation before is worse than the actual colonoscopy provided they put you under or in twilight sleep. How old are you? I am not saying IBS doesn't exist but I find it is a catch all for some doctors. Another thing that has recently been disproven is wheat gluten intolerance except in rare cases. Do you eat a lot of whole grains, veggies and fruits. Not too much meat. If so, you shouldn't have IBS. If not you can change your diet to include a lot of whole grains. Maybe keeping a diary of what you eat is good to see if there is anything that aggravates it. Are there good and bad days? Do you ever have diarrhea? This is getting out of my forum area but just checking.
mkh9
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
As figured, labs came back good.

Dr wants me to go ahead with the colonoscopy but I think I will get a 2nd opinion from a gastro doctor first.  I made an appt for Feb 6th
Helpful - 0
1415174 tn?1453243103
I guess. Maybe he is looking at the colon overall for other things too besides IBS.  We'll see.  
mkh9
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
He saw me today. Ran more blood work (CBC and CPR) but doesn't think it will show anything.
If it doesn't, he wants me to do a colonoscopy. He's pretty confident it's colon related. Doesn't think colon card but wants to check for irritable bowel disease.
If the colonoscopy rules them out, then he's thinking it's irritable bowel syndrome
From what I understand, both IBD and IBS could result in an enlarged spleen which is of course what the cat scan discovered a few weeks ago. So maybe the pieces are falling into place.
Helpful - 0
1415174 tn?1453243103
I wonder if he had an idea of what he wants to do next? Well, at least he is following up with you.
let me know how it goes.
take care,
mkh9
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Avatar universal
I talked to my Dr today and he said to stop the Cipro since he doesn't think it's a bladder infection. He called me after the office had closed and said to call tomorrow and set up an appointment sometime this week.

Helpful - 0
1415174 tn?1453243103
I hope it works. There is no guarantee it will. How long have you been on it now? You could call the doctors office and tell them your side effects and ask if those are normal. But it doesn't sound like an allergy more of a side effect. Or it could be that the infection is causing this if that is what you have. Time will tell.
mkh9
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Bottle just says:
Take with plenty of water
Take 2 hrs before or 6 hrs after antacids, iron, vitamins (I don't take any of those)
Do not take with milk, calcium fortified beverages, or yogurt.

Nothing about taking with food.

I've read all about different side effects of Cipro. So far none of the really nasty ones, so if this can take of the infection or whatever it is that I have, I'll deal with the nausea, fatigue, dry mouth, etc.

I just need to get some energy for the next 2 days (wife's birthday tomorrow and she's off work on Tuesday too)
Helpful - 0
1415174 tn?1453243103
Yes kidney infections take longer to heal than a regular UTI because it is deeper into the tissue and not superficial. But you should finish the course of antibiotics. They can make you tired and some nausea. Do they say to take with food or not? Be sure to follow what the directions say. If you are concerned about the kidney infection or kidneys I would see a urologist.
mkh9
Helpful - 0
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