Merry Christmas, Here’s an Enlarged Spleen?
Not the most ideal gift.
Christmas was incredible. Truly incredible. My mum out did herself this year and made the holiday something to be remembered. 28 guests and a huge dinner. Despite the pain I was in, I pushed through it. I used the phrase “better is not in my vocabulary” and “a day at a time” more than a few times with guests. I spent the night laughing with wonderful people and catching up with a friend I’d not seen in months— repairing a rift that caused me a lot of pain after she walked out of my life.
But I’m paying for it. yesterday I noticed that my ULQ and LLQ (upper left quadrant/lower left quadrant of my abdomen. Sorry, easiest way to explain to doctors and my first responder/med nerd brain kicking in) were in serious pain. Eventually I was doubled over. At first I thought it was another kidney stone.
But we had a nurse as a guest and it was apparent to her that what I was describing was splenic (spleen) pain.
It was worse today.
And such is where I’m at. So now the rheumatologist wants me to see new specialists tomorrow and not wait on things, including a gastroenterologist, to figure out what’s going on.
An enlarged spleen is common in autoimmune disorders, especially Still’s Disease, Lupus, and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Keeping my fingers crossed this is not what it seems to be, especially since I have done two weeks of Enbrel and shouldn’t be getting worse (though my body seems to defy all odds and baffle experts). Will update after I figure out for sure what’s up.
Organ involvement is not what I wanted for Christmas this year!
*It was later determined that the area around my thoracotomy incision is still inflamed as a result of disease activity, causing inflammation around the spleen but not the spleen itself
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A 21 year old student and ePatient advocate working to help others navigate through life with chronic pain, chronic disease, and disability. Sharing resources, advice, helping others find a voice and become empowered patient advocates. Raising awareness for Autoimmune Arthritis and Autoinflamatory diseases.
