What does this mean in regards to mono/inflamed spleen?

---

I got mono 4 or 5 weeks ago. About 2 weeks ago i started rugby and when i ran i kind of got this pain on my side around where my spleen would be. Then today i went jogging and the pain started up right away (it felt kind of like a bad side ache) now about 3 hours later it hurts if i push where my spleen is and it never lasted like this. What should i do? Did i tear my spleen?
You need to go to the doctor. I am not sure on the likelihood of a tear, as you generally would have more, severe symptoms with a tear, but considering all of the facts, you need to at least be checked out.

Mono causes the spleen to become enlarged. The general rule of thumb is to avoid any contact sports for 6 weeks (and from what I can tell, you only waited 2 or 3 weeks). When your spleen is enlarged, there IS an increased risk of traumatizing it.  (+ info)

How to keep mind from wandering so I can fall asleep?

---

It usually takes me hours to fall asleep. Every time I lay down my mind just starts wandering around to tons of different things and it keeps me awake. What are some ways to help me fall asleep?
Your condition is called ruminating and it is usually bought on by excessive stress in your life. I know. I suffer the same thing. I have learned not to fight insomnia, hence my presence here at 3:53 a.m. I am not employed right now so other than being sleep deprived, it is not harming me to just go with it.

Some suggestions are read until you are very sleepy. Most people, especially devout ones, find that the bible knocks them righ out after a few chapters! Some claim the devil does it. I prefer to think it is just a peaceful blessing that comes from reading the word of God.

Whatever you do, don't lay in bed for hours struggling to sleep. That only builds anxiety about not falling asleep and leads to more ruminating. Get up and do a chore like folding laundry if you don't want to read. After a time try again. If you can drink warm milk (yucky to me) and eat half a turkey sandwich that might help. L-Trytophan contained in the turkey and the warm milk are natural sedatives. Don't stuff yourself though or that might trigger staying awake.

If your wakefullness leads to the wee hours just know that laying down with your eyes closed is also restful to the body. Not as optimal as sleeping, but better than nothing. Also refocus your ruminating to things like rehearsing what you are grateful for (I do it in a prayer) or things that make you happy, or things you would buy if you were to win the lottery, anything but rehearsing offenses or whatever you negatively ruminate about.

Good luck and hopefully, good night!  (+ info)

Should a child who had an enlarged spleen play sports?

---

My son had spherocytosis, because of this he has an enlarged spleen. We have been told that his spleen could rupture if he plays sports. Does anyone know anything about this. Finding it hard to get answers. What are the chances of it happening and what are the dangers? My son is a sports fanatic so this is extremely important to him.
An enlarged spleen traps and stores an excessive number of blood cells and substances that help blood to clot (platelets). This may clog the spleen and interfere with its ability to function. Eventually, an enlarged spleen may outgrow its own blood supply — damaging or destroying part of the organ. An enlarged spleen is also at risk of rupturing, usually as a result of a blow to the abdomen. A ruptured spleen can cause life-threatening bleeding into the abdominal cavity.
If your child has an enlarged spleen, avoid contact sports — such as soccer, football and hockey — and limit other activities as recommended by your doctor. Modifying your activities can reduce the risk of a ruptured spleen.
It's also important to wear a seat belt. If you're in an accident, a seat belt can help prevent injury to your spleen.
Hereditary spherocytosis and hereditary elliptocytosis are congenital RBC membrane disorders. Symptoms, generally milder in hereditary elliptocytosis, include variable degrees of anemia, jaundice, and splenomegaly. Diagnosis requires demonstration of increased RBC osmotic fragility and a negative direct antiglobulin test. Rarely, patients < 45 yr with symptomatic disease require splenectomy.  (+ info)

Can you tell an enlarged liver and spleen?

---

I have mono, but i'm over the worst part and now just recovering. However, my liver and spleen are still enlarged according to blood tests. The upper part of my stomach by my ribs seems bigger than normal as if it is puffed out. I know my liver and spleen are located in this region, but is there suppose to be a physical difference that you can see? Or am I just imagining this?
I doubt the puffiness comes from an enlarged spleen, maybe it is due to the enlargement of the liver but I frankly doubt it since you are recovering. The enlargement would be physically noticeable only if you had uncontrolled cirrhosis of the liver due to severe retention of water in the abdomen, and these cases most commonly happen in cirrhosis due to alcoholism not to mononucleosis, so I'd say you are probably imagining that because you are a little bit worry about your illness, as anybody would be.  (+ info)

how serious is strep throat to a person without a spleen?

---

I live in a house with roomates that are all complaining of severe soreness in the throat and I had my spleen removed 4 months ago.
im no doc but i would think any kind of infection could be dangerous to you-see your doc to put your mind at rest and to get medication in if needed x  (+ info)

What does mono have to do with your spleen?

---

What does mono have to do with your spleen?
the doctor says that i cant like skate or do anything that i could hit my spleen or i have to get surgery because i just had mono and was in the hospital for a week.....why exactly?
The spleen enlarges with mono. It's usually protected by your ribcage, but when it's swollen it moves down and is more exposed. It's also very delicate and prone to damage if you fall or bump into something, and it's a very vascular organ that bleeds a lot when it's torn or ruptured. So to avoid internal bleeding and surgery to remove your spleen, you'll have to take it easy for a while until you're fully recovered and your spleen is back to normal.

Feel better soon.  (+ info)

Is it possible to fight an infection with out a spleen?

---

A close friend of mine , living without a spleen has been in and out of the hospital for 2 months. It started with H1N1 flu, then many other infections that put him back in the hospital.
Will the infections ever stop. Dose my friend have a chance at a normal life again ?
"Is it possible to fight an infection with out a spleen?" -- Of course it is. While a person who's had splenectomy might be more vulnerable to infection that doesn't mean the rest of the immune system out of commission.

"Will the infections ever stop?" -- I can't predict this and neither can anyone else. It certainly helps to be fully immunized. He should avoid people who are obviously ill. Good hygiene and hand washing are a part of this. Your friend must be vigilant for any early signs of infection and must report these to his doctor right away. Your friend will probably have to take prophylactic (preventive) antibiotics for 2 years. This is usually prescribed after splenectomy. He should make sure that the medical personnel he has contact with throughout his life are aware that he has no spleen. He could carry a splenectomy card or buy a MedicAlert-type ID that states "Splenectomy August, 2009" or whenever he had it. He should make sure his lifestyle is as healthy as possible.

"Dose [does] my friend have a chance at a normal life again ?" -- Yes, he has a very good chance if he takes the right steps to achieve it.  (+ info)

what is a appendix and a spleen suppose to do?

---

I was just woundering what a appendix does or use to do and the same withy the spleen?
The appendix has no known function in humans. Evidence suggests that our evolutionary ancestors used their appendixes to digest tough food like tree bark, but we don't use ours in digestion now.
Your spleen acts as a filter for your blood, cleansing it of bacteria, viruses and other debris. When blood flows through your spleen, white blood cells attack and remove any foreign invaders. This keeps your blood clean and helps protect you against infection.  (+ info)

Can a diabetic live without a spleen?

---

I've been trying to research this for some time now and I've found absolutely nothing about diabetics and splenectomy. I have found that splenectomy can cause diabetes but not the effects on someone who is a diabetic already.

I would like to hear your input of if someone can live without a spleen being a diabetic. I would like to also see where you got your answer from. Websites, personal experiences, etc.

And please, no snide remarks.
The spleen is part of the lymphatic and circulatory systems and there is no major role in diabetes or blood glucose regulation. There does seem to be some uptake of glucose or other sugars by the spleen, but the significance of this is not apparent, so its still an open question how much the spleen affects carbohydrate metabolism.

The spleen produces, stores and destroy blood cells, and it's primary role is destroying foreign cells and old blood cells that are past their prime and in enabling rapid release of extra blood cells when there is cut or an infection. It may also have other roles that are not obvious. Other parts of the body perform the same primary functions as the spleen, so its not essential, but on average, people with splenectomies have poorer health and shorter life expectancies than people with spleens. A person with diabetes that has a splenectomy is far more likely to have complications from a splenectomy than a person without diabetes, but there is no specific problem - its just one more health issue that can make it more difficult for the body to cope with a severe infection or other future medical problem.  (+ info)

Is it possible to have leukemia without the signs of a swollen spleen?

---

I posted a couple days ago with more info but I just wanted to add to it. I have horrible pains but I don't think my spleen is swollen
Yes, it is certainly possible to have many types of leukemia without a terribly enlarged spleen. I did not see your other post, but certainly if you are concerned about leukemia, a good physical exam and a complete blood count (CBC) would help put that issue to rest.

God bless, best wishes  (+ info)

---

---

• Home
• Our method
• Usage examples
• Index

• Statistics
• Contact

---