Has anyone had an enlarged spleen?

I had an ultrasound a few years ago and my spleen seems to be remaining normal.

Good morning, @rubye. Welcome to Mayo Connect!
Having an enlarged spleen can be so uncomfortable with pain, feeling fullness in the abdomen and sometimes difficulty in breathing deeply. Radiation treatments can be useful to help shrink a spleen that’s enlarged in patients with CML. So I’m sure you were hoping those symptoms would go away quickly.

From my understanding, radiation therapy can take several weeks to show effects on an enlarged spleen. Some patients may notice a reduction in spleen size relatively quickly but most of changes tend to occur over a period of weeks to months. There can be some inflammation that remains around the area of treatment.

Have you discussed the lingering pain with your oncologist? When was your last treatment? Has there been a repeat ultrasound to see if there’s been a reduction in size? Are you currently in any other treatment for you CML?

@loribmt
Hairy Cells clogged mine, so they took it out. Got a bunch of anti-pneumonia shots. No problems. Splenules (little spleens) grew back

Mine is about 17.5 cm, and I believe that the normal size is 12 cm.
My Doctor attributes it to my Polycythemia, and its bright overworked processing the excess blood cells caused by that condition.
I have it checked annually and so far I haven’t had any pain or discomfort.

Fortunately, not me. I have had an ultrasound that confirmed mine is normal.

Yes, like you, I have had five rounds of radiation therapy and still have pain. I was informed that the radiation can continue for months working on the spleen. Yet, honestly, like you I went through the therapy to reduce the pain and it is not working. I do have pain medication but I was really hoping to reduce the amount of medication from the therapy. Best of luck to you!

I just had an ultrasound found mine was at 18cm. Been uncomfortable full feeling and short of breath. Taking 1000mg Hydroxyurea now for almost two weeks not as uncomfortable as at first but still have full feeling and short of breath. How long before I will feel back to normal? 3 weeks or months what is everyone experience?

Mine has been about that size for at least 2 years now and so far I haven’t had any discomfort or issues. Doing annual Ultrasounds to keep an eye on it. My Doctor says it’s enlarged due to needing to process the excess blood cells caused by my Polycythemia. I am on Hydroxyurea 500mg 4xweek.