Splenic Cyst

I have not but I would be interested, I am from Connecticut. How would I look at a list of organizations in my area?

The GI decided to put me on a stomach acid reducing medication before the endoscopy. I have been on it for 4 weeks and no changes yet. After 8 weeks of no change, he will do endoscopy.

I am still having all of the same symptoms. I have noticed the pain comes when I am up and about- I have to sit to relax the pain. Although, today I was sitting and my pain began and has not gone away since. It has been since about 9 this am. I have called my GI to see if there is anything I can do for the pain as it stops me for moving around when it comes.

Hello @emmie13

Nice to hear from you again. If you are interested in looking for a multi-disciplinary health care center you should look at places like Mayo Clinic or another research-oriented health care center (like a university medical school). Are you near to either of these types of institutions?

As you live on the east coast, a number of our members have been to Mass General in the Boston area and have been pleased with their care. @contentandwell and @merpreb are two members who go to Mass General.

If you are interested in an appointment with Mayo Clinic there are three locations, Minnesota, Florida as well as Arizona. If you are interested in an appointment, click on this link, https://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments?

Hi all! I would just like to provide you with an update. The GI I was seeing finally referred me to a specialist since the stomach acid meds were not working. The surgeon reviewed all of my test results and images and agreed right away it was my spleen. I was scheduled for surgery 2 weeks later. He was prepared to do it the following week, however, I was not. I was very nervous and just had a few things to take care of beforehand. Fast forward and here I am almost 4 weeks post op. He removed 1 of the 3 cysts (the largest one) as he believed it was the one cause if my issues. He wanted to preserve my spleen. He was able to remove the cyst laparoscopically. Unfortunately, the cyst ended up attaching to my liver which resulted in him taking a nice chunk of the liver. I am forgetting the medical word he used for it, but there was a ton of stuff left behind from the cyst on my diaphragm as well. He had to do a lot of scrapping to get the cyst out. I may not see relief for a few months but so far I think this is going to help out a lot. Thank you all for your help!

Emmie, so good to hear from you and to get an update. How is the recovery going? Are you doing any specific recovery PT? How is your mobility?

So 7 years ago they found a 2cm cyst in my spleen and now it is 11cm as of june 3rd I now have massive pain in my side it almost makes me think of contrastions are spasms. I also have dizziness and throw up daily . When I roll over on my right side I literally can feel my spleen fall over and as soon as it does acid shoots up my throat. I turn over on my left side and I feel like i can't breathe. I can't lay flat on my back due to back problems. I also weigh 163 pounds wear a size 7 in pants well did until the beginning of this month now I stay so swollen I look like I am 9 months pregnant. But the doctors keep telling me they don't know if they want to take my spleen out are not they can't tell me if it's cancer are not plus I have a whole lot of other health problems going on. But I have been a very sick person my whole life if someone coughs around me I get a cold I get pneumonia and bronchitis like 5 or 6 times a year for no reason I am at a loss for what to do just wondering if anyone went through anything like this

@renesbaby19 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. In this community based forum, we’re not medical professionals so we can’t diagnose health problems or prescribe treatments. We’re members just like you who share personal experiences and insights to help find answers, give suggestions and offer encouragement.

Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry for what you’re going through and not finding answers. Living with this level of stress and discomfort daily sure takes a toll on your mental health as well.

When was the last time you’ve been checked by your doctor? Have you had recent blood work? A complete blood count can reveal quite a bit about underlying blood health and infection.

I guess I don’t understand why a biopsy of your spleen hasn’t been done to rule out cancer. Having a known cyst on your spleen with increased size warrants further investigation. An enlarged spleen can be a cause of increased infections such as you’re having.

Do you have an option of finding another medical facility. Preferably a larger medical clinic or teaching hospital? Are you near a Mayo Clinic location in Minnesota, Arizona or Florida? I’d really suggest having a second opinion for your peace of mind and to help you get healthy!

I’m posting to a link on Mayo Clinic’s website regarding an enlarged spleen. Not to frighten you, but to give you information that you can use to discuss this with your doctor.
Will you consider a second opinion?

I was told that they couldn't do a biopsy because of all the veins and vessel in your spleen it could cause me to bleed out. I went to the surgeon today July 6th 21. They still given me the run around. And I live in VA the hospital I go to is a teaching hospital they use to be the best but not so sure now and would love a second opinion. Also no one has told me that it is enlarged. Did you get that from what my symptoms are?

@renesbaby19 Oh you’re right, I did misinterpret what I read in your post. Where I derailed was when you mentioned you had a 2cm cyst and now it’s 11cm so basically it went from less than an inch to over 4 inches. A spleen is a small organ measuring about 4-5 inches wide, 3 inches high and 1.5 inches deep so adding 4+inches in any direction changes the dimension. But it also depends on whether the cyst is inside the spleen walls or attached to the outer surfaces. I goofed…sorry.

For several months in my past medical journey, my spleen was enlarged. Your description of turning onto your right side and feeling the pressure from your spleen sounded familiar along with some of the other symptoms you described. I wasn’t making a diagnosis so I’m really sorry if I gave you that impression.

From a little research about splenic cysts, the most common symptoms are spleen swelling, pain and bloating in the abdomen, compression of surrounding organs, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and effects on the cardio respiratory system such as pain, shortness of breath and coughing.
You mentioned having other medical problems. Do any of these symptoms coincide with yours?

Also, from my reading, it’s fairly typical to take a wait and see approach to splenic cysts. I’m not sure your surgeon is giving you the runaround. Considering now that you’re being seen in a teaching hospital you have access to highly trained doctors in that field. There are several types and classifications of splenic cysts. Complete removal of the spleen is rare when treating them but depending on location, cysts can sometimes be surgically or laparoscopically treated.

I looked on past discussions in this group and would like to bring @emmie13 @mustanggirl1967 @leazard They all have experiences with Splenic Cysts and can hopefully give you some first hand advice.

How was your cyst discovered? Also, which tests have been run to diagnose the type of cyst? This might help when chatting with the other members.

Ohh I am not mad I was just asking and yes I have all of them symptoms. And they said the cyst is inside my spleen. The surgeon yesterday is new one and she told me that she hasn't even seen my CT scan yet but she talked to me and pushed on me and she told me that she would be able to look at the cyst and know if it is cancer are not which makes no sense to me. When it was found 7 years ago it was by accident and at a different hospital and they stright looked at me and told me I had cancer but they hadn't done any test either they just found it . So here I am 7 years later and it's bigger and gives me all kinds of problems and I still can't get it out are get any answers. The hospital is a teaching hospital but If you are not in the hospital then you are just seeing doctors outside the hospital like the surgeon isn't in the hospital but she does due surgery there

@renesbaby19 I’ve been doing some more reading on Splenic cysts and gathering it’s rare that they are cancerous. But they do grow over time, creating all of the uncomfortable symptoms you’re having. However, there several types and classifications of the cysts so it can take time to correctly diagnose and decide the course of action.
I can certainly understand how frustrating this is when you’re feeling so ill and not getting any relief.

CT scans, MRIs and ultrasound are means of diagnosing the cysts by size, margins, location, shape and density. So let your surgeon have time to evaluate the CT scan and your records. Since she’s a new surgeon for you, it will actually be a second opinion and perhaps she can shed some new light on what treatment will be available for you.

Do you have a follow up appointment with your new doctor?