After 8+ yrs, been formally diagnosed with Lyme, Bartonella, Babeosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic sinusitis, encephalopathy.
New to LLMD. He's slowly has introduced me to: Minocycline (50mg/every other day) Magnesium Glycinate Taurine Immunotix-36 (some general immuno-booster) Iodine
Also on Cymbalta Adderall Neurontin
Started getting swelling in overall stomach (common when I feel like I'm getting sick).
2 days ago started with swelling & light pain in upper left abdomen. Swelling slightly visible (tho overall swelling makes it hard to see). It's pretty uncomfortable, but not unbearable - getting worse though.
Any ideas - is this the "herx-ing" I've heard so much about?
At what point to I head to the hospital to check about possible rupture?
LLMD is 3+ hrs away, so I can't see him. I suspect I should stop the meds??? I'm just too new to the official treatments to tell if this is normal.
Thanks for your suggestions!!! Teri
Posted by StillSick (Member # 17835) on :
Anyone else even HAD a swollen spleen too? Seems no one is responding!?!?
Posted by Michael_Venice (Member # 17254) on :
I had lots of uncomfortable spleen--mostly BEFORE I got diagnosed. It seems better now. For a long time, I couldn't lay on it. I had general swelling also, of the whole abdomen would bloat. It scared me (all of it scares me). Once it got bad, I went to the ER, they did a CAT, nothing found.
Babesia, I think I've read, can affect the spleen. And I think pain there is in that GIANT list of possible lyme symptoms.
However, if it HURTS, you should do something.
I have this "at what point do I go to the ER thing" with heart stuff, and have had it with other thngs too. I wish there were some guidelines.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Can you put a call into your LLMD?
I've had spleen pain, but it could be something else entirely.
Better to err on the side of caution.
I wish I could tell you it was nothing,
But it may warrant a trip to the ER.
Sorry.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Hey there still...
Sorry to hear about your belly jelly-like look.
BUT...
If you even think you have a medical emergency, please head to the ER immediately.
Just so you know, there are no doctors here, and no one HAS to respond to any posts.... and those who do are just kind patients (volunteers) who drop by as they can to share their own experiences.
You really should not be waiting for a reply to a question about a potential medical emergency if you are concerned about your health in any manner.
I say this because we certainly wouldn't want you to have problems because you posted in a chat room rather than sought medical help when needed.
It is for YOUR protection. OK?
So my suggestion would be..
If you think you are having spleen problems, go to the ER.
It is NOT my place to suggest this (below), but I will. It is NOT medical advise and I am NOT a doctor.
If this were happening to me... I would stop all meds till I got competent medical advise... and go to the ER if I couldn't reach my LLMD.
Hope you feel better. Please let us know how you are doing.
Posted by StillSick (Member # 17835) on :
I getcha. I know no one can be an MD, but you've had and experienced more than most of the docs I've had over 8 yrs...best then to ask you.
I'm not sure it is an emergency. You tend to know when you HAVE to go to the ER, but you never are sure when you "probably" should go. I was trying to avoid the being "too late".
The distended abdomen is still there, but not as much. So, it seems like the spleen has retracted. I think the spleen is swollen in addn to the stomach so it's hard to tell which is which. I've read a couple of these infections cause both, which is a relief.
Yes, I've always have severe abdomen swelling whenever I start getting sick (over the past few yrs at least). And, I can't lay on my stomach lately (how I sleep best) b/c the swelling from the spleen is so bad. This has been the case whenever the acute diseases come back...I'm praying not again, but it appears so.
You never seem to know you have an organ till suddenly it hurts or is swollen. Then, you can look at a health chart & say "yup - w/o question, that is the organ with the issue".
I had ovarian cysts for a long time & I felt the same way. This is a spleen issue. But, why - I don't know. How bad? I don't know.
Just wondering if anyone else knows how bad it "could get" or when I should go to the ER....b/c we all know the ER can't do much other than charge a lot for telling me it is or is not ruptured.
So far as the internet can say "ruptured hurts a lot". How much is a lot??? Sure hurts...?
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)