Spleen Removal

Hi again Dalesman sorry to hear that you are going to have your spleen removed. It's actually not that unusual for your type of NHL but let's see if any group members have had the same done.

Half way through my main chemo my consultant said "Mike, just so you know your spleen is no longer functioning and it is just taking up room in your body"........ coming up to 10 years on it is still not functioning so my immune system is that more reduced but all manageable.

All the best with the opp.

Thanks for your reply, are you on any medication like antibiotics?

In the first 4 ish years after my second SCT I was 5 times back in hospital (32 days) with Chest Infections, Lung Fungal Infections, the RSV Virus, Pneumonia x2, Neutropenic Sepsis x2 and this was with me on Clarithromycin but had to stop them in April 2022 as I had a heart attack so the Clarithromycin had to stop to allow me to have higher heart meds.

For the past 4 years I have had 2 sets of emergency antibiotics available on repeat prescription that I can take when I think I have a chest infection coming on and I think that this has worked well.

Blimey.  It's all a bit scary, but guess you get in the swing of it, and accept it. 

It’s all about learning to identify stuff that would come along normally, what could be Lymphoma related and the infections that can appear…… you get into a rhythm.

Hi there. Sorry you are going thru this. I had my spleen removed in 2014 as I had splenic marginal zone lymphoma. Can’t say it’s affected me massively although I do pick up infections easily. Having said that I think any cancer makes you susceptible to infection. I was told to be really selective where I went and who I mixed with especially children and I have stuck to that as much as I can. Apparently little ones are the biggest carrier of germs. Have you had the flu and pneumonia vaccines, shingles as well if they will give it to you? I’ve been on Phenoxymethylpenicillin since I had mine out. Have they mentioned antibiotics to you? Good luck with it, like any surgery it’s not pleasant but I found I recovered really quickly and had painkillers on drip, literally ️

Please don’t hesitate to ask anything I haven’t covered. I think it’s good to talk to somebody who has actually been thru it. 
Good luck 

Hi Cattie,

Many thanks for your reply, that has reassured me.  I live in a remote part of The Yorkshire Dales, so contact with people is limited.  Guess I'm more worried about infection from animals or the ground. 

Imagine you soon adapt to a different lifestyle, and just have to be more careful. 

I’m glad you feel reassured. I actually found the iv chemo worse than the surgery. My Consultant never mentioned infections from animals or the ground so not something I’ve thort about but you can never be too careful. Just make sure you get the vaccines if you haven’t already had them and the antibiotics.

good luck 

I've had flu, covid and shingles vaccines. The rest I'm having after the op, as they seem keen for me  to have the op ASAP. 

They did say I'd be on antibiotics for rest of my life. 

All as it shud be then. I think you’ll feel a lot better when your spleen has gone. I cud barely lift my head up I was so lacking in energy. After my spleens (I had two but that’s a whole other story) were removed I felt better straight away. Let us know how it goes