# Quality of life without a spleen? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 1, 2007, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165 "2007-03-01T16:21:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165/21 "2012-09-04T14:18:59Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > I know that I am responding to a message that is several months old, but I just noticed it now because of **Paul Z** ’s comment. I have no spleen as well. I had **thought** I only got a Pneumovax vaccination several years ago when I was in hospital for a few months and they realized I was asplenic but probably had never had any shots that one should get under the circumstances (I say “probably” because they’d have to pull my medical records from a few decades ago and from a different province to check). > > I got Alberta Health to send me a statement a few weeks ago of what shots they had a record of (as part of the requirements for being a hospital volunteer) and lo and behold they claim that I got a meningitis, haemophilus, AND pneumonia shot, all on the same day. Are those shots normally combined into one? I’m sure I didn’t get 3 needles on the same day! I’m actually not familiar with the various formulations of vaccines that are available. I do know, though, that the haemophilus and meningococcal vaccines do exist as a commercially prepared combination. Whether that was available for you, of course, I have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_Z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5fc32e/32.png) [@Paul\_Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_Z)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165/22 "2012-09-04T20:22:08Z")
I have read that the Neisseria meningitis vaccine only lasts 3 years? In my case I’m sure I have not had it in that time frame, however from what I’m reading, though my systems seem very meningitis like, Neisseria meningitis is not a long term situation, more of a sudden and severe illness. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165/23 "2012-09-04T20:31:18Z")
My mom lost her spleen in an automobile accident over 30 years ago, with no noticeable side effects. Except that whenever she does something that’s not to clever or has something unlucky happen, we shake our heads sadly and say “that wouldn’t have happened if you still had your spleen.” ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165/24 "2012-09-04T21:15:20Z")
Spleeeeens! ---
**Author:** ![jtenhave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@jtenhave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtenhave)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165/26 "2013-03-28T18:15:40Z")
A word of warning to fellow spleen-less ones: don’t ever become complacent about infection!! I did and I almost paid with my life! I had my spleen removed in 1983, due to an inherited blood disorder, and had no issues for 29 years. I always kept my pneumovax up to date and got the flu shot. Then in the fall of 2012 I ignored fever/chills for 4 days (it’s just a virus…) and ended up with sepsis and endocarditis. Spent a week in ICU, then had to have open heart surgery when the infection was under control because the endocarditis chewed up 2 heart valves. Spent 4 weeks in hospital all together. This all started while on vacation in the USA, fortunately had travel medical insurance, and after 4 days in ICU in Oregon the insurance co medi-vacced me back to Canada where the rest of my care was handled by our wonderful BC health care system. The system has its flaws, without a doubt, but I can’t say enough about the care I received. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165/27 "2013-03-28T23:35:35Z")
> [@jtenhave](#): > > [. . .] Then in the fall of 2012 I ignored fever/chills for 4 days (it’s just a virus…) and ended up with sepsis and endocarditis. Spent a week in ICU, then had to have open heart surgery when the infection was under control because the endocarditis chewed up 2 heart valves. Spent 4 weeks in hospital all together. **This all started while on vacation in the USA,** fortunately had travel medical insurance, and after 4 days in ICU in Oregon the insurance co medi-vacced me back to Canada where the rest of my care was handled by our wonderful BC health care system. [. . .] Did you drink the water? When you travel in foreign lands, _don’t drink the water!_ ---
**Author:** ![listedmia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e0b2c6/32.png) [@listedmia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/listedmia)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165/28 "2013-03-29T09:17:18Z")
It’s pretty cool that Canadjun has replied to this thread twice, 6 years apart, and seems to be doing pretty well spleenless. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165/29 "2013-03-29T17:39:25Z")
> [@listedmia](#): > > It’s pretty cool that Canadjun has replied to this thread twice, 6 years apart, and seems to be doing pretty well spleenless. Shall we make it 3 times? 😃 Yes, I am still alive and kicking. I get bladder infections **a lot** mostly because I am paraplegic and self-catheterize, but I am sure being asplenic doesn’t help the situation. Haven’t run into any diagnosed heart issues yet (“diagnosed” because I know enough to realize that it’s conceivable something could be brewing, but if so it hasn’t produced obvious symptoms). ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165/30 "2013-03-29T18:23:47Z")
Medical advice is best suited to IMHO. Note that this thread was started in 2007. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![DitaVelveeta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/278dde/32.png) [@DitaVelveeta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DitaVelveeta)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165/31 "2013-07-26T18:17:33Z")
If anyone has had blood tests that show an MGUS, and has had fevers, hives, arthritis or other symptoms along with an enlarged spleen, you may have something called Schnitzler’s Syndrome. I have that and I am thinking that I will eventually have to have my spleen taken out. I can’t eat large meals and I get deep pains in my stomach… Just a thought - I found this page through a google search of “life without a spleen” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165/32 "2013-07-26T18:23:55Z")
[Desi]“Lucy! You got some spleenin’ to do!”[/Desi] ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165/33 "2013-07-26T19:52:22Z")
> [@dinahmoe](#): > > I had my spleen removed in 1987, secondary to thrombocytopenia. I live a totally normal life with no restrictions. I have had some problems with vasculitis, but I still remain active (skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, hiking etc…). I haven’t had any problems with my immune system, but I did get the Lyme vaccination since I live in a high risk area. I enjoy adult beverages with no problem. Your post got me excited - as I was unware their was a vaccine for Lyme Disease - and as a somewhat regular hiker - am afraid I’m going to miss a tick one day. Anyway - apparently it was taken off the market - not because it doesn’t work, but because increased threats of (what seems like baseless) lawsuits made it unprofitable… > **[Why Your Dog Can Get Vaccinated Against Lyme Disease And You Can't](https://www.wbur.org/news/2012/06/27/lyme-vaccine)** > > Modern science has given us a vaccine against Lyme disease. But we don't use it. Now I’m pissed off - according to the article some people are getting the vaccine from vets. ETA: Oh and just realizing this is a zombie ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165/34 "2013-07-26T20:04:06Z")
My mom had her spleen removed in the late 70s after a traffic accident injury, and I’m not aware of any adverse health effects on her. She’s still kicking 35 years later. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165/35 "2013-07-26T20:13:49Z")
That’s okay, we’re about due for an update from **Canadjun** , aren’t we? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2013, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165/36 "2013-07-27T03:35:22Z")
Do we know why the OP had his spleen removed? The underlying cause of the splenomegaly is more likely to weigh on survivability than being asplenic… Have we heard from the OP since the OP? ---
**Author:** ![radairc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@radairc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/radairc)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165/37 "2014-04-07T12:09:28Z")
I know this thread is pretty old, but can anyone tell me about anesthesia after a splenectomy? I keep having folks tell me that if you have no spleen, they can’t use anesthesia on you for future surgeries. That just doesn’t sound right to me. Anyone know anything about that? ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165/38 "2014-04-07T14:58:33Z")
I had my spleen out in 1972, and have had other major and minor surgeries. No problems with anesthesia at all. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165/39 "2014-04-07T15:02:17Z")
I had a splenectomy as well as a lot of other repair work done to my insides after major injuries in 1977. Since then I have had a kidney stone removed surgically (not sure if it was removed because lithotripsy wasn’t main-stream then or whether it was too big for lithotripsy), a repair to one of my ureters, skin grafts due to scalds (I have extremely poor sensation below my waist/hips, so I can do major damage without feeling it), and several “flaps” to repair a deep pressure sore. Those were all under general anesthesia. ---
**Author:** ![Spleenless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Spleenless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spleenless)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165/40 "2017-02-10T00:22:11Z")
The doctors told me i would have less energy when i had my spleen removed over 45 years ago,in addition to not fighting illness very well.i did ok up until 2012 I developed a spine infection and blood poisoning,i have adhd and i wonder is there any connection to serotin and the spleen.i have been told i have a brain aneuyism and i wonder if my thick blood poses a danger.I read that spleens would grow back in children under 14.I had fibroids removed in 1994 and my doctor said I had many baby spleens.I was 14 and half when I lost my spleen due to a sled accident.i have also read that spleen removal interupts the chakkra energy flow thru your body.In my opinion ,I dont think there is much info about long term effects of spleen removal. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165/41 "2017-02-10T01:30:48Z")
I believe my cousin had his spleen removed… along with his pancreas, gallbladder, kidneys, and part of at least one intestine. (He got a new kidney from his brother). He seems pretty functional. I can’t recall him mentioning any _spleen_-related issues, anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-of-life-without-a-spleen/394165.md?page=3)