So 10 months ago I had my spleen removed while I was 34 weeks pregnant due to a splenic aneurysm. I spent a week in the ICU and when they discharged me just said I needed shots every year. The more I'm looking online I'm seeing people taking penicillin and antibiotics but every time I ask the dr when I was still in the hospital and even after they said I just need shots and don't worry about anything else. Among other things they have a malpractice suit from me but now I feel they just didn't care to tell me what I need to do. I just moved and am looking for a new doctor but in the mean time should I be taking penicillin and getting antibiotics?
Hello Samantha. Are you in UK? I just thought that maybe different countries have different guidelines. Maybe guidelines are different for expectant mums. I've been prescribed penicillin v twice a day (morn and night) for 17 yrs since splenectomy for immune thrombocytopenia also vaccines. Also if you show signs of infection you must see your doctor straight away as your spleen was your main defence for bacterial infection. Congratulations for your new arrival wjen baby arrives. Pauline
Hello Pauline, I am actually in the US. They just told me to stay away from people who are sick (including my son) and if I get a fever over 100 to go to the emergency room. They said I didn't need to take anything, including vitamins. But the more I read I feel I should be. I do my best to stay away from people when they are sick but I want to do more just don't know what. Sorry that I'm ignorant to this whole fact, didn't have the option to do research or anything before hand because it ruptured unexpectedly. Thank you for replying!
Hello Samantha. I understand how scared you are. I was too but its difficult to avoid poorly folk and especially your son. Shortly after my op I cared for mother with horrid vomiting/diarrhoea bug and didn't
catch it. I cared for my
daughter with swine flu and
was well. Ive been in hospital
twice with ear infection and
cellulitis from insect bite. Had
iv antibiotics n was ok. For
resistant bugs to penicillin
there are different types of
meds eg. Mycins ciprofloxacin. They attack
bugs differently. The medics
at emergency have lots to
make sure you get well. The
vaccines I had were hib
meningitis (like babies)
meningitis c + other letters (a
combined vac) pneumavac.
Meningitis + pneumo every 5 yrs I think. Meningitis b has
recently become available
now US has got friendly with
Cuba. They developed it
years ago and offered it to the
world for free but the US
government held it up until
after Franco passed over. I hope this info makes you feel safer. 17 yrs and still around to moan about it. Feel free to contact again if you need to let off steam or just if you would like to. Regards Pauline
I am 38 and had an open splenectomy in May 2016. I know some people who have no spleen are on a daily dose of an antibiotic, but my doctors insist that is not necessary and can actually even be harmful. Although I have been told to get on an antibiotic if I feel the slightest bit sick so that's what I will do.
I've only gotten sick once since the surgery and it was just a cold. I recovered without an antibiotic.