hi Sarah, My husband Glen has had this surgery in May of 2003. It’s something I wouldn’t rush into, with out getting a second opinion. he was dx with thrombocytopenia in Sept.2002, his platelets failed to come up. It was thought that his spleen was destroying the platelets, doc advised the spleen should be removed and that should correct It, 70% chance it would. The platelets never did come up. Splenectomy is a major surgery, he had blood and platelet transfusions prior to the surgery. It took a long time for recovery, he had a stroke 2 mo. after. Short term memory loss, had to learn speech, reading, writing etc., he still hasn’t got everything back yet, but is doing fairly well. And then in Aug. he developed an incisional hernia. The surgeon said he could not have corrective surgery because there would be danger of another stroke. The surgeon found nothing unusual in the spleen, no tumors,or fibrosis, a healthy spleen. He was dx with Mds. in Sept. 2003.Your husband is much younger than Glen so possibly would go through it easier. Ask the doc lots of questions, % research on the internet. By the way we are coming to N.C. in 2 wks. for a family reunion, are you near Charlotte? Good luck with your decision.
Ellie
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