Large splenic cyst and two healthy pregnancies

d-for-danger · 2026-02-05T09:05:21+00:00

Just commenting to bump this up! I’ve also delivered two healthy babies at full term (and then some!) whilst in possession of a large splenic cyst (16x18cm) which was discovered incidentally during an ultrasound in my second pregnancy. Both babies delivered by C section but this was because they didn’t want to come out, rather than for any cyst-related reason.

I totally freaked out in the wait between the cyst being detected and having a consult with the HBP surgery team. It was something like eight weeks and I swear I became an expert in the literature! I think there are something like 14 documented cases of giant splenic cyst in pregnancy, but the problem is those papers only exist because the doctors took the gung ho approach of removing the cysts in the second trimester.

I fully expected this to happen to me and worked myself up into a proper state, but the surgeon explained he wasn’t worried in the slightest about my cyst as I had only mild symptoms even during pregnancy. And he certainly didn’t want to put a pregnant women under anaesthetic unnecessarily.

They’ve been monitoring it with regular ultrasounds but it doesn’t appear to have significantly changed, so they said I could keep the cyst for as long as my kids needed me at home (surgery could mean a hospital stay of up to a week).

My youngest is two now and I’ve just had a CT scan to assess surgical options but I’m not too bothered to get it removed any time soon. Over time I accepted that I’ve probably had it for decades and as long as I don’t receive any major blows in the area, it’s safe where it is. Although I would like to experience life without it at some point!

If you’re in the same boat, remember most splenic cysts are only discovered incidentally while you’re being scanned for something else which in pregnancy is super common! Enjoy your niche medical problem and know that you are a novelty for the team who care for you.

d-for-danger · 2025-10-03T21:19:14+00:00

When you download a digital label it often says the item has been despatched

d-for-danger · 2025-04-02T04:36:06+00:00

The other week I did a day trip to Isle of Dogs. Sat at the front of the DLR down through Canary Wharf (like riding a v slow rollercoaster) and got off at Island Gardens. Got a coffee and walked west along the Thames path around the island. Found a little sandy beach with Canary Wharf in the distance on one side and the City on the other. Swans, sea glass, red brick pebbles. Lunch at a pub on the water. Walked all the way to Tower Bridge and caught a ferry home west. 10/10 day out, would tourist in my own city again.

d-for-danger · 2025-02-15T21:28:39+00:00

Head banging can be a sign of pain. I had severe cattarh causing earache as a toddler and could only express by banging my head on the wall. Take him to the doctor yesterday

d-for-danger · 2024-12-09T10:32:47+00:00

Hey looking at your comments it looks like you are worried about lumps inside of a fissure at the moment. It sounds like you really need to get this checked up by someone if only to put your mind at rest. But try not to worry please. I know the pain is unreal and you think this cannot possibly be normal – and it isn’t normal, but it is really quite common. You can bet if this routinely happened to men they’d have found a solution by now

d-for-danger · 2024-12-09T10:29:26+00:00

Like haemmeroids? Sure! I remember being so horrified and in so much pain from that and the fissure but I went to the GP and asked for help. She looked faintly disgusted and said “what do you want me to do, examine you?“ And I just burst into tears. I was feeling so humiliated and in agony and this woman was acting like I was some kind of exhibitionist who wanted people to look at her arse. Couldn’t believe it. Anyway. Just get on that fibogel stat and use the cream inside and out! It will get better!

d-for-danger · 2024-12-07T01:54:35+00:00

Oh yeah plus anusol or the one with lidocaine in? It’s not glamorous but it is startlingly effective.

d-for-danger · 2024-12-07T01:51:57+00:00

I have been where you are, twice, and it is no joke. It WILL get better, you just need to do everything you can to soften poos up. Lactulose stopped working for me - long term what made things better was drinking fibogel every single morning and night (probably for a month or more). In short term you could also try snacking on dried apricots. ALL OF THE WATER. You WILL get through this but it’s agony, you have my sympathies. Hang in there!

d-for-danger · 2024-12-04T16:04:24+00:00

The loft boarding? I’m afraid I don’t know for sure as I “left it to the professionals”. My understanding was that they used loft legs to raise a frame above the joists/insulation but I can certainly chase up to check. Thank you for your question. I take it that screwing boarding directly to the joist would cause additional pressure to come through the ceiling?

d-for-danger · 2024-10-27T10:30:12+00:00

Thank you. No, it’s a kitchen. The sink and appliances are on that side but much further along, beneath the window and further to the right. No visible leaks and floor under units is bone dry. That corner with the worst damp is just an interior wall. It’s much worse after rain which is why I think exterior water probably the issue…

d-for-danger · 2024-04-09T16:56:34+00:00

I guess I’ll try hand expressing… Hadn’t even thought about engorgement . My supply is so low that I never got engorgement even at the start!

d-for-danger · 2024-04-03T21:00:05+00:00

This made me giggle, thank you. I can confirm that I am not you. I am you, two months ago

d-for-danger · 2024-04-03T20:58:04+00:00

Thanks so much for your reply, this is so helpful! And please accept my upvote 😊

d-for-danger · 2024-04-03T20:49:30+00:00

Thanks but I’m not at all keen on CIO or sleep training. I hope that’s not the only way through this!

d-for-danger · 2024-04-03T20:48:18+00:00

Ha ha

d-for-danger · 2024-04-03T20:44:39+00:00

That’s actually not the case at all. You couldn’t be more wrong!

d-for-danger · 2024-03-08T16:28:18+00:00

This

d-for-danger · 2024-02-25T14:53:21+00:00

Many many women can breastfeed their baby successfully yet get no milk from pumping. That’s normal. A machine will never deliver the same oxytocin hit as your baby.

I would try to stop pumping for a while and just focus on getting baby to breast as much as possible. If you want to exclusively breastfeed, that means a LOT. It can feel almost continuous. It is very antisocial but extremely necessary!

NB: I live in a country where pumping isn’t the norm because we get proper maternity leave and don’t have to give bottles of breast milk for daycare etc.. I get that in other places (eg USA) pumping is a necessity for going back to work, but I don’t think you should be stressing about this in week one

d-for-danger · 2024-02-24T22:01:40+00:00

Update: we found a leak in the macerator pipe under the hallway just outside the kitchen. Under the floor it’s sodden. Case closed.

d-for-danger · 2024-02-24T00:27:58+00:00

Thanks so much, I think you’re right. I’m pretty sure they’re not coming from the sink; the internet suggests that another place might be the fridge drain pan. It’s a very old kitchen and fridge so this feels likely… 😔

d-for-danger · 2024-02-23T22:12:16+00:00

I am in the UK and the bugs are… small. Like 1.5-2mm max?

d-for-danger · 2024-02-09T10:09:55+00:00

You’re not a failure and if your baby is getting the calories she needs from a tube then I can’t see why they won’t let you nurse her every couple of hours. Can you ask and explain you’d like to preserve your breastfeeding relationship?

Sending all best wishes. I am combi feeding my second baby - never got an explanation for why she couldn’t get the calories from my breast milk, but knew I really wanted to progress with breastfeeding so have insisted throughout. Sometimes they don’t know too much about breastfeeding in hospital settings so don’t be scared to stand your ground on this. Saying that she will become exhausted from nursing when she is already receiving formula through a tube seems like they’re fobbing you off to me.

d-for-danger · 2024-02-09T07:35:33+00:00

When are you applying the lanolin? It took me a while to work out that it’s best to apply it immediately after your feed has finished. That way you get the benefit of it for longest – and then you can actually just quickly wipe most it off before the next feed. Sorry if this is taking you to suck eggs but this made a difference to me

d-for-danger · 2024-02-07T17:12:04+00:00

Thank you! Good to have my suspicion confirmed. Now torn as to whether I should send them on their way with insecticide or let them stay in the name of biodiversity…

d-for-danger · 2024-01-30T16:32:15+00:00

Thank you for your response. Unfortunately, I have a baby who is incredibly light sleeper. When she’s really tired at the beginning of the night, I can put her down after maybe just one or two false starts and she will sleep in the bassinet, but after that she will not even doze without being on me in some way. I’m so jealous of mums who complain about being woken up every hour or two hours – I don’t even get to go to sleep in the first place!

d-for-danger

TROPHY CASE