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When you have fibromyalgia, you often find yourself becoming a bit of an armchair physician. After all, the lack of information out there about fibromyalgia leads many people to spend hours online researching the subject. And that research often leads to research about dozens of other rare conditions. But one condition you might not have come across yet is a pretty serious one called hepatosplenomegaly.
Essentially, it’s a condition where both the liver and the spleen grow significantly. There are a number of different things that can cause this to happen. But a few of them are common conditions in people who have fibromyalgia. So, let’s talk about what the condition is, how it might be related to fibromyalgia, and how you can treat it.
What Is Hepatosplenomegaly?
The liver and spleen are both vital organs that help in the production and recycling of cells and the filtering of toxins in the body. Generally, these are pretty hearty organs that can sustain a lot of damage. The liver, in particular, can take a lot of punishment. Doctors generally say that you can have up to fifty percent of your liver removed and suffer no serious problems.
But that doesn’t mean that they are indestructible. And there is a huge list of things that can cause your liver and spleen to become enlarged. A few of these conditions are:
- Chronic liver disease.
- Alcoholism.
- Systematic lupus.
- Hepatitis C.
- Bile duct obstructions.
- Cancer.
- Chronic high blood pressure.
All of these conditions can be fatal, so it’s important to get to the bottom of what is causing hepatosplenomegaly and treat the underlying condition. And the first step is recognizing the symptoms. The most common symptoms of the condition are abdominal pain, fever, chronic itching, jaundice (yellowing of the skin), frequent hiccuping, dark urine, frequent bleeding, and nausea.
And it’s worth noting that several of the causes are of particular concern to people with fibromyalgia.
How Is It Related To Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia comes with a wide range of related conditions. But two of them are worth noting when it comes to possible liver damage. We know that people with fibromyalgia tend to suffer from autoimmune conditions at a higher rate than the general public.
And we know that people with fibromyalgia often struggle with high blood pressure. We aren’t always completely sure of what these links are, but both of these conditions are treatable. But if left unchecked, they can lead to inflammation of the liver and spleen, which can cause hepatosplenomegaly.
So when you have fibromyalgia, it’s important to be aware of these risks. And it’s also important to be aware of the effect they might have on your internal organs and to get treatment as soon as possible.
How Can You Treat It?
The first step in treatment is getting an accurate diagnosis. Over time, the symptoms of this condition usually get worse. And if it goes undiagnosed, it can lead to liver failure. But there are a few things that doctors can do to diagnose the condition. Usually, the doctor will listen to the patient’s symptoms.
If the symptoms suggest that they might be suffering from enlargement of the liver and spleen, they’ll typically order a few tests. The most common tests are x-rays of the abdomen to look for visual signs of growth and blood tests to check for elevated enzyme levels that might suggest swelling.
After the doctor confirms that you have the condition, they need to determine what the underlying cause is. Because there are so many different possible explanations for the condition, treatment will vary widely based on the cause.
If you’re suffering from a bile duct obstruction, for instance, you’ll likely need surgery to remove it. But if you have liver cancer, you will likely need a surgery to remove cancerous growths and then rounds of different cancer therapies.
With that being said, the condition sometimes results from things that you can control like drinking too much, smoking, or a poor diet. By making adjustments to these lifestyle issues, it’s possible to help reverse the symptoms.
It’s best to seek medical attention if you’re suffering from serious symptoms. Getting treatment early is very important to prevent further damage. So, listen to your doctor and let them make a judgment about what the best way to treat your condition is.
So, do you have hepatosplenomegaly? Do you think it’s related to fibromyalgia? How did you recognize the symptoms? And what underlying causes should people be aware of? Let us know in the comments.
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