Does Spleen Removal Affect Digestion?

Posted on Mon, 2 Jun 2014

Question: Hi I had my spleen removed when 15. have had a number of health problems in my life. Someone has said my digestion likely to be bad ie how much I digest food. Thinking maybe I would benefit from eating good diet eg lots of veg, no processed food , low amounts of alcohol. I have been doing liver flushes and a lot of stones have come out - think maybe got a lot of stones because no spleen, lso no tonsils. Do you think having no spleen has affected how I digest food and can I improve digesyion in another way like eating good diet. Thanks

Answered by Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (2 hours later)

Brief answer.....spleen removal has no effect on digestion
Detailed answer....
Hello,
Thanks for the query.
Spleen is the place where immune system of body works.Removal of spleen results in some loss of immunity in long term.You become more susceptible to certain infections like pneumonia,flu and malaria.Removal of spleen has no effect on the digestion of the person.

Improvement of digestion can be achieved by adopting good like style and healthy eating like....
Avoiding smoking and tobacco
Moderation consumption of alcohol
Doing regular exercises
Drinking plenty of water
Eating lots of vegetables and fresh fruits
Avoiding deep fried foods,greasy foods,sugary foods,junk foods and colas
Eating nuts and fish and avoiding red meat.
Doing meditation,yoga and deep breathing exercises.

I hope it helps,however you may revert to me for any further query.
Best of luck
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (6 hours later)

What do you think of liver flushes. I take olive oil and grapefruit mix at 10pm in the evening Also Epsom salts 4 times at various times . The next day I pass a lot of green soft stones. Have done it every 2/3 weeks. Have done it 36 times - passed about 3900 stones. I have seen pictures of livers from people who have died with stones in . Believe it will mean my liver will work a lot better when cleared of stones. Follow person called XXXXXXX Moritz for it. - from various books. Thnaks

Answered by Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (1 hour later)

Hello,
In my opinion it is dangerous thing to do liver flushes repeatedly,if you are having so many of gall stones,because any stone can get lodged in bile duct and can send you to ER for the emergency surgery.
Very frankly speaking,if you are passing so many of gall stones ,then best course of action would be to get it confirmed by getting an ultrasound done and getting the gall bladder removed,if gall stones are confirmed.
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (1 hour later)

Sorry I do not think you have answered the question her. I did not mention gallstones. I mentioned 'green soft stones'. Gallstones are are hard stones mainly from the gallbladder. The stones I am getting out are from the liver and are sometimes referred to as intrepatic stones. An ultrasound will not show up the green soft stones. I believe the gallbladder is necessary (or why else would we have it) so I am not going to get it removed. what I am doing is taking olive oil ang grapefruit and green soft stones are coming out the next morning. I belive they are from the liver because I have seen photographs of livers from dead people which show the stones that have come out of me. Could you comment on whether you think this is what is happening. Can find out about the liver flush by googling XXXXXXX moritz liver flush Thanks

Answered by Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (1 hour later)

Hello,
Intrahepatic stones are generally found in people belonging to east Asia and in 40% of the people having intrahepatic stones have gall stones also.Intrahepatic stones are very rarely found in western populations.
Intrahepatic stones can cause various problems like fever with chills and upper right quadrant pain in abdomen.
An ultrasound or CT or MRI of abdomen shall reveal the presence of intrahepatic or gall bladder stones.
If you are convinced that you are suffering from intrahepatic stones,then best is to get an CT abdomen done along with laboratory testing of the stones ,which you pass.
This shall clear the picture.
Thanks

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar