Gallbladder Polyp - Anyone have any insight (sorry for long post)

[Rusty73]

Anyone had one and any advice?

I’ve been seeing doc about water infections and constipation and I’ve been treated for ibs but after consistent water infections with no infection showing in water sample I had an ultrasound scan. They said the results would be back in a week so I left it for the surgery to call me back as the results are usually never there when I call. Two weeks later I’d heard nothing so I called, the receptionist said the note on my file was “done and dealt with referred back to hospital for further test”. I was a bit shocked and she told me to call the hospital. The hospital then said that she couldn’t tell me anything except the appointment was on hold until May 2018, but that I should ring back the surgery and demand to speak to a doc, she thought it was disgraceful that I had not been told a thing.

I spoke to the doc last Monday and she didn’t even give me a chance to sit down before she said “so the results of your scan there’s a small polyp on your gallbladder it’s nothing to worry about some people have them, so we’ll send you for another scan in three months”

I mean that was in the first 15 seconds of the appointment, I know this because I always record on my phone, because she talks so fast I can never remember what she said. Anyway I know this is all irrelevant to the question as such but I am still angry at how I was not going to be told if I hadn’t called, and how my ten minutes appointment was over or “done and dealt with” in under 6 minutes leaving me a bit dazed to be honest.

Anyway, as you do, I have tried to research and found an actual medical paper describing the types of polyp and they are 95% benign but it seams that there is a bit of a conflict over whether to remove the polyp or leave it and do scans at intervals to check for growth. My immediate reaction was “whip it out” as in my gallbladder because I know people have them removed but is there a case for this being a problem? Would I be worse off without it? It’s not an appendix after all, so how do I know I will be better off with it gone all together- especially as I have a fatty liver.

That’s another point. I am menopausal but can’t tolerate hrt, I have high blood pressure and take rampril and about 8 years ago I had high cholesterol. I lost a couple of stones and the cholesterol and liver blood test results came back good. Since the peri-menopause started about 5 years ago I have just put a load of weight back on, I am 5’4” and weigh 11st7lb /165lb so about bmi of 27 and I can’t seem to move it, I started running but my knee has put a stop to that so I am back to no exercise and stuck at this weight. Btw I have just turned 45 not 65 or even 55 so the menopause thing is pretty depressing to me - luckily I do have kids so it’s not as bad as it could be.

I’ll stop ranting now. Starting to feel pretty sorry for myself haha.

If anyone has any insight into any of this I would be grateful to hear/read it.

🙂

[Hidden]

Hi Rusty. My advice would be to get another 10 minute appointment with your GP. Take a notepad with all the medical questions you want answered and a pen to write down the answers. The only way to effectively lose weight it a low fat low sugar healthy diet and stick to it and get plenty of exercise. Even a good daily walk will help. The weather's improving, the evenings are going to be lighter come the weekend so there's no reason not to. Enjoy it and good luck !🌞

[Rusty73 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Laura - good advice, I will make a list of questions for after my blood test and see her again.

[LAJ123 in reply to Rusty73]

Completely agree with laura,

Two further suggestions.

As well as a notebook, take a trusted friend / partner. Two ears are better than one !

Also, request a ' double appointment ' that way you shouldn't feel too rushed and as you do seem to have complex problems you certainly need more time.

Having said that, most surgeries seem to have a ' one problem per appointment ' rule.

You're right about the gall bladder being an organ we can live quite happily without. When a liver is transplanted the gallbladder is not used and I haven't noticed any difference since mine.

Take care and keep us informed.

Jim

[Rusty73 in reply to LAJ123]

All good advice again thanks Jim, I did wonder I know people have had gallstones but wonder why I have read about leaving the polyp and just doing scans to check back, wouldn’t it be better to get rid of the problem before it gets worse?

[Hidden]

Hi

How big is the polyp? Usually there's only cause for concern if it's bigger than 10mm.

[Rusty73 in reply to Hidden]

Hi, she didn’t say just said a small one, I will take my husband with me on next scan and he can ask the question - if they will tell him that is!

[Purplelamp]

I was diagnosed with gallbladder polyps in 2001. They monitored them for a while via ultrasound. Gallbladder didnt need removing. They werent growing. I had h pylori and for some reason they wanted to remove the gallbladder then (due to gastritis I think) I refused to have it removed. I do get bloat from time to time but no gallbladder pain. I am having an ultrasound in April due to my GGT & ALT being slightly raised. I put that down to drinking alcohol though ( which I have stopped) we will see if the gallbladder has changed with the ultrasound. If they are still small they will leave them.

[Rusty73 in reply to Purplelamp]

Wow, 17 years of monitoring then ! I did read an article that it may take 6 years to notice any growth but surely all cases are not the same. I just hate how vague the doctor is. Maybe she knows what an anxious personality I have and trying not to worry me but I would rather know everything that nothing! I think she said my liver was 57 which she wasn’t worried about, before she realised that was from May last year, even though I asked if I needed blood tests six months ago. I’m thinking that may be the ALT ? Like I say - vague! Anyway thanks for your reply it’s great to hear what other people are going through, until this week I had never even heard of a gallbladder polyp!

[Purplelamp]

No they only monitored them for about a year or two. They dont seem to have caused me any problems since. It would be interesting if they are what is causing my raised levels now though.

[Rusty73 in reply to Purplelamp]

This is what I worry about. My doc seems to forgot about my liver problem and unless I remind them they say nothing. Wonder if they get charged for sending patients for tests? It’s scary to think but the patient really is the only person that cares about the outcome we really have to tell the Doc’s what we think is wrong and what we want them to do or it gets brushed under a carpet. Sorry to bring all that up, maybe it is connected I read they can move or something and block ducts which gives symptoms, funny that I went for a scan on my bladder for recurring uti no other symptoms apart from ibs-c so it would not have been noticed at all if not for that.