Gall bladder polyp has grown during pregnancy and I am worried

[Babno3]

Hi all,

I was diagnosed with gall bladder polyps about 4 years ago. To my memory the largest was 7mm (I have 15 of them) and was to be monitored but with covid etc none of that ever happened. A few weeks ago I had extreme stomach pain and felt like throwing up and couldn’t stand up straight. So I went to the doctor and she red flagged a follow up abdominal scan which today I received the results for. So my polyp is now 11cm and obviously I am very worried and i have been referred to the surgical team. I’m also 15 weeks pregnant and really just reaching out to see if anyone here had a polyp this size? I’m really hoping it is not malignant and I know it’s not that likely but any insights would be greatly appreciated 🫶

Why are they not just removing your gallbladder?

@EvelynBeatrice this is what I don’t understand either I was on the waiting list to meet the surgical team since 2022 and kept getting letters to ask if I still needed an appointment to which I replied with an absolute yes. But my doctor only told me I should have been getting scanned twice a year based on how big the polyp was. I really hope they remove it but god knows what the waiting list is like.

Bump

I’m sorry. That’s lousy. You probably don’t have the energy for it right now but I’m afraid it’s the squeaky wheel that gets attention - write down all that’s happened with dates and keep chasing. If you can afford seeing a private gastroenterologist it might be worthwhile.

Maybe recorded delivery letters copied to gp, surgical team and everyone looking relevant from google of your health trust. Make sure you ask questions like ‘what impact will delaying further treatment have on my health, pregnancy and my unborn infant? If I have surgery what additional safety measures or adjustments will be necessary as I’m pregnant? ‘Etc. Make your problem their problem.

I didn’t have a polyp but had gallstones and a removal done privately as the nhs waiting list was long and I had private medical insurance through work. It’s the most commonly performed surgery in the western world so the U.K. is pretty expert at it if that’s of any reassurance.

@EvelynBeatrice thanks for all that really good advice! It’s a hateful situation to be in. Plus I have a holiday booked since last year and it’s in June and I just hope I get it either over me before that or have it after as I know if you refuse the app they can take you off the list even though I’ve been waiting 5+ years already lol fingers crossed I will be seen soon!

Fingers crossed for you. X

Another thought - can the maternity team - maybe the head midwife - assist by pushing things on internally/ raising a concern with gastroenterology?

On your holiday, do check that your travel insurance isn’t invalidated- it might well be because of this - sorry.

If you haven't already disclosed this to your travel insurer, you need to otherwise it will invalidate your entire policy.

You can look up waiting times for your trust. https://www.myplannedcare.nhs.uk/

If you're on a suspected cancer referral pathway then the faster diagnosis standard means they should rule in/out cancer within 28 days and start treatment within 56 days (if cancer). Obviously these targets are not always met but this is what the targets are. (The "two week wait" was abolished years ago.)

https://apps.worcsacute.nhs.uk/KeyDocumentPortal/Home/DownloadFile/1964

I dont know if link will work but it may be worth your while googling NHS UK clinical guidelines for treatment of gallbladder polyps. I found the Worcester ones which may give you useful info and I imagine there are others. You’ll want to ask questions about deviations from these protocols in your treatment or lack of it. If they are NHS badged, they should be fairly reliable.

I've had polyps in my gallbladder for years but they don't cause any trouble.
If yours is causing an issue then you need to ask for more info from your healthcare provider.

So a little update I got a call today from the outpatients department that a surgeon consultant wanted to see me as soon as possible and I’m in next Wednesday to discuss my plan. So while I am so glad to be getting seen I can’t help but be worried that the think it might be cancer? I haven’t even had to wait 2 weeks to get an appointment. Does it seem like they’ve upgraded me to red flag? Sorry if I sound dramatic but I’m just getting worried.

I understand why you're worried but I don't think speculating is helpful. Insofar as I'm aware there is no such thing as upgrading someone to red flag. They're just triaging the people on the suspected cancer referral pathway and offering you the earliest suitable appointment.

You will drive yourself mad speculating. Just try and stay in the moment and deal with facts. Right now the only fact is that you have an appointment soon.

I don’t have any advice I’m afraid, although I have had my gallbladder out over ten years ago. Other than occasional diarrhoea and an intolerance to rapeseed it hasn’t affected me too much. I do know a couple of people who suffered during pregnancy but the doctors wanted to wait until the baby was born before doing surgery. I have heard of people following a holistic approach to getting rid gallstones, I don’t know if polyps could be reduced in the same way? And if you have to wait for surgery anyway it’s worth looking into.