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Original poster

Gallbladder polyp- wait and watch

36 replies

Emilycheltenham · 02/04/2025 15:03

Has anyone else been previously or is currently on 'wait and watch' of a gallbladder polyp where they have to have regular scans to see if the polyp has grown??

My polyp showed some growth at my last scan and I am so so anxious, as the thought of surgery terrifies me.

The surgeon I spoke to privately said to just continue watching and waiting as my polyp is only 5mm and may not continue to grow to a point where it needs anything doing.

I don't know how to stop thinking about it though.

Can anyone help??

OP posts:
Catsinaflat · 02/04/2025 19:30

I had two on my gallbladder that disappeared between scans. The scans were two years apart.

Patcherdog · 02/04/2025 19:32

Yes me. I don't think it's unusual. I'm not in the least worried. I think my polyp was 6 or 7 mm.

TTCNO2AT44 · 02/04/2025 22:22

Catsinaflat · 02/04/2025 19:30

I had two on my gallbladder that disappeared between scans. The scans were two years apart.

This is very reassuring thank you. I had a private abdominal ultrasound for other reasons and a 3.5mm polyp was seen. My NHS GP was not a bit interested in rescanning due to the size. I pushed and pushed, they caved but then the scan was refused by the clinic! I spoke with a private consultant and he did say that sometimes they aren't polyps at all, more "folds" that appear like a polyp on scan. It's been over 12 months now and I've pondered on paying again privately.

Original poster
Emilycheltenham · 02/04/2025 22:59

Catsinaflat · 02/04/2025 19:30

I had two on my gallbladder that disappeared between scans. The scans were two years apart.

Do you remember what size they were the first time round?

OP posts:
Original poster
Emilycheltenham · 02/04/2025 23:00

Patcherdog · 02/04/2025 19:32

Yes me. I don't think it's unusual. I'm not in the least worried. I think my polyp was 6 or 7 mm.

Did you have to have scans to monitor the size?

I'm only anxious cause it seems my polyp has grown since they first found it, and I'm terrified of surgery if it should reach 10mm

OP posts:
Patcherdog · 03/04/2025 07:57

Emilycheltenham · 02/04/2025 23:00

Did you have to have scans to monitor the size?

I'm only anxious cause it seems my polyp has grown since they first found it, and I'm terrified of surgery if it should reach 10mm

Show quote history

Yes. I believe they will keep monitoring regularly and take action if it exceeds 10 mm in size.

Patcherdog · 03/04/2025 07:58

I think the gall bladder operation is very routine

Original poster
Emilycheltenham · 03/04/2025 08:06

Patcherdog · 03/04/2025 07:57

Yes. I believe they will keep monitoring regularly and take action if it exceeds 10 mm in size.

Show quote history

Thank you. How long did they monitor you for? Im guessing yours never grew beyond that point then?

OP posts:
ByLovingGuide · 11/06/2025 22:26

Emilycheltenham · 02/04/2025 15:03

Has anyone else been previously or is currently on 'wait and watch' of a gallbladder polyp where they have to have regular scans to see if the polyp has grown??

My polyp showed some growth at my last scan and I am so so anxious, as the thought of surgery terrifies me.

The surgeon I spoke to privately said to just continue watching and waiting as my polyp is only 5mm and may not continue to grow to a point where it needs anything doing.

I don't know how to stop thinking about it though.

Can anyone help??

Hi sorry to ask but just read your post I’m in similar position as you.
can I ask how many scans later was there growth in your polyp? Was it second scan or third scan or 4th scan?

Pinkrabitt · 11/06/2025 22:31

I've just been told I have this. I was told to get another scan in a few years. I have health anxiety and have managed not to Google!

ByLovingGuide · 12/06/2025 07:35

Pinkrabitt · 11/06/2025 22:31

I've just been told I have this. I was told to get another scan in a few years. I have health anxiety and have managed not to Google!

How big is yours?

Pinkrabitt · 12/06/2025 08:01

I can't actually remember but think it was under 5mm.

ByLovingGuide · 12/06/2025 22:34

Pinkrabitt · 12/06/2025 08:01

I can't actually remember but think it was under 5mm.

How come in a few years… ideally it should be 6mths but then again that all matters on risk factors I’m Asian ethnicity thats one of the reasons why I need to be scanned at 6mths then one year…

Pinkrabitt · 12/06/2025 22:59

I don't know. The radiologist said not to worry about it but get it checked again in a couple/few years i can't remember exactly. She said they grow very slowly so nothing to worry about, just need to be aware of it. It was found incidentally so I can imagine loads of people have them without knowing. I have no symptoms or risk factors.

Original poster
Emilycheltenham · 12/06/2025 23:07

What size is your polyp if you don't mind me asking? X

OP posts:
Original poster
Emilycheltenham · 12/06/2025 23:10

The growth showed on my first follow up scan, a year after it was first found. I've got to be scanned again in a couple of months.

Are you anxious about yours?

OP posts:
TeachA · 12/06/2025 23:10

I had my gallbladder removed due to a polyp in 2019.I’m sure it wasn’t even that big but it was causing me abdominal pain and there was family history of gallbladder cancer so; even though the consultant said we could watch and wait, I just had it removed. It was a routine operation and everything was totally fine.

TeachA · 12/06/2025 23:11

(I say the date as it was pre-Covid- lots seems to have changed since then.)

ByLovingGuide · 12/06/2025 23:37

Emilycheltenham · 12/06/2025 23:07

What size is your polyp if you don't mind me asking? X

Mine is 3.1mm

ByLovingGuide · 12/06/2025 23:38

TeachA · 12/06/2025 23:10

I had my gallbladder removed due to a polyp in 2019.I’m sure it wasn’t even that big but it was causing me abdominal pain and there was family history of gallbladder cancer so; even though the consultant said we could watch and wait, I just had it removed. It was a routine operation and everything was totally fine.

Did they do a biopsy on your polyp?

ByLovingGuide · 12/06/2025 23:39

Emilycheltenham · 12/06/2025 23:10

The growth showed on my first follow up scan, a year after it was first found. I've got to be scanned again in a couple of months.

Are you anxious about yours?

So did yours grow then?

ByLovingGuide · 12/06/2025 23:40

ByLovingGuide · 12/06/2025 23:39

So did yours grow then?

Show quote history

I’m ok today but yesterday I was very depressed about it… just overwhelmed by it..

ByLovingGuide · 12/06/2025 23:43

Emilycheltenham · 12/06/2025 23:10

The growth showed on my first follow up scan, a year after it was first found. I've got to be scanned again in a couple of months.

Are you anxious about yours?

I’m not as anxious as I was yesterday the way I look at it is if I had anything sinister going on the doctors would be doing something about it. And right now I’m fine and hope nothing comes of it. Two more ultrasounds and finger crossed if all good then I guess it will be discontinued. 🙂

TeachA · 13/06/2025 07:04

ByLovingGuide · 12/06/2025 23:38

Did they do a biopsy on your polyp?

Show quote history

Yes, they did. It was all normal.

Original poster
Emilycheltenham · 13/06/2025 18:56

That's good.

I wasn't anxious either as I wasn't expecting it to grow. I only became anxious when I had the second scan and it showed growth. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed it won't have grown any more, or even that it's just measurement error which is common apparently

OP posts:
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