Apologies if long.

I've been having numerous pains for like 2 years now - Ache in my right side (originally concerned about pancreas due to pancreatic cancer in the family), sharpish pain right side of stomach just below the ribs (possible biliary duct blockage) and other random RUQ pains. The NHS here in the U.K is a joke - took me a year to get an ultrasound which found a polyp, was told it wasn't cancerous and is nothing to worry about and wasn't causing my pains. Eventually got referred to a gastroenterologist and had to insist on getting another ultrasound on the polyp, still waiting. His knowledge of polyps seemed poor and when i mentioned about U.S healthcare he said they recommend GB removal for the $$$. Did have a CT scan which showed nothing, booked in for an MRI, still waiting.

After doing lot's of reading on GB polyps i have found out numerous things:

- No real way to tell if it's cancerous without removing the gallbladder
- Gallbladder cancer has a fuking 5 percent survival rate
- It should (would in the U.S) have been monitored every 3-6 months, any growth over 2mm or polyp over 10mm would have been removed
- Polyps most certainly can cause the symptoms i've been having
- 5 percent (more in some studies) turn into GB cancer = death sentence. That's Russian roulette with 20 chambers and one bullet. I would not play that game.
- Polyps smaller than 10mm can be cancerous
- In the U.S polyps over 6mm recommend GB removal (mine is 6mm)
- Even small ones can be cancerous
- Symptomatic polyps should be removed

2 weeks ago i quit that thing that is legal in many states but not in the U.K (capsule form). About 1 week into it my pains all got a lot worse plus a horrible uncomfortable feeling in my right side under my ribs, may or may not be related.

It's got to the point where i can't function day to day due to the uncomfortableness (to be fair the pain is mild to moderate and comes and goes, not severe), serious fatigue (new symptom, maybe withdrawal?) and being filled with dread that i've not got long left...

Just wondering if anyone had any experiences with polyps and what happened? GB removal seems like it ruins some peoples lives so i don't want to do it if it's not absolutely necessary.

The Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound put out new guidelines in 2021 basically cutting back any follow up for most gallbladder polyps, at least from an imaging standpoint. They don’t typically show up on CT, usually use ultrasound for evaluation. Could be some sort of biliary colic/functional gallbladder disorder.

I have polyps and was scanned 10 years ago and no follow up since.

If your gastro sounds useless, find someone good online through their research papers or whatever then go private. Also request the scan from hospital and show it to someone you know is good for second opinion. I should probably get mine checked too.

Had my gb removed.

Been fine since, no issues. Didnt have to change my diet or anything.