Gallbladder polyps: What should I know?

So, I was at my doctor's appointment earlier today, and they ran an ultrasound, which apparently revealed two polyps—one of them is about 10mm in diameter, if you can believe that.

I suppose I should ask, has anyone else here dealt with something similar? And more importantly, is there any specific diet or certain foods one might consume to potentially shrink them, or even just prevent them from getting any larger?

It’s quite frustrating, really, because I keep stumbling upon all these detailed posts regarding postoperative diets and what people ought to eat when dealing with gallstones, but when it comes to polyps specifically, I can't seem to find anything useful at all.

I think surgery is the way to go. Go see a surgeon for a consultation and find out what they say.

I’m on the same page. If it’s long-term and potentially carcinogenic, just get it handled. A friend of mine had her entire gallbladder removed because of stones, and she doesn't miss it at all. Honestly, she says she can eat even better now than she could before. :-)

Why gamble on it turning into something nasty when you can just cut it out and be done with it?

Yes, a polyp can develop into a tumor or cancer.
Gallstones can turn cancerous too, though it's rare.
Usually, you're looking at gallbladder inflammation, pancreatitis, infected bile, gangrene, and so on.

If you've got any issues at all, the best move is just to get it removed and get back to living your life.

Look, just go see a surgeon and let them give you the straight talk. Surgery is really the only medical way to handle it. Sure, there are "alternative" methods out there floating around the internet, but they aren't actual medicine, so they won't be covered in this PDF.

I’ve got a few tiny polyps myself—maybe 3-4mm—which I found during my annual abdominal ultrasounds. Mine are cholesterol polyps, basically a souvenir from eating like crap for years. From what I’ve gathered from doctors, it’s incredibly rare for these things to turn into cancer. Honestly, whenever you even mention the word "polyp," most doctors just start waving their hands dismissively, and I was one of those people who jumped at the mention of it too. I remember an abdominal surgeon telling me about two years ago that according to standard medical literature, you only really need to look at surgical removal once they hit the 10mm mark. As long as you stay disciplined and keep monitoring them, you can manage it just fine.

Joining the discussion. My doctor recently found a small nodule during an ultrasound—likely a polyp about 4mm in size. They advised a follow-up in 6 to 12 months, noting that if it grows beyond 12mm (or potentially disappears), they’ll recommend gallbladder removal. During my endoscopy, they also found quite a bit of bile in my stomach, so I can't help but wonder if there's a connection... It's a bit unsettling thinking these polyps could turn into something malignant. On the other hand, I'd rather just get the gallbladder out now if necessary, since I've heard that living without it can lead to other issues. I have a consultation with my gastroenterologist this Tuesday, so I'll see what they suggest regarding everything. Also, they mentioned it might be linked to cholesterol levels. Mine used to hover right on the edge at 4.9, though everything eventually stabilized; my last reading was around 3.5, just a week after my stomach procedure. My liver enzymes were slightly elevated then, though still within the normal range. Generally, I've always been thin and find it nearly impossible to gain weight, except during pregnancy...

Sent from my iPhone 15 Pro using Reddit