Juvenile Polyps with IBS – Do not take these polyps for granted.
The Accidental Discovery
An IBS sufferer often does not know that they have polyps until it is discovered unexpectedly via examinations for other reasons. For example, some doctors may request that an IBS sufferer go for an ultrasound to see if there are any blockages but they end up discovering polyps in the body.
Do Not Blame IBS
Many people do have polyps in their body irregardless if they have IBS or not. Polyps should not cause any immediate alarm to you as most are benign. If it has been discovered that you have polyps, there is nothing you can do to undo the polyps besides for surgery.
No Cause for Alarm
So the best thing to do, is to calm your nerves and think logically. Have the doctor tell you what the next steps are. If the polyp is minute in size, it often does not prompt any further action besides for a regular exam to ensure that it is not growing in size year after year.
If however, the polyp has been discovered a long time ago and recent examinations prove the polyp to be benign and not growing in size, then you are often safe to decrease the frequency of exams to two to three years before the next examination.
The Last Alternative
Should the polyp start growing in size and have the potential to become cancerous, the doctor will have you informed that surgery may be the next step to prevent any future threatening situations to your body. It is a good idea to always receive a second opinion before performing surgery however.
Setting Possible Expectations is Important
It is far more common that polyps are benign for the duration of one’s life, but it would also be a good idea to be mentally ready, should the polyp grow in size and/or the doctor recommends the potential need for surgery. This way you are not caught off guard or alarmed should there be such a need to do so. Again however, malicious polyps are not very common.
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