I had mine taken out about a decade ago. It is actually the most common surgical procedure performed in the U.S.  

I had extreme cramping if I tried to eat or drink even water. It felt like I was passing razorblades through my stomach. The surgery itself is no big deal. A few very small incisions. I was a bit tender in my abdomen for a few days after, but no serious pain or restrictions other than no heavy lifting for a few weeks. You can be in and out of the hospital the same day, maybe an over nite stay at most. I do remember my bill came to over 40k. Thank god I was insured at the time.

 Ever since the surgery and to this day I have issues with food that I eat. My colon tends to want to purge my meals within about an hour after I eat, I used to only need take a dump every couple of days or so. Now my body says "Oh you ate a half hour ago, well I am dumping that meal now, by now I mean NOW." Its also best if you start eating less fatty food. I have cut a lot of the grease and crap out of my diet and that helps me as well. Some people have these digestion issues after the operation and some don't.  

Good luck with your surgery, I hope this info helps.  

I have been having abdominal pain and bloating for about 2 years, was finally told the  
same thing a few days ago - there are naturopathic ways to remove gallstones - I am
researching alternatives to surgery 'cause I don't like being under the knife.

Hope all goes well,sweet lady, prayers for a safe and speedy return to health.....

Sorry to tell you a chiro is not going to get rid of gallstones. Only surgery is going to do that. There are somethings that alternative medicine can and do help this is not one of them.

Re: Advice for any surgery

The only thing is -I have been having symptoms, I actually thought I had something major going on and got kind of freaked out when googling my symptoms: things like pancreatic cancer came up...now I know I tend to get "hypochondriac-y" so I was trying to think of how to ask my doctor to check my pancreas next visit, lol...
thank goodness that's not the problem.
          I always thought people with gallbladder problems must eat fast food, and or fatty foods, let me just say how wrong I am. I have been eating a diet of 80% organic for the past 4-5yrs now. I don't consume much sugar or carbs and lately I've been on a fruit kick...but I guess my problem is there- & for whatever reason the doc. Yesterday says it's something I should do soon.  
I will get a second opinion just from circumstance, yet I've got all kinds of helpful PM's and emails with people telling me their own experience...sounds like the symptoms I had been having are just a taste of whats to come if I don't get the surgery...

 
so I'm pretty sure that will be what I chose. I can't enjoy any food indulgence, lately, ever with out extreme pain and vomiting so yeah I think it's the gallbladder  problem.  
Anyway thank you Abby, for your advice I'm certainly no stranger  to doing things as basic & natural as possible, But I'm betting within the next couple months I will be gallbladder free!! Lol    
     
Fingers crossed I will bounce back quick.