Lindie, if you can, please don't put off having the stones or gall bladder removed. Now days they can do keyhole surgery and apparently that isn't painful to get over at all and you only have a tiny scar. I left mine and it became extrememely inflamed and I ended up having to have a major operation and now have a large scar across my stomach and I will admit it was quite a long and painful recovery.

Good luck.