@linda82 To be honest, its not urgent until its suddenly urgent, If you are not having gallbladder attacks then its probably not something you have to do right away, but *please* talk to your doctor about it.

Gallstones are pretty common, and not everyone has gallbladder attacks if they have gallstones. The problem is that if the gallstone blocks the bile duct, and bile backs up into the liver and/or pancreas you can be extremely sick.

I don't think you can stop gallstones from forming, but if since you have a large gallstone, I would avoid fatty foods. When you eat fat your gallbladder contracts and adds bile (an emulsifier) to your gut. If you have a gallstone it may block the bile duct and then you have the intense pain and risk of complications. I would avoid the "olive oil and grapefruit juice" thing - that's going to call your gallbladder into action and perhaps cause an attack.

I was able to have laproscopic surgery despite multiple prior abdominal surgeries including a total colectomy and j-pouch construction. The surgeon was concerned I would have too much scaring and adhesions, but this turned out not to be the case.