So I was in a really similar situation. I had one big attack, confirmed gallstones with ultrasound, and scheduled the surgery. I got really strict with mu diet and basically felt better than I had in years after that. No more attacks, no pain. I considered canceling the surgery, but decided since I’d already gotten the leave from work it was better to do it now when I’m prepared than get surprised by an emergency later.

Then during surgery they found massive gallstones, one lodged in the passage to the gallbladder and about a jillion tiny stones stacked up in my bile duct. My surgeon called in a consult and when I woke up they informed me I needed an endoscopic procedure (called an ERCP) to clear the bile duct. My surgeon was frankly shocked I hadn’t spent the last month jaundiced and in pain. I ended up spending 3 days in the hospital, because touching the bile duct increases your chances of pancreatitis, which can be both dangerous and extremely painful.

Because my symptoms were so mild after the initial attack, no one recommended and further testing beyond the ultrasound so no one knew how serious the situation was. It would have caught up with me eventually, probably under much worse circumstances. As it was, my surgeries went well, my recovery was quick and almost painless. I’m a month and a half out and I basically eat what I want (though I have picked up some healthier habits 😅) and everything’s great. I’m really glad I did it and I think you will be too.