I had mine removed last year. I honestly never looked back. I was feeling rubbish, run down and in pain for so long beforehand. Immediately I felt better. I was obviously in pain afterwards but painkillers sorted me out. I had keyhole but they nearly had to open me up as it was completely jam packed with small stones plus quite a few big ones so it was a struggle to remove but thankfully surgeon managed.
I had it removed on the Wednesday and had to go back to a&e on the thurs morning as a staple had come out and I was bleeding out. Wasn't really an issue as I was a bit high on pain killers and actually had a right laugh with the doc who re stitched me. I didn't get up and about properly until the Monday.
Make sure you have someone with you the next day as you really won't be fit for anything but loo trips - you won't be wanting to tackle stairs for instance. I got the stitches out a week later and still had to take it easy but was out and about and feeling so good.
I didn't ever suffer from any issues afterwards and can eat or drink anything except a lot of cream or a lot of cider lol.
One word of warning though I was prescribed co-codamol (can't remember the dose but it was a high one) for flare ups prior to op and also on discharge from hospital. They worked great then but since recovery I can't take them or else I suffer from excruciating abdo pains the exact same as the gall bladder attacks. I was even sent for an MRI scan as they thought there may have been stones sticker in the biliary duct or wherever. It was all clear but I realised I only had the attacks within an hour of taking co-codamol (I used them for back pain etc as I had a large supply left over). I've never had an attack since stopping.
A friend had regular attacks after her removal also and ended back in a&e and yes she had also taken codeine and a&e gave her more thus exacerbating the problem. She's stopped taking them and has never had another episode either so worth bearing this in mind.
Please don't worry about it I'm sure it will be really straight forward like me. Also if you have rubbish veins ask them to put meal cream on prior to anaesthetic, it numbs your hand and I never felt a thing.