Gosh, sorry to hear that. I know loads about gallstones and could bore anyone with them because after living with attacks for 2 years, when I was diagnosed I then spent another year trying to control them - I didn't want to rush into having the op if I could avoid it.
My main triggers were: any high-fat dairy, so icecream, cheese absolute no no's, as were high-fat meats such as hams and sausages (don't know about other meats as don't eat them, chicken fine). Attacks would coincide with me eating something like this around the middle of the month, ie. ovulation, sounds weird, but I think it was the change in hormones around this time. I read Andreas Moritz's book (see Amazon) and tried several liver and gallbladder flushes, with varying levels of success, but ultimately I couldn't completely commit to this, it was unpleasant, time consuming, and I always felt there was a risk of a stone getting trapped during a flush. I managed to control it for a few months, but ate some mozzarella which I thought would be OK, and that triggered a 4 day attack which led to pancreatitis. I was fine, but I realized I had to have the op, and 2 weeks later I had my gallbladder removed privately, through keyhole surgery. Op was fine, was running two weeks later.
It is not a magic cure though - now that I am pg (and only had the op in Nov and this is my second pg since Dec) I can't eat everything I want, and have had some awful cramps the last couple of weeks after eating things which would previously lead to an attack. The cramps are obviously not in my gallbladder, but in my intestines, I think because the bile constantly drips into your intestines if you don't have a gallbladder, so if you eat a fatty meal you don't have a store of bile (which digests the fats). Perhaps if I wasn't pg it would be better. So basically I am sticking to my same diet as before the op, but the relief of not having attacks is just brilliant.
I can't really advise you whether to have the op, because your attacks could be very very sporadic. There are a lot of stories out on internet about people who have chronic pain or diaorreah after the op, and I think I read too many stories. On the other hand I think you need to know what the consequences might be. Alot of people though can eat exactly what they want afterwards, and have no tummy problems.
If you want to ask me anything about op, then feel free, but it was a simple op. I was scared, but you need to find yourself a very good surgeon - mine corrects other peoples mistakes so I felt very confident with him. I reacted badly to the general - nausea, etc, infact that was the worse bit, but that is just me. I guess you have to decide whether or not to do it when you are pg, or risk attacks after. The first attack I had after birth, about a couple of months after, my husband had to come home from work, DS was confined to cot, I was literally on the floor. Have had some tricky times dealing with baby, then toddler whilst having attacks and I would not recommend that to anyone! Is it your first child?
Glad your pregnancy is going well though, you must be relieved. Feel free to ask me stuff, take care.