I had mine removed about 4 years ago. The worst pain in the world. Now if I didn't have to eat to survive I would have been fine. But once I had something to eat, Little knives were gutting me. I ended up having it removed in an emergency surgery, 2 weeks before it was scheduled to come out. It took twice as long because when they went in to remove it it was trying to pass a gallstone through the tube to my stomach and they had to inch it back up to the gallbladder so they could remove it. At least that's what they told me. Which woud explain the emergency. It was a interesting feeling when they asked me what I wanted for dinner that night. My experience was always pain when I ate, so to be able to eat and have no pain, was awesome.