I had my gallbladder removed when I had stones. My doctor said that if I was having stones, then the gall bladder wasn't working. It was a quick and easy laproscopic surgery and I felt much better after. The worst part was the 3 week wait for the scheduled surgery when I had a stone blocking the duct; they think the ultrasound that was used to diagnose the stones caused a stone to lodge. I think that is what causes attacks, and why wait for that to happen?