RE: The pain that didn't go away
Get well soon.
Why the operation?
If you have gallstones or problems with your bile, this is just a sign that you could handle your food and water balance differently. Bile is not a vital organ, but your body is kind enough to start sending you a signal when you have gallstones. If the gall bladder is not working properly and you can afford the luxury of spending a few weeks on it, changing your diet and always drinking enough fluids (water, two lukewarm glasses in the morning if you like), as well as other food that is beneficial to your digestion, you can see after this period whether the gall bladder is still causing problems or not. With the attitude "out with it" you could easily damage your liver next, which then has to take over the missing - even if small - part of the bile function completely. If you don't change the components that go into your mouth, you may start suffering from another organic complication. And as always: the whole is a whole system, so good sleep and little stress are part of a good life.
Be nice to yourself.