Good Morning SierraMist!
Wow! 8 gallstones. That is impressive!!
Seriously, though, I hope I can give you my opinion on gallbladder stones/surgery. First off, go see another doctor for a second opinion. I am by no means advocating surgery, just want you to see all your options. Talk to a Gastro doc. He/she may say something else. You also may want to ask for a HIDA scan. That is to test for your gallbladder ejection rate (rate at which your gallbladder ejects and functions). Many say anything below 40% ejection rate is too low for the gb and should be removed.
I found my gallstones (2 or 3 large ones) during an emergency appendectomy three years ago. They only took the appendix (gangrenous) so to remove the gb at that time was too much for my body. The surgeon said to have the gb removed IF I became symptomatic. I moved two years later and the first thing my Gen Doc asked was "When do you want to have surgery for your GB?" I was stunned, but said only if I become symptomatic. he said fine....well, less than one year later I was fully symptomatic and had it done. I am recovering very well and do not live in the nausea and pain I did before. Nausea was my biggest symptom that I had no idea was related...it was!! The pains started and finally had to go the ER.
Again, I am not saying go for surgery, but go to a GI doc. A lot will depend on the size of the stones. They will never get smaller and if one exits the gb it can cause a lot of pain. Mine were so large they could not leave the gb, but one did move and blocked the duct opening causing the constant pain.
I know my story may alarm you and I don't mean to do that. I just wanted to share with you what my course was and how it was for me. Would I go back and have the surgery in a more elective way then waiting for attacks?...probably yes. I refused to have surgery when it was not a necessity. Can you go through life with gallstones and be fine?...yes, but if you are having pains in that area already I would most definitely go talk to someone other that a surgeon and get another opinion. See a GI doc.
As to eating at Disney! I would avoid high fat/greasey food. Which will be tough at Disney, but is possible.
Good Luck and look around on the boards. There is a ton of info and opinions from others.
pbjmom
