Gallstones

My doctor called me finally to say I have gallstones. I am really not impressed with this finding. I hear that MANY people have them and it doesn't necessarily mean much. According to http://www.emedicinehealth.com/gallstones/article_em.htm, 20% of people have them! 60-80% have no symptoms and require no treatment.

They are referring me to a surgeon to discuss the state of my gallbladder. I am going to work up the courage to say heck no - you are NOT cutting my belly open unless those stones are huge! I am not going to let them cut me up for more money unless I really need it!!!

Then I also found this little tidbit:

Individuals with Crohn's disease of the terminal ileum are more likely to develop gallstones. Gallstones form because patients with Crohn's disease lack enough bile acids to solubilize the cholesterol in bile. Normally, bile acids that enter the small intestine from the liver and gallbladder are absorbed back into the body in the terminal ileum and are secreted again by the liver into bile. In other words, the bile acids recycle. In Crohn's disease, the terminal ileum is diseased. Bile acids are not absorbed normally, the body becomes depleted of bile acids, and less bile acids are secreted in bile. There are not enough bile acids to keep cholesterol dissolved in bile, and gallstones form.

– from http://www.medicinenet.com/gallstones/page3.htm

So I guess I would just like more information about this. If I do have Crohn's, will the stones keep coming back? Do I have Crohn's? I hardly eat any fatty foods anymore. So why else would I have these?