I still have my gall bladder but occasionally suffer from painful episodes. My cure is.... baking soda. I desolve about 2-3 teaspoons in a cup or so of water and gulp. It's kind of like drinking sandy, salt water, but within 10 minutes the pain stops... completely.

I know this is only a temporary fix and eventually, I'll also have to have the surgery. For now though, no meds and no talk of surgery.