Get it sorted - like LR, I had a flare up last summer and had a bag of gravel as it turned out, whilst waiting for the op nature opted to force my hand and a 5mm stone blocked my bile duct - I will also pass on describing the pain but did not know what do with myself! Intravenous paracetamol, codeine and three doses of oramorph finaly dulled the pain.
Also like LR, I had keyhole surgery leaving four cuts approx 12 - 15mm long, in & out in 24 hours, back to work in two weeks!
All good now, just avoid fatty food as it gives me the sq***ts
Hope this help you make the right decision.