I had severe abdominal pain under my breastbone. diagnosed as gallstones. do i need surgery? what restrictions will there be and for how long?

Symptomatic: gall stones as you are describing need surgical removal , currently is a simple low risk ambulatory procedure , if have no symptoms could be observed .Severe pains is a symptom , if untreated my lead to additional complications Speak to your surgeon.

Not ready 4 surgery?: Stones in the gallbladder (gb) seldom cause symptoms unless they migrate into the neck of the gb (& block exit of bile) or into the common bile duct. Symptomless gallstones may be diagnosed by chance by imaging or during investigation for some other condition. Only 10% become symptomatic within 5 years of detection. Ultrasound, ct scan, mrcp finds stones; cck-hida scan can tell if gb is diseased.