Brad,
If your gallbladdder is not filling up, then something is blocking the bile duct from your liver to your gallbladder. Removing the gallbladder won't fix that, but when the surgeon is in there he can remove the blockage or repair the bile duct. Talk to him about it. The pains you are describing sound like accute pancreatitis. If your bile cannot go into the gallbladder, has to re-rout through the pancreas. Have your doctor check your fasting glucose. Also, have a blood test to check your pancreatic enzymes. I had my gallbladder removed on June 4th. I had severe pancreatitis. I never found anything to help with the pain.