is my situation critical to have my gallbladder removed?

Hello and welcome to e health forum.‎

The description of a low functioning gall bladder with 30% function on a HIDA scan, could be indicating the ‎possibility of Gall bladder dysfunction. The cause of gall bladder dysfunction is due to poor dietary habits, chronic liver diseases, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.

Gall bladder function ‎is determined by a HIDA scan which gives a percentage of bile ejection from the gallbladder. Normal ejection ‎fractions range between 33 and 40%.‎

A low functioning gallbladder can also cause several digestive problems. Some people develop nausea and ‎vomiting, and the abdomen can also be bloated and tender to the touch. In addition, loss of appetite sometimes ‎develops as a result of gallbladder problems.

Improved diet (Avoidance of high fatty foods and grease), Physical exercise, weight loss provide the best results in individuals with low functioning gall bladder. Medicines to improve digestion and cleanse the gall bladder can also be prescribed to help in improvement of symptoms.

The definitive treatment of such conditions is cholecystectomy for patients who are able to tolerate surgery.‎

In many patients, coexistent GERD is also a contributing factor for the symptoms. Hence in many individuals who undergo Gall bladder removal, the symptoms due to GERD will cause persistent symptoms. Hence it is important to work with a gastroenterologist and rule out Gastric Reflux disorder, and treat it properly. Effective treatment of such conditions may negate the need for a gall bladder surgery.

But in case, the symptoms are predominantly due to gall bladder, then treatment of both GERD and gallbladder removal may be needed.

You might consider to consult your health care provider for additional information and seek proper advice.