Gall Bladder Functioning at "9"?

Five years ago I was treated for Hep C genotype 2b which I was told is a strain that is easier to beat. I did beat it, and after treatment I began to get pains under my right ribcage, and I gained 50 lbs. in a snap. Sometimes it felt like my liver was turning upside down. Doc does all the CT & Hida scans, colonoscopys, the camera down the throat, and much more - finally tells me 4 years later that I have an infected ulcer and indigestion. Take the medicine, I feel a little better, but it still aches and I know something else is wrong. I go for another opinion - this doc takes the same CT & HIDA scans (because my other doc doesn't send the records to him) and finds my gall bladder not functioning properly - gave it some kind of level at "9"?, and a lesion on my liver. Doc suggests removal of the gall bladder and do the liver biopsy at the same time.

So what does 9 mean? Do I really need to remove my gall bladder? Does "functioning at a 9" mean it is diseased? Dieing? What? Can a Gall Bladder's "function level" be brought up naturally? I'm more concerned with the lesion on the liver.

Yes, my gall bladder hurts sometimes and aches through my back, yes I'm bloated, yes it usually feels like a baseball under my ribs. And the Doc warned that rupture is possible sometimes. I just don't feel good about losing it.

I just got laid off from work too. I have full coverage with the best insurance out there for 19 weeks. After that, not an insurance company will touch me because of the Hep C past. I have to make a decision quick.
I need to get another job with insurance fast, surgery is going to blow a month for me. And do I even need it?
The doc scheduled me to meet the surgeon in 2 days.

Anybody ever brought their function level up without surgery? Anyone ever in this double-whammy situation after interferon treatment?