Yaz Birth Control and Gallbladder Diseases

If you have taken Yaz birth control pill, you should know that some people believe there is a correlation between using these newer contraceptives and Yaz / Ocella gallbladder disease. Although it can take years before symptoms of the disease begin to show, it is important for women to know the signs of different ailments that affect the gallbladder including undergoing Yaz gallbladder removal surgery.

The gallbladder is a muscular, pear shaped organ that is located near the liver. It connects to the liver and to the intestine via ducts. The liver produces bile, a chemical that digests fats. Excess bile is stored in the gallbladder until needed, and is then sent to the small intestine to aid digestion.

Although it is often considered a nonessential organ, it does provide an important function in digestion. And, if it becomes diseased, it can present serious health conditions.

Biliary Colic

One of the milder symptoms a person with gallbladder disease may experience is intermittent pain in them middle or upper right area of the abdomen. This may occur several hours after eating a large or fatty meal, and may go away on its own. This symptom, known as biliary colic, may also produce nausea and vomiting.

Ocella Gallbladder Disease and Gallstones (Cholelithiasis)

Gallstones are hardened material, either cholesterol or bile, which form a rock-like substances in the gallbladder. While they may exist for years without being noticed, they can create gas, nausea, stomach discomfort and diarrhea.

Cholecystitis

When Yaz and gallstones block the cystic duct, it can cause an inflammation. Symptoms of cholecystitis include constant pain in the upper abdomen for more than six hours, a history of biliary colic, fever and chills, nausea, and increased pain when inhaling deeply.

Choledocholithiasis

Gallstones may also become lodged in another duct, the common bile duct. This can lead to a serious infection with symptoms including fever, chills, pain in the right side of the abdomen, jaundice, dark urine, a rapid heartbeat or a sudden drop in blood pressure.

If you are having any of the symptoms described for cholecystitis or choledocholithiasis, seek medical treatment immediately. Left untreated, an infection can spread, leading to perforation of the gallbladder, abscesses, and infections in other parts of the body.

Gallbladder cancer

While gallbladder cancer is rare, over 80% of people who have it also have gallstones. If the cancer is contained in the gallbladder, the gallbladder can be removed. Unfortunately, symptoms do not always appear until advanced stages. Those symptoms would include weight loss, anemia and a lump in the abdomen.

Although it may take years for any problems to develop, people who have taken these birth control pills should understand their risks for developing Yaz gallbladder disease. If you or a family member has suffered from gallstones or an inflamed gallbladder leading to Yaz gallbladder removal, please contact us for a free no-obligation consultation.

Yaz And Gallstones: What Is Chronic Cholecystitis?

Yaz and Yasmin gallbladder disease has caused otherwise healthy women to undergo surgery to have their gallbladders removed. The oral contraceptive is thought to contribute to the formation of stones in two ways. First, it elevates the level of cholesterol within your body. Second, it reduces the contraction activity of your gallbladder. Both circumstances contribute to stones.

When gallstones form within your gallbladder, they can prevent bile from exiting into the cystic duct. If bile is trapped within, it can cause inflammation. This is a condition known as acute cholecystitis, one of the side effects of Yaz gallbladder disease. It is typically accompanied by severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Over time, if the condition is not treated, it will turn into chronic cholecystitis.

Chronic Cholecystitis Explained

Chronic cholecystitis is defined as a persistent, lasting inflammation of your gallbladder. It is nearly always caused by stones. If you are using Yaz birth control and gallstones form, it is important to seek treatment if the stones become symptomatic. You might experience mild attacks that subside after a few hours, but the underlying condition (i.e. gallstones that block the passage of bile) still exists.

Repeated gallbladder attacks can eventually cause the wall of the organ to thicken. Chronic episodes can also cause your gallbladder to shrink. When this occurs, the organ will become less capable of concentrating bile and propelling it into the cystic duct. Your gall bladder will eventually suffer calcification.

Symptoms And Side Effects

The symptoms that accompany chronic Yaz gallbladder disease are similar to those that manifest during intermittent attacks. However, they will likely recur more frequently as your gall bladder loses the ability to contract and release bile.

When the walls of your gallbladder become calcified after repeated attacks, the organ can begin to appear like porcelain on X-rays. Doctors refer to this as “porcelain gallbladder.” Years ago, the condition was thought to be associated with gall bladder cancer. Today, that connection remains in doubt.

Treating Persistent Yaz Gallstones

Chronic gallbladder inflammation requires hospitalization. Fluids, electrolytes, and antibiotics are administered through an IV while your doctor determines the risks involved with performing surgery. If there are signs that your intestine is failing to contract properly, a tube may be passed through your nose into your stomach. Any contents within your stomach are suctioned out.

If the risk of surgery is manageable, a doctor will perform an operation called cholecystectomy. This is a procedure during which your gallbladder is removed. Normally, it is done laparoscopically by making a few abdominal incisions and inserting surgical instruments through them. However, if infection is present or there is scarring from past surgical procedures, the surgeon will need to convert to open cholecystectomy. There is more postoperative pain, risk of complications, and a longer recovery period.

In some cases, a doctor may decide that surgery poses too great a risk due to other medical conditions, such as a heart problem. However, if chronic cholecystitis is accompanied by other serious Yaz gallbladder problems (i.e. abscesses, perforation, or fistulas), immediate surgery is necessary.

Women who have never shown signs of gallbladder disease or gallstones have experienced these side effects after taking Yaz birth control. If inflammation is allowed to persist, it can lead to chronic cholecystitis. Your gall bladder can suffer damage and need to be removed. If you have suffered gallbladder problems after using this oral contraceptive, contact a Yaz gallbladder lawsuit attorney to explore your options. You may be able to file a claim seeking compensation for your injuries.

Yaz Gallbladder Disease: Complications Of Gallbladder Inflammation

Yaz gallbladder disease occurs when your gall bladder becomes inflamed (a condition known as cholecystitis). The inflammation is usually caused by gallstones that reside in the cystic duct or within the organ itself. In both cases, the stones create an obstruction that prevents bile fluid from escaping your gall bladder. Bile is forced to remain within the organ and can eventually cause infection and sharp pain.

While Yaz gallstones are rarely symptomatic, they require treatment when symptoms present. If left untreated, infection can spread and cause several dangerous complications. Some are potentially life-threatening. Below, you’ll learn how perforation, fistulas, bile duct infection, and pancreatitis can develop. If you or a family member has suffered side effects please contact us for a free no-obligation consultation on your legal options including being part of a Yaz gallbladder disease lawsuit.

Perforated Gall Bladder

Perforation of your gallbladder can result if inflammation is left untreated for a long period. When perforation occurs, it is usually due to a persistent gallstone within your gall bladder that causes erosion of the organ’s wall. This is extremely dangerous. If your gallbladder becomes perforated, the bile fluid and other contents held within can spill out into your abdominal cavity. This leads to abdominal infection (known as peritonitis).

Fistulas With Neighboring Organs

A fistula is an abnormal tunnel that is shared between two organs. With Yaz gall bladder disease, the inflamed organ can develop a perforation and adhere to a nearby structure (for example, the top portion of your small intestine). When this happens, a channel can develop between the two structures through which gallstones can pass.

If large stones pass from your gallbladder into your small intestine, they can cause a condition known as gallstone ileus. This is a blockage within your intestinal tract. More commonly, a fistula shared between your gallbladder and small intestine can allow the passage of concentrated bile fluid. This can lead to diarrhea.

Infection Within The Bile Duct

Infection can present in your common bile duct if stones are preventing bile from flowing out of the duct into your duodenum. The condition is known as cholangitis. If the infection is discovered early enough, your doctor may be able to control its spread by administering antibiotics. However, antibiotics are unsuccessful in nearly a quarter of such cases.

If infection spreads, it can eventually trigger dangerous secondary complications. For example, you might develop abscesses within your liver. Or, if bacteria reaches your bloodstream, you can also suffer sepsis as infection spreads quickly throughout your body. This, in turn, can lead to septic shock and even death.

Blockage Of The Pancreatic Duct

Gallstones that migrate downward through your common bile duct can block your pancreatic duct as it approaches the Sphincter of Oddi (near the outlet to the duodenum). Your pancreas produces enzymes that help digest food within your small intestine. They travel through the pancreatic duct and empty into your duodenum. A blockage prevents the enzymes from passing from your pancreas. When this occurs, your pancreas will suffer inflammation, a condition known as pancreatitis. While it is often mild, it can be life-threatening.

Gall bladder Yaz problems are usually addressed by surgically removing the organ. A procedure called cholecystectomy is performed during which your gall bladder’s connections to its surrounding structure are severed before the organ is removed. The operation is normally done laparoscopically; it is minimally invasive and poses less risk than open surgery. However, the complications described above may force the surgeon to convert to open surgery in order to remove your gallbladder.

Gallbladder disease is one of the serious side effects of Yaz oral contraceptives. If you have suffered gallbladder problems after using this birth control pill, you may be due compensation for your injuries. Contact a Yaz gallbladder lawsuit lawyer to discuss your case.