Yaz and gallstones (small, hard deposits which form in the gallbladder) are not always symptomatic. It’s possible to have them without realizing it. However, symptoms can present if a stone blocks the cystic duct or forms a blockage in the common bile duct. When this happens, you might feel excruciating abdominal pain that can potentially last for hours. You may also experience pain in your back or below your right shoulder blade. Nausea, fever, gas, and even jaundice can also manifest. It is important to seek medical attention if you experience these symptoms.

Doctors can perform a number of tests to diagnose gallbladder disease Yaz and gallstones. The challenge is to determine whether the symptoms (most notably, the intense abdominal pain) are due to the presence of stones or other circumstances. And even if stones are present, they may be non-symptomatic; other conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, pancreatitis, and gastroesophageal reflux, might be causing the pain.

Below, I’ll briefly describe the tests doctors will normally perform to diagnose the presence of stones, and to identify whether they require treatment.

Blood Tests

Blood tests are useful for diagnosing acute cholecystitis (inflammation within the gallbladder) and cholelithiasis (gallstones). In the latter case, doctors will try to identify elevated levels of bilirubin and an enzyme called alkaline phosphatase. Bilirubin, in particular, suggests the presence of stones in the common bile duct, a condition called choledocholithiasis. Blood tests can also detect heightened levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase (enzymes in the liver); both also suggest common bile duct stones.

Abdominal Ultrasound

An abdominal ultrasound is a noninvasive imaging strategy that allows doctors to examine the liver, pancreas, wall of the gallbladder, and the bile ducts. The procedure takes less than 15 minutes and can identify stones within the gallbladder that have a diameter of 2 mm or more. However, its accuracy suffers when examining the common bile duct and cystic duct.

Endoscopic Ultrasound

When a conventional ultrasound is inadequate (as in the case when common bile duct stones are suspected), a doctor will perform an endoscopic ultrasound. A small camera is attached to a thin tube, which is inserted into your mouth. The tube (called an endoscope) travels down your esophagus, through your stomach, and into your small intestine. The camera records images of the surrounding area.

X-Rays

X-rays can be taken using a few approaches. Standard X-rays can help diagnose stones that have calcified. A less common approach is called oral cholecystography. You’re given a pill that contains a special dye; the pill is consumed the night before X-rays are taken. The dye fills your gallbladder and allows your doctor to take images of the organ.

A variation of oral cholecystography is called cholangiography. The dye is injected directly into your bile duct, after which your doctor will take X-rays of the duct.

Cholescintigraphy

Also known as a HIDA scan, cholescintigraphy produces images based on a radioactive dye that is injected and excreted into bile. A HIDA scan is more delicate than an ultrasound, though it cannot identify individual stones. Instead, it studies the path of the dye as it travels from your liver to your gallbladder. If the dye does not reach your gallbladder, it suggests a blockage exists in the cystic duct.

Computed Tomography

Computed tomography (CT) and helical CT scans can produce clear images of your gallbladder, pancreas, and surrounding anatomy. Your doctor will perform these types of scans if he or she suspects gallstones within your common bile duct or a perforation of your gallbladder.

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can be used to detect and remove gallstones from your common bile duct. It is an invasive procedure during which your doctor will insert an endoscope down your throat. A camera on the endoscope allows your doctor to locate the stones while a small basket is used to collect them.

After Diagnosis Of Yaz Gallbladder Problems

Women who are diagnosed with symptomatic Yaz gallstones will usually need to have their gallbladders surgically removed. The most common procedure is called laparoscopic cholecystectomy and is minimally invasive. However, if infection is present, the surgeon will often need to perform open cholecystectomy.

If you or a loved one has suffered symptoms related to side effects of Yaz birth control and gallbladder problems, seek medical attention. Then, contact Yaz attorneys to explore whether you have a legal claim to file a Yaz gallbladder lawsuit against the oral contraceptive’s manufacturer, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals.