Yaz Gallbladder Disease Removal Surgery | Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Women that have suffered from Yaz gallbladder disease after developing gallstones continue to deal with digestive side effects after having their gall bladder removed. The majority of gallbladder removal surgeries are performed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In certain situations the surgeon is unable to safely remove the gallbladder using a laparoscope. In this case, the surgeon will instead do an open cholecystectomy. Using a laparoscope is the most common way to remove the gallbladder. A laparoscope is a thin, metal lighted tube that lets the doctor see inside your gallbladder inside your abdominal cavity.
The gallbladder is removed when you have gallstones, pain, or inflammation in your gallbladder. Gallstones caused by Yaz birth control are one cause of inflammation, pain, and swelling of the gallbladder. Gallstones may remain loose in your gallbladder or block the gallbladder and common bile duct (the tube through which bile moves from the liver into the intestine). Or they may pass into your intestine. The gallbladder can rupture if it swells too much, and this can lead to life-threatening complications.
Laparoscopic gallbladder removal surgery is done while you are under general anesthesia. The surgeon will make 3 to 4 small cuts in your belly. The laparoscope will be inserted through 1 of the cuts. Other medical instruments will be inserted through the other cuts. Gas will be pumped into your abdomen to expand it. This gives the surgeon more space to work. First, the surgeon cuts the bile duct and blood vessels that lead to the gallbladder. Then the surgeon removes the gallbladder, using the laparoscope.
A special x-ray called a cholangiogram will be done during your surgery. This involves squirting some dye into your common bile duct. This duct will be left inside you after your gallbladder has been removed. The dye helps locate other stones that may be outside your gallbladder. If any are found, the surgeon may be able to remove these other stones with a special medical instrument.
Long-term digestive problems and Yaz
If your digestive problems including diarrhea begin immediately after gall bladder removal surgery, you could be suffering from a malabsorption of bile acids secreted by the liver. These acids, which are normally stored in the gallbladder, are now going directly into the small intestines which can cause chronic irritation and thus chronic diarrhea. This is a fairly common problem following Yaz gallbladder surgery, unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be a side effect that women are adequately warned about prior to the surgery.
If your diarrhea does stem from bile acid malabsorption, a prescription drug such as Questran (generic name cholestyramine), which binds the bile acids in the intestines and prevents them from reaching the colon, can help this problem and should help control your diarrhea symptoms. Unfortunately, for many women who suffered from Yaz and gallstones, they have to live with these side effects long after having their gallbladder removed.
Please contact us if you have any questions regarding Yaz and gallbladder problems. We are currently representing women throughout the United States and are ready to help answer any of your questions.
