Yasmin birth control and gallstones have caused many healthy women to experience gallbladder problems. Millions of women use this oral contraceptive without knowing the extent of the risks involved. Some take it as a method of pregnancy prevention. Others use it as a form of treatment for mild acne, premenstrual syndrome, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. In doing so, they expose themselves to possible gallbladder side effects, including Yasmin gallstones. Stones within your biliary tract rarely cause symptoms. In fact, it is estimated that 80% of gallstones remain asymptomatic for years. However, when symptoms manifest, the stones usually require medical attention. Common Signs And Symptoms Symptomatic stones can trigger severe abdominal pain, fever and chills, and nausea. Normally, the pain begins in your upper right abdomen (under your ribs), but it can also spread throughout your back and beneath your right shoulder blade. The root cause is inflammation and swelling of your gallbladder. Your gall bladder becomes inflamed when bile gets trapped within. This can occur in two ways. First, gallstones can form inside your gallbladder and migrate to the opening, thus blocking it and preventing bile from exiting. Second, the stones can move into the cystic duct, common bile duct, or lower in the biliary tract toward the ampulla of Vater. They form a blockage and cause a backup, again trapping bile within the gallbladder. Once the abdominal pain starts, its severity builds and reaches its peak within an hour. It can then persist for several hours after which it subsides. The pain is usually significant enough to motivate patients to visit the hospital. If gallstones migrate to the ampulla of Vater and form a blockage, they can cause pancreatitis. In addition to the pain, fever, and nausea that accompany gallbladder inflammation, you might also experience jaundice, a rapid heartbeat, and low or high blood pressure. The Challenge Of Diagnosing Yasmin Gallstones One of the challenges with diagnosing Yasmin gallstones is that pain in your abdomen can be caused by several unrelated factors. Your doctor will first try to rule out other conditions, some of which are difficult to distinguish from gallbladder problems. For example, irritable bowel syndrome and pancreatitis can both produce symptoms that are similar to those caused by stones. Acute appendicitis, ulcers, kidney stones, and gastroesophageal reflux can also present similar signs. The most accurate diagnostic test used by doctors is ultrasonography. However, it's value is limited; it can identify gallstones in your gallbladder, but not within your bile ducts. Cholescintigraphy (also called a HIDA scan) is an imaging procedure that requires the injection of a radioactive dye. Here too, there are limitations. A HIDA scan can potentially deliver false positives. Your doctor may also use an MRI, CT scan, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to help detect bile duct stones. Surgical Resolution And Potential Side Effects In the end, symptomatic gallstones are typically resolved through surgery. The gallbladder is removed through a surgical procedure called laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Laparoscopy is far less invasive than open abdominal surgery, but may not be an option if infection or scarring is present. Even when it is used, there are potential complications. In many cases, the patient's bile ducts are injured during the operation. If the surgeon accidentally tears the duct, the bile fluid might drip into the abdominal cavity. Worse, if the tear is undetected at the time of injury, the bile leakage may eventually cause infection. Resolving this problem requires another operation. Also, bile fluid is normally concentrated in your gallbladder before it flows into your small intestine to help digest fats. With your gall bladder removed, this process cannot occur. Instead, the bile arrives in your small intestine in a diluted state making it less efficient for digestion.
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Yasmin birth control and gallstones have caused many healthy women to experience gallbladder problems. Millions of women use this oral contraceptive without knowing the extent of the risks involved. Some take it as a method of pregnancy prevention. Others use it as a form of treatment for mild acne, premenstrual syndrome, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. In doing so, they expose themselves to possible gallbladder side effects, including Yasmin gallstones.
John Davidson is the author of this article on Yaz settlement. Find more information about Yaz lawsuit here.
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