Yaz Gallbladder Class Action Lawsuit

by Steve Fields on May 21st, 2010

Yaz Gallbladder Disease: Side Effects Of Chronic Cholecystitis

Currently there has not been a national Yaz gallbladder class action lawsuit. Claims are being pursued by individual women and have been consolidated through what is referred to as “multi-district litigation”. The main catalyst for Yaz gallbladder disease symptoms is believed to almost always be gallstones. They usually form within the gall bladder (though primary stones occasionally form within the common bile duct). Yaz birth control may increase the risk of gallstones by raising cholesterol levels in bile fluid secreted by your liver and reducing gallbladder motility (i.e. contractions). Together, these two factors may lead to cholesterol crystallization and biliary sludge within the gall bladder. Both contribute to the formation of stones.

Gallstones can prevent bile from leaving your gall bladder. This eventually causes the organ to become inflamed, a condition known as acute cholecystitis. It is accompanied by intense pain in the upper abdomen. If the inflammation is left untreated, you will experience repeated episodes. This is known as chronic cholecystitis. Below, we’ll describe its side effects and explain how the condition is treated.

Yaz Side Effects And Complications

Repeated attacks of Yaz gallbladder side effects will gradually cause the wall of the organ to thicken. This is due to persistent inflammation, which leads to the formation of scar tissue throughout the organ’s lining. This thickening and scarring process eventually causes the organ to shrink.

Patients who suffer from chronic cholecystitis are forced to cope with a number of side effects. The shrunken and scarred gall bladder becomes less capable of performing its job. This causes digestive problems and exposes the patient to recurring biliary colic.

Normally, the organ stores and concentrates bile fluid that is secreted by your liver. This fluid helps digest fats and absorb nutrients that arrive in your small intestine. When bile is needed, your duodenum (the top portion of your small intestine) secretes a hormone known as cholecystokinin. This hormone causes the gall bladder to contract and push concentrated bile into the common bile duct.

With chronic cholecystitis, the scarred gallbladder is unable to store and concentrate a sufficient supply of bile fluid. Moreover, it lacks the ability to contract properly. This results in less concentrated bile available for digestion.

Due to the reasons described above, chronic Yasmin or Yaz gallbladder symptoms often causes recurring discomfort within the abdomen, especially following meals. You might also experience severe gas and nausea, and persistent diarrhea as your body struggles to digest food.

When these symptoms present, they usually require medical attention.

How Chronic Yaz Gallbladder Disease Symptoms Are Treated

Chronic cholecystitis is typically treated in the same manner as symptomatic Yaz and gallstones: the gallbladder is surgically removed. This is done to eliminate stones and prevent inflammation from leading to gall bladder cancer.

The procedure used to remove the organ is called cholecystectomy. It is usually performed with a minimally invasive technique that employs a laparoscope. This is a long, flexible, camera-equipped tool that is inserted into the abdomen through a small incision. The camera transmits images to a monitor used by the surgeon to inspect the internal abdominal structures. Other surgical tools are then inserted through additional incisions in order to sever the gall bladder’s connections before extraction.

With gallstones and acute cholecystitis, the procedure is almost always done laparoscopically. With chronic cholecystitis, however, the surgeon may be forced to convert to invasive open cholecystectomy. This is due to the scar tissue in the gallbladder’s wall. Unfortunately, as with all types of open surgery, the recovery period is longer and accompanied by more postoperative pain than laparoscopy.

The gallbladder is known as a nonessential organ. You can live without it. That said, its removal can lead to minor digestive issues. In its absence, bile flows directly from the liver to the small intestine in an unconcentrated state. In this state, it is less efficient for digesting fats.

If you have suffered from Yaz gallbladder disease symptoms or gallstones after using this birth control pill, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. Contact a Yaz lawsuit gallbladder lawyer to discuss your legal options. There is never any cost to speak to one of our attorneys.