Yaz Gallbladder Disease

Yaz Gallbladder Disease: Life After Gallbladder Removal Surgery

The most common form of treatment for Yaz gallbladder disease is to have the organ surgically removed. The procedure is called cholecystectomy. While doctors have traditionally performed it through open surgery, most cholecystectomies today are done through laparoscopy.

Patients are usually told their gall bladders are nonessential and as such, can be removed without consequences. In most cases, this is true. However, the claim fails to address the potential side effects of the procedure, including bile duct damage, recurring pain, and digestive issues. Few patients realize they might experience these Yasmin gall bladder removal side effects after undergoing cholecystectomy.

Below, we’ll briefly explore the differences between laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy; both approaches offer advantages and drawbacks. I’ll also explain why you might experience periodic episodes of pain after your gallbladder is removed.

Laparoscopic Versus Open Gallbladder Removal Surgery

Open cholecystectomy is an invasive procedure that requires the surgeon to make a long incision (usually between 5 and 8 inches) into your abdomen. The surgeon will then extract your gallbladder through the incision.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a minimally invasive operation that was introduced in 1987. The surgeon makes three or four small incisions into your abdomen. A laparoscope and other surgical instruments are then inserted through the incisions. Once your gallbladder has been separated from the surrounding structures, it is removed.

When you suffer from symptomatic Yasmin gallbladder disease, your doctor will recommend laparoscopic surgery to remove the organ. Laparoscopy poses fewer potential complications and offers a shorter recovery period than open surgery. However, it also poses a higher risk of bile duct damage.

If the common bile duct suffers a tear or similar injury, bile can leak into your abdominal cavity. This lays the foundation for infection, which can lead to dangerous consequences. Bile duct injuries must be repaired surgically.

There is also a chance the surgeon will miss gallstones that exist within the biliary tree. These stones can cause an obstruction or infection that requires subsequent surgery.

Pain After Removing The Gallbladder

Though uncommon, some patients experience recurring pain reminiscent of gallbladder attacks after having their gallbladders removed. Doctors are uncertain regarding the root cause of the pain, but suspect it may be triggered by an abnormality in the Sphincter of Oddi.

The Sphincter of Oddi is a group of muscles located in the lower portion of your common bile duct. It regulates the passage of bile and digestive enzymes secreted by your pancreas into the duodenum. If these muscles prevent bile and other secretions from emptying into the duodenum, you may suffer inflammation within the ducts. This can feel like a Yaz gallbladder attack.

Are Dietary Changes Necessary?

Here again, most patients are told that having their gallbladders removed will not require dietary changes. However, the issue is more complex than many people realize.

Bile is secreted constantly by your liver. It trickles through the hepatic duct into your gall bladder where it is stored and concentrated until needed. When fats enter your intestine, a signal is sent to your gallbladder instructing it to release bile. The bile fluid flows into the common bile duct and empties into the duodenum to help digest the fats. The more fat content present, the more bile that is required for digestion.

After your gallbladder has been removed, bile flows directly from your liver to your duodenum. But, it does so in a trickle. Consider what happens when food with a high fat content enters your intestine. The signal is still sent to your gallbladder telling it to release bile for digestion. Unfortunately, there is no response because your gallbladder is gone. As a result, there is an insufficient amount of bile available to digest the fats. This causes bouts of diarrhea.

While dietary changes are not necessary, neglecting to make them poses its own aftereffects.

Many women have suffered gallbladder problems after using Yasmin or Yaz birth control. Gallbladder disease that becomes symptomatic usually requires the organ’s removal. As noted, there are risks and side effects involved with the procedure. If you have suffered gallstones or gall bladder disease after taking this oral contraceptive, contact a Yaz gallbladder disease attorney to discuss your legal rights.