Yasmin And Gallstones: How Gallstones Are Diagnosed

Yasmin and gallstones have contributed to gallbladder disease in women who are otherwise healthy. The hormones in Yasmin birth control may increase the level of cholesterol secreted by the liver while simultaneously decreasing your gall bladder's contraction activity. These circumstances can lead to the formation of gallstones.

Stones are rarely symptomatic. However, if they prevent the passage of bile from the gall bladder, they will cause inflammation and biliary colic. These are the signature side effects of Yasmin gallbladder disease. You might experience severe abdominal pain, fever, and nausea.

Doctors can perform a number of different tests to conclusively diagnose the presence of Yasmin gallstones. One of their first priorities is to rule out unrelated conditions.

Non-Related Conditions That Must Be Ruled Out

Pain in the abdominal area can be caused by several conditions that are unrelated to stones. For example, irritable bowel syndrome may produce similar discomfort, though it is usually localized in the lower abdomen. A kidney infection might also mirror the pain caused by stones (a urinalysis can eliminate it as a contributing factor). Pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and gastroesophageal reflux can also cause abdominal pain.

Another condition your physician will want to rule out is pancreatitis. This can be problematic because nearly four in ten cases are related to the presence of stones in the common bile duct. Pancreatitis requires a different treatment approach than gallbladder disease.

Blood Tests

Blood tests are valuable for forming a preliminary diagnosis for stones. If you're suffering from biliary colic, there will often be a higher level of bilirubin in your blood. Certain liver enzymes are usually in abundance when gallstones are present in the bile duct. If your gallbladder is inflamed, there may be a higher white blood cell count. These abnormalities, while inconclusive, can be helpful for diagnosing Yasmin gallstones.

Computed Tomography (CT) And Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Helical CT scans can be useful because they provide clear, fast images of the abdominal structures (i.e. gall bladder, pancreas, liver, etc.). However, this type of test is normally used as a complement to other imaging procedures. Doctors also use CT scans to confirm suspicions of perforated organs or other complications.

MRIs, and specifically, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), can also produce clear images - often, as good as those generated by more invasive techniques. These tests use a dye that is released into the biliary tract to detect abnormalities, including bile duct stones.

Ultrasonography Of The Abdomen

This is the most common diagnostic test for detecting stones in the gallbladder. Ultrasound waves are used to create an image of the gall bladder, pancreas, liver, and common bile duct. These images will show aberrations, including a thickening of the gallbladder's wall (a sign of acute cholecystitis).

The advantages of ultrasonography are that it is quick, non-invasive, and extremely accurate. But there are also drawbacks. The test is far less useful for detecting gallstones in the bile duct. Nor can it detect stones that are smaller than 2 millimeters in diameter.

Cholescintigraphy (Or HIDA Scan)

A HIDA scan is more accurate than ultrasonography, but requires more time to perform (up to 2 hours). A radioactive contrast dye is introduced into your bloodstream intravenously. The dye is secreted by your liver into bile fluid. A doctor can observe the flow of bile as it moves through the ducts. If the bile fluid fails to enter your gall bladder, that suggests a blockage exists in the cystic duct. Likewise, if the fluid fails to flow freely through the common bile duct, that suggests bile duct stones.

It's worth noting that a HIDA scan does not technically identify stones. Instead, the test is used to observe the flow of bile through the biliary tract. That may reveal irregularities worth investigating.

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

ERCP is the most effective test for detecting Yasmin gallstones that are present in the common bile duct. An endoscope (a thin tube equipped with a light and camera) is passed down the throat, through the esophagus and stomach, and into the duodenum. A radioactive dye is released into the bile duct, and x-rays are taken to identify blockages. While the procedure is invasive, it can be combined with endoscopic sphincterotomy to remove bile duct stones.

Yasmin and gallstones, while usually asymptomatic, can present severe symptoms without warning. When this occurs, doctors will nearly always recommend gallbladder removal surgery (though the procedure will not address bile duct stones).

About the Author:

Mark Anderson is the author of this article on Yaz gallbladder disease. Find more information about Yaz lawsuit gallbladder here.