Gallbladder symptoms and conditions

oh and here is the birth control pill side effect list...

Common side effects of oral contraceptives include loss of sex drive (libido), headaches, acne, weight gain, vaginal infections, and depression. Current research indicates that oral contraceptives increase your risk of acquiring HIV if your partner is infected. Oral contraceptives also have some uncommon but serious health risks associated with their use, especially among smokers; these include abnormal blood clotting and heart attacks, breast cancer, and gallbladder disease.

Recently, I had an experience very similar to pocoloco's experience with Lactaid. The main difference is that pocoloco experience seems to have wained within hours, mine were much more severe and lasted for days.

On a Monday, I took some Lactaid before eating a salad, that had perhaps 2 tablespoons of Ranch dressing. The next morning I awoke with very painful stomach pains. Like pocoloco, I feel I have a high threshold for pain, but throughout the day, I was unable to concentrate on my work because the pain was so severe. I went to my doctor the following day as I had not made a connection between my pains and Lactaid. The doctor had bloodwork done and a sonogram performed. She thought that my pain may have been the result od some gallbladder trouble or a viral infection. She prescribed a strong antibiotic, pain medicine and ulcer medicine to attack it from multiple angles as I am a healthy 32 yr old.

Over the next several days, I was feeling better, but still in discomfort. On that Friday, I took a Lactaid pill with a bowl of cereal for dinner around 7-8 pm. By 11 pm I was vomiting violently and had extreme abdominal pain. Again, because I had feeling better, I thought that perhaps I had a bad reaction to the combination of antibiotics and pain medicine. I vomited over a period of 4 hours, and like pocoloco, was expelling yellow/green liquid (bile?) near the end of the experience (3-4 am).

Between Saturday and Tuesday, I was still in discomfort, but was 90% better by Tuesday. I decided on Mexican food for dinner. I took a Lactaid pill and had some Queso with chips for an appetizer. By 11 pm, I was vomiting more violently than the first time and had a strong bitter taste associated. I finished vomiting around 5 am this time and the following day was still nauseated and in very strong discomfort from stomach pains. This was all it took to finally connect the dots and realize that the effects were the result of Lactaid, not a viral infection or stomach flu.

I would say my experience was very similar to pocoloco's, except that my stomach pains lasted over several days and my vomiting was over 4-5 hours as opposed to his 1-2 hour experiences.

Some of you have been referencing severe upper abdominal pain, esp during the night, while on Femcon; this is likely gallstones, as that fits the description, and the pill increases your risk for gallstones because of the increased estrogen; talk to your doctor about this even if you have gone off of Femcon or hormonal b/c altogether. I have experienced this twice since starting Femcon several weeks ago. I am not a fan of hormonal contraception and experienced severe depression after 1 week on Mircette a number of years ago, and decided never to use it again. However, I am now considered at high risk for ovarian cancer which is why I am on Femcon, and my dr chose it knowing the history w/ depression on Mircette, and felt Femcon would be a good fit. Emotionally it has been a good fit, and i have had no problems in that respect- it really depends on how each person's body reacts to the specific progestin in whatever pill you are taking. However, digestive wise, I am not happy on Femcon, and will not be pleased if I have to have my gallbladder removed because of a month or two on it!

I took Yaz for a month and a half and ended up with gallbladder disease! Which there is no cure for and needed surgery to have it removed. This seems to be a risk with all oral contraceptives but I've taken other brands years ago for long periods of time and this never happened. My symptoms were severe pain (lasting several hours) after eating ANY food containing fat. I lived on toast and soup for over 2 months. This drug is evil.

I'm a 48 year old male in good physical condition and not overweight. I have genetic high cholesterol and started taking Zocor about 3 years ago. My cholesterol had climbed to 280 before I started the statin. I started with 5mg but my doctor quickly raised it to 10mg. After 6 weeks my cholesterol was down to 180! Yippee! The only side effects I noticed at first was swollen eyelids in the morning. After about 18 months my cholesterol had climbed to about 225 so my doctor raised the dose to 20mg. About 3 months later I started getting abdominal pain and tightness in my chest. My doctor thought I had gallbladder problems, I had an ultrasound which was negative. The pain(s) continued and I had blood tests, 2 MRI's, chest Xray and EKG... all negative. I suggested quiting the Zocor but my doctor didn't think that was the problem. I decided to quit the statin 1 week ago. Not feeling much better yet, but I will post an update.

I started taking Tricor (145mg) in Dec 07 to help lower my triglycerides. I experienced some low grade nausea and stomach upset periodically. At the beginning of Feb 08 (about six weeks after starting the drug) I had a severe gallbladder attack. I NEVER had an issue with my gallbladder before taking this drug. I checked another website and found out that this drug can cause gallstones and liver malfunction. I ended up having to have my gallbladder removed in mid February due to multiple gallstones and persistent pain in the liver. There was still a stone caught in my liver even after the gallbladder was removed. This caused jaundice and resulted in a five day hospital stay before the stone was found and removed.
I would advise SEVERE CAUTION before taking this drug.

I am on the 6th day of my Z-Pak and I have to tell you, I was scared to death to take it after reading all the side effects posted here. But like many, I would rather deal with diarrhea and stomach cramps than the inability to breathe because of bronchitis. So, I took my chances.....

I don't know how I escaped it all, but I did not suffer one side effect! I wondered if maybe the fact that I no longer had my gallbladder had anything to do with it. Who knows? I feel better and wouldn't hesitate to take it again.

I started feeling better on the third day and feel better more every day.

Thank you!

My daughter started taking Yasmin 2 months ago for acne. She started feeling nauseated, tired. 2 weeks ago she had gallbladder surgery and is still nauseated, feels weak and faint at times. She is very tired. We just thought it was the after effects of the surgery. After reading this website, I think it is the Yasmin. She takes it at 7 every night and starts feeling bad not long after.

I called my ob-gyn today because I am so tired of the bleeding! I got my Mirena in August and have had maybe 20 days total with no bleeding. I had the copper IUD first...that was AWFUL-I have had children...with no drugs and it did not compare to the pain I would have with the copper. I do not do well with hormones so i avoided the Mirena. My MD assured me the drug was not systemic, but after reading all these postings I am more convinced than ever that I need it taken out. I have bad cramps, bloating, nausea...I actually thought I needed my gallbladder out....but after reading all this today I think that this IUD is the problem. Does anyone else have pain from the lower abdomen all the way up to your ribcage? Also...I feel like my ovaries hurt? Bad pimples, no sex drive, I don't think I smell right (gross I know). It is good to know that I am not crazy...all the nurses at the MD's office have it and "love it!" I think I will make an appt....out it comes even if it is condoms until my hubby gets enough guts to visit his MD!

I've been taking Omeprazole for the last 4-5 days for the "possible treatment of H. Pylori" while we are waiting on a nuclear gallbladder test. After I started taking this I noticed my stomach going into cramps. Just like when you have a tummy bug and you get spasms or knots in your tummy. Very uncool, painful, and the only thing that seems to make it stop is eating and making my tummy full. (At least 90% of the discomfort and pain leaves when I do that) so I have been off of it for a little over 24 hours, and this morning I woke with some tummy cramps again. I'm thinking it may take a couple of days for everything to return to normal. I'm not going to take it anymore. (drugs - geesh - if you hear a commercial say it treats arthritis but may cause lymphoma - good god, why do that? Sorry I just think it's horrible about some drugs not that I have arthritis but I'd rather take a pain pill for it than turn around and get cancer)

DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG!!!!!!!! I was given Reglan in IV, my life has never been the same. Anxiety attacks that have not stopped since, and it has been about 4months now. Every time I mention this to a doctor they shoot the issue down. Out side of the gallbladder issue that I went to the ER for I was before in good health, not since Reglan and the almost 2 hours of severe tremors through my whole body, after taking it.

Hi, I've posted before, but I'm back with a few new symptoms....
I have been taking Yasmin since I don't know when. I was one of the first at my OB/GYN office to get on it when it first came out. Egad, what a crappy, painful life Yasmin produces.
I seriously do not think that I have felt "well" since I have been on it. I have constant body aches, nausea, bowel problems, abdominal pain, tremendous pain in the gall bladder area which resulted in surgery that probably wasn't totally needed, leg pain and cramping (feels like a shin-splint...without having worked out), constant emotional outbursts, facial hair growth, absolutely NO sex drive, and migraines that I had never, ever had before...basically I feel like an ogre with a really bad case of the flu.
My newest "problem" is that my periods all of the sudden only last two days and are very light. I know that some people would be happy with that symptom, but this is NOT normal. One box of "Lite" tampons will last me 3 months. I think that this is the LAST STRAW with me and Yasmin. I just started a new pack, but I took the last one I will ever take this morning. I would rather enjoy having sex with my finance(I'm sure he would like that too because I just don't want to do it EVER right now), not bark at people or cry for no reason, have less body pain, and maybe...for once in many years...FEEL GOOD.
I really feel that if I continue on this crap...I'll either never be able to have children (which I do want), or I will end up killing myself or possibly my finance because I cannot control my emotions. For those of you who tout the wonders of Yasmin...I used to think it was great too before I figured out that I didn't feel this way before taking it. Feeling like shit every day of your life changes your outlook. I'll take menstrual cramps and ovarian cysts over all of this any day.

I was on Femcon for three months...THIS IS THE WORST DRUG EVER!!! No wonder my doctor just GAVE me 6 months worth of sample packets..I opted to just stop taking it....I bled three times a month anywhere from 3-7 days per time...you're Damn right this is birth control..I'm not getting any! I have had the Worst aches and pains all over my body arms legs back and stomach...so bad they sent me to have an ultrasound on my gallbladder...of course that wasn't it. Headaches and CHEST Pains

Yasmin gave me IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrom for those of you who don't know.) I was on the pill for eight months. My pre-symptoms were I had 5 yeast infections in a row, in the second and third months of taking it...this didn't ring any bells, even though I had never had a yeast infection before in my life, and my doctor just said I had a yeast imbalance. So a month after those stopped the IBS started. I was in the bathroom about 8 times a day, I thought maybe it was a flu, so i didn't go to the doc right away. I eventually gave up on that thought and went to see my doc, who even he, thought that it was IBS, so he sent me to a specialist right away. I had a colonoscopy and nothing, so the specialist told me that I needed to stop searching and just accept that I had IBS (I told him that I had been trying to figure it all out, because you literally don't wake up one day, go to the bathroom and your life changes forever, I KNEW something else was going on.) Anyways, I had a dumb specialist, he said that I had to accept this, I asked if it could possibly be my birth control and he said no and prescribed my a whole bunch of other drugs. Well I still just couldn't believe my life just all of a sudden changed, so I went to my family doc, lied, told him i was getting moody off Yasmin, and he switched me onto another. IT WORKED no more IBS, the results were immediate, it took a while for my poor damaged bowls to fix themselves, a few months actually, but now things are getting back to normal. Oh, and I've stopped birth control pills, back to condoms for me...my doc put me on Alesse, which didn't work either - moody! and then he put me on Marvelon, which inflamed my gallbladder (had to go for an ultrasound to see if i had gallstones) I figured at this rate, in two years i'd be dead from taking b/c so I was done, I would recommend the same to anyone!!

I began using Nuvaring three months ago after having a baby in March. Two months ago, I began having acid reflux episodes so intense it took me to the ER, Urgent Care twice, my doctor, a gallbladder scan, a GI specialist and almost (the next step, if I need it) an upper endoscopy.

I am a 29 year old female with no other health problems. I have never had acid reflux before. I drink and smoke occasionally. I eat healthy 90% of the time.

I took out my Nuvaring for my cycle yesterday and today I have felt much better. No burning in my stomach, no belching. No acid reflux symptoms at all.

It may be related or it may not, but the timing is suspicious. I will not be using Nuvaring again. I'll update you if my symptoms return.

I have been on Yasmin for a little over a year. I started taking it because I was experiencing severe PMS Symptoms. I was really happy with Yasmin because my PMS went away and my face cleared up. However, the last six months I have started experiencing a lot of stomach problems. I have constant nausea--feels like morning sickness. I'm sick if I eat but sicker if I don't eat. I've had anxiety, headaches, insomnia, gas, weight gain, and depression. I've been to see the doctor about my stomach--I had a blood test and my amalayse and lipase were both elevated (around 400--normal is 70). He assumed that it was my gallbladder, but after a CT Scan, Ultrasound and Endoscopy, they say my gallbladder and pancreas both look healthy. He's stumped. I'm wondering if it's the pill. I've tried to find research showing that the pill can increase amalayse and lipase levels but with little luck. There are a few rare cases reported. Anyone else experience this? I can handle the side effects, it's just the pancreatic function that I worry about.

I have confusion.Difficulty speaking certain words.Memory seems altered.I have been using the tablets of estradiol for almost a year My problems seem to be increasing in severity. I use this medication due to hysterectomy. I am 47 years old.I also wake up at night with horrible itching on legs.,ankles,knees.What do you think.Possible reaction?.

I had acid reflux for about 4 weeks with no relief. My doctor checked my liver, pancreas, and gallbladder and all were fine. She thought perhaps I had an infection so she gave me a 7 day course of Levaquin. I questioned her nurse and the pharmacist if the medication was safe to take or if it had side effects that I should worry about. Both said it was safe and that there were no known "bad" side effects. Both failed to warn me of the dangers of this medication. On the fifth day I noticed a "hives" like rash on both my arms. At the time, I didn't connect them to the Levaquin. After the 7th day (yesterday) I began to wonder if it could be a reaction to the drug. Last night the rash got worse, and this morning I had a very difficult time getting out of bed. I took a Benadryl last night thinking that perhaps I was having an allergic reaction to something I had eaten. This morning when the rash was worse I came on line and did a "Goggle" search on Levaquin and rashes... OMG, how could the doctor and pharmacist not told me about the problems associated with this drug??? They both were totally negligent about warning me about possible side effects. The worse part is that I was trying to be a knowledgeable patient, I asked the right questions and got the wrong answers!

What do I do now and will this rash go away and the pain in my legs go away without permanent damage???

This is a total lack of responsibility from the medical community and the drug company!

I have been taking fosamax for just over a year and have developed severe pain in the center below my chest, constant belching and terrible stomach pains. I was tested for gallbladder and that came back negative. I also have a lot of pain in my hips when I sleep bruise very easily. After reading these postings I have to wonder if this is from taking the fosamax. I'm going to mention this to my doctor.

I AM A 58 YEAR OLD FEMALE WITH THE FOLLOWING MEDICAL PROBLEMS: PARATHYROIDECTOMY, HAITAL HERNIA, GASTROSTITIS, FYBROMYALGIA, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, CORPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME, AND HAVE HAD SURGERIES FOR GALLBLADDER, FIBROID TUMORS, INJECTION TO MY KNEES FOR THE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. AT ONE TIME I WAS PLACED ON ZOCAR FOR CHOLESTEROL, MY LEGS BEGAN TO GIVE AWAY ON ME. I HAVE BEEN TAKING CRESTOR 10MG FOR THE PAST TWO (2) MONTHS AND I CANNOT GET ANY RELIEF FROM SEVERE PAIN ALL OVER MY BODY, AND MUST UTILIZE A CANE TO WALK, GET OUT OF BED, AND CANNOT HARDLY TAKE CARE OF MYSELF. I HAVE HAD TO BE PICKED UP OFF THE FLOOR DUE TO THE SEVERE PAIN IN MY LEGS AND MY BODY, IT SEEMS AS IF I AM LOOSING CONTROL. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN UNTIL I WAS PRESCRIBED TO CRESTOR. I WILL DISCUSS THIS WITH MY PHYSICIAN, BUT UNTIL I SEE HIM AGAIN, I FEEL IT IS BETTER THAT I STOP TAKING THIS MEDICATION. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PAIN THAT NOTHING HELPED ME. THE MOST THAT I CAN DO NOW IS LIE IN BED AND TRY TO TURN FROM SIDE TO SIDE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF MY FAMILY. THIS IS NOT ME. I WONDER IF THERE IS ANOTHER MEDICATION THAT I CAN TAKE FOR MY CHOLESTEROL SINCE I HAVE HAD THE ZOCAR AND IT WORKED AGAINST ME, AND NOW I FEEL THAT THE CRESTOR IS WORKING AGAINST ME? THANK YOU KINDLY FOR YOU ATTENTION IN READING THIS INFORMATION.

My thyroid was destroyed in Sept. 1987 by radioactive iodine. What I know now, I wish that I knew back then. I have been hyper most of my life up until this date. Was always able to go into any store buy clothes without trying them own, knowing that they would fit perfectly; lots of energy, raised two boys by myself and even worked on a college degree. Was very active. Had to go in for surgery for my gallbladder; 24 hours later, they didn't know if I was going to live. Put me on the gieger counters to test my thyroid, was so hyper that I broke every piece of equipment in the hospital. After my thyroid was destroyed, I packed on 60 pounds and have not been able to lose it to this day. Am extrememly tired. My whole system is so messed up that I am looking to alternative methods to see if I might get some help there. Told my doctor about my problems with weight, tireness, and bowel problems (which the medication has effected), he looks at me as if I am nuts and don't know what I am talking about.

Now that I am menopausal, the sympthoms have been amplified. I know of several people that have had problems with gaining weight and others that never had any problems with the medication. GO FIG!!!!

I had been on Yasmin for 1 yr/1.5 yrs. I just stopped taking it about 3 weeks ago due to horrible side effects. In the first 3 months I had the dizziness, mental confusion, vertigo,etc. I told my OB and she just said to take it at a different time of day. I did and seemed to be ok.

However, then the next set of side effects came into play! The horrible GI problems! I'm talking about the severe nausea (like motion sickness that just doesn't go away no matter what you eat or how many antacids you take), bloating, horrible abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and the smell of food makes you sick. I went to a GI specialist and had the whole series done, barium upper GI series, ultrasound, HIDA scan (my gallbladder was only functioning at 24%!), and a gastric endoscopy. They diagnosed me with esophagitis and gastritis due to the lesions/ulcers in my throat and stomach. I've been on Nexium for over 2 months and was still having problems. My GI specialist was great and told me that she was not convinced that it was my gallbladder causing all of the problems. I could tell that she was racking her brain trying to figure this all out!! Nothing was making sense.

That's when I started doing my own research. This is the only medication that I take! I thankfully came across this site and saw the responses of other women who had my symptoms and worse. I stopped Yasmin the next day and switched back to Loestrin. I had switched to Yasmin due to insurance and the recommendation of my OB.

I have been getting better every day but have to get Vit B12 shots once a month and now have too much potassium in my system (hyperkalemia). I drink a ton of water each day especially when it is "a bad day" and I'm on a low potassium diet. Each day I get stronger and am able to exercise (not just get through the day!) and feel more like myself, young 34, active, sexy and happy to be alive! My heart goes out to all of you and hope that you are all getting better and getting the help that you need to get better.
Well wishes to all!
B

I have a hair thinning problem on just the top of my head. Also my hair has gotten very dry and brittle breaking off when I comb or brush my hair or even run my hands through my hair. It has become "frizz city".

@ GUEST 13311,
You need to follow up with a doctor on that abdominal tenderness and swelling right away--it could be your gallbladder.

I started taking Singulair 3 months ago for Asthma/Allergies and like most of you loved the immediate results. For the first time I could make it through the night without using my inhaler or nebulizer treatments.

But, I noticed that over the last 4-6 weeks I have had severe reflux and feel like I have a constant pressure under my ribs. I have also felt really bloated in my stomach, and had some sharp shooting pain under my ribcage on my right side. I thought it might be my gallbladder, so I went to the doctor and had some lab work done and found out that my liver enzymes were elevated. Also, my weight was up 10 pounds since I started the singulair three months before. My doctor said these were side effects of Singulair, and asked me if I had experienced any other side effects on this list she had. As she read them off I wanted to cry.

I was shocked!!!! Over the last six weeks I had experienced so many side effects that I had simply contributed to other things. Things like.......increased headaches (one so bad I missed work a day) , itching, nausea, earaches, puffy eyes, and water retention. The stomach pain was due to an inlarged liver....not my gallbladder like I had suspected. My doctor did some research and found that I was not the only person to come in with abnormal liver function that she was treating with Singulair. She is now considering dropping this drug from her usual prescribing list.