Woman blames gallbladder problems on Yaz, Yasmin
Lana Speck didn’t know what had come over her when she began experiencing severe stomach pains in early 2006. Her doctor ordered a cholecystectomy, or the surgical removal of her gallbladder. But she continued to be plagued with even more problems, such as constant severe chest and upper abdominal pain. She also battled extreme diarrhea and indigestion.
Two years later her doctor made a connection. Lana had been taking Yaz or Yasmin birth control pills for seven years, since 2001. The pills have been linked to gallbladder damage, yet Lana says she was never warned of those risks by the pills’ manufacturer, Bayer Corp. Lana is now one of more than 2,000 women who have filed lawsuits against Bayer. The plaintiffs claim that Bayer was fully aware of the risks associated with use of the pills, yet the company did nothing to warn users.
Rebecca Anderson-Hull of Texas blames her birth control pills for damaging her brain and forcing her to need assistance walking, eating and even being understood. It happened two years ago when the 46-year-old mother of three suddenly and unexpectedly suffered a pulmonary embolism, or a blood clot in her lungs. She was rushed to the hospital but the lack of oxygen had caused massive brain damage. She will never be able to care for herself again, doctors said.