If Nuvaring and blood clots form within your superficial veins (i.e. those that lie near the surface of your skin), there is little need for concern. Clots that form within them rarely migrate into the deep veins. While you may experience pain and swelling, they pose no danger. If clots (also called thrombi) form within the deep veins, however, they are dangerous. This is a condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT); it typically occurs in the legs.

Thrombi In The Deep Veins Of The Legs

Your calves and thighs contain veins that are buried within groups of muscles. Whenever you move your lower extremities, these muscles contract around the veins. This helps pump oxygen-depleted blood from your legs into the inferior vena cava, a large blood vessel that leads directly to your heart. Once blood arrives in your heart, it is pumped into your pulmonary arteries to receive more oxygen from your lungs.

When Nuvaring blood clot symptoms develop in your legs, they do so along the lining of the deep veins. Normally, they remain there, and cause circulation issues and post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). This latter condition is defined as inflammation to the one-way valves inside your leg veins.

The reason DVT is dangerous is because the thrombi can become detached from the blood vessel’s wall. In some cases, they break free on their own. In other cases, they become dislodged when the leg muscles contract. Suddenly unattached, the clots are free to roam with your bloodstream.

Because the deep veins of your legs drain into your inferior vena cava, clots can gain direct passage to your heart and lungs.

Thrombi In The Arteries Of The Lungs

Oxygen-depleted blood arrives in the right upper chamber (i.e. atrium) of your heart. If clots have traveled with your bloodstream, they too, will arrive in this chamber. Your heart pumps blood from the right atrium to the right lower chamber (i.e ventricle), which in turn pumps it to your pulmonary arteries.

Your pulmonary arteries deliver oxygen-poor blood to your lung tissue. There, the blood is replenished with oxygen before being returned to your left atrium. If one of these arteries becomes blocked, the tissue supplied by it will starve. This is a pulmonary embolism. Given sufficient time, it will damage your lung tissue.

If an arterial blockage is sufficiently large, a PE can be fatal. But even small blockages can create serious health problems. For example, if blood flow to your lungs is restricted over an extended period, you will likely experience pulmonary hypertension. This is defined as high blood pressure within the pulmonary arteries and right side of your heart. It can trigger arrhythmias and cause right-sided heart failure.

Thrombi In The Arteries Of The Heart And Brain

Under rare circumstances, Nuvaring side effects involving blood clots can either form in the left side of the heart, or pass from the right side to the left. The former can occur due to a specific type of arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation (Afib). With Afib, the atria flutter, allowing blood to pool within the left atrium. The latter case can happen through a hole in the interatrial septum (the wall separating the left and right atria).

Once thrombi have accessed the left side of your heart, they can be pumped into the aorta, the largest artery in your body. The coronary arteries branch off from the base of the aorta and descend across the surface of your heart muscle. If clots migrate downstream within one of these arteries, they can cause a blockage and trigger a myocardial infarction (i.e. heart attack).

Further along the aorta, the left and right carotid arteries branch off toward the brain. Thrombi that travel downstream within either of these arteries can cause an blockage and obstruct blood flow to your brain tissue. You will experience a stroke.

The side effects of Nuvaring and blood clots are serious, and may lead to medical problems that become life-threatening. If you have suffered abnormal clotting, DVT, PE, or stroke after using the birth control ring, you may be able to file a claim for compensation for your injuries. Contact one of our Nuvaring lawyers to discuss your case.

Because the dangers associated with Nuvaring blood clots are significant, it is important to treat them as soon as their presence is detected. Treatment usually begins with anticoagulant medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin) and heparin. On many occasions, such as with stroke or atrial fibrillation (a type of arrhythmia), antiplatelet drugs are given.

Warfarin And Heparin For Blood Clot Treatment

Anticoagulation drugs prevent clot formation by inhibiting the synthesis of fibrin. Two of the most commonly-prescribed anticoagulants, warfarin and heparin, accomplish this in different ways.

Warfarin interferes with the production of vitamin K. This vitamin is needed in your bloodstream for the formation of thrombi. By reducing its production, warfarin slows the rate of clotting throughout your venous and arterial structures. It is important to monitor your diet while taking this drug since foods rich in vitamin K (e.g. spinach, broccoli, blueberries, etc.) can prevent it from working.

Heparin inhibits thrombin (a coagulation protein), and prevents it from acting upon the protein fibrinogen. Normally, thrombin turns fibrinogen into fibrin, the sticky, fibrous material that forms a protective net over a platelet plug. By inhibiting thrombin’s interaction with fibrinogen, heparin reduces the production of fibrin, and thus slows clot formation.

Warfarin is taken in pill form, and requires a few days to begin having an effect. Heparin is delivered by injection or intravenously, and takes effect immediately. For this reason, both anticoagulants are often given at the same time, but heparin is stopped once warfarin begins to show results.

Potential Side Effects Of Blood Thinners

The most common side effect of both warfarin and heparin is bleeding. Thus, if your medical history shows a bleeding disorder, or you have recently undergone major surgery, your doctor may be reluctant to prescribe anticoagulants.

Heparin poses additional risks, including a reduction in the level of platelets in your blood (a condition known as thrombocytopenia). This is one of several possible catalysts for bleeding. Heparin can also cause hives, hypokalemia (i.e. a low level of potassium), and in cases of prolonged use, osteoporosis. These potential complications are weighed against the benefits of anticoagulant administration, and the consequences of withholding treatment.

How Antiplatelet Medications Work

Platelets are manufactured in bone marrow. They circulate throughout your bloodstream, and congregate in areas clots are needed. Your body’s clotting system triggers a chemical reaction that causes the surface of platelets to become sticky. They begin to aggregate and clump together, forming a plug along the wall of the blood vessel.

Antiplatelet drugs, such as aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), and tirofiban (Aggrastat), inhibit the chemical reaction that causes platelets to become sticky. By doing so, they slow the rate of clot formation. These medications are usually reserved for thrombi that are present within the arteries since anticoagulants are less effective.

Like warfarin and heparin, antiplatelet drugs can cause bleeding throughout the body. Other side effects include diarrhea, stomach irritations, and an irregular heart rhythm. In some patients, these medications may lead to organ failure and decreasing blood pressure, though such outcomes are rare.

Nuvaring side effects involving a blood clot can trigger several medical emergencies, some of which may become life-threatening in the absence of immediate treatment. If you or someone you know has suffered from abnormal clotting, DVT, pulmonary embolism, or other Nuvaring problems, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. Contact an experienced Nuvaring lawsuit 2010 lawyer to discuss your options.

How does NuvaRing work?
NuvaRing is a type of birth control that is not taken every day. It is inserted into the vagina, taken out after three weeks, and then a new ring is inserted no more than seven days later. NuvaRing contains two types of hormones: estrogen and progestin. These hormones are released continuously and absorbed into the bloodstream. Higher estrogen and progestin levels tell the brain to not release hormones that cause egg maturation. Without an egg ready to be released into the fallopian tube, ovulation cannot occur. With two types of hormones, NuvaRing is called a combination hormonal contraceptive.

What is a NuvaRing pulmonary embolism clot?
NuvaRing pulmonary embolism is the blocking of the pulmonary artery or one of its branches. A NuvaRing pulmonary embolism occurs when a deep vein thrombosis, which is a blood clot in a vein, becomes dislodged. The clot then travels to the pulmonary artery, and causes a disruption of the blood supply to the person’s lungs.

What are the symptoms of a pulmonary embolism?
Some common symptoms of NuvaRing pulmonary embolism include the following:

• Rapid heart beat
• Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing; and
• Chest pain when inhaling

What is the danger of NuvaRing causing a pulmonary embolism?
NuvaRing pulmonary embolism can cause serious conditions, including collapse, circulatory instability, and even sudden death.

What are the other possible NuvaRing side effects?
NuvaRing can cause blood clots in the blood vessels in the eye, which may cause blindness. Another one of the NuvaRing side effects in addition to NuvaRing pulmonary embolism includes a risk of stroke. A stroke is the blockage of blood flow to the brain. NuvaRing can also cause a heart attack. Heart attacks occur when the flow of blood to the heart is blocked.

Breast cancer has been diagnosed slightly more often in women who use birth control devices, including NuvaRing. The increase gradually dissipates in the 10 years after stopping use. In rare cases, combination hormones like NuvaRing can also cause benign liver tumors. Although these are noncancerous, they can break and cause fatal internal bleeding.

Some other severe NuvaRing side effects that require you to see a doctor immediately include: severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); absent menstrual period; breast discharge; breast lumps; change in the amount of urine produced; confusion; coughing of blood; dark urine; fainting; mental or mood changes; migraines; pale stools; persistent, severe, or recurring headache or dizziness; persistent vaginal spotting; shortness of breath; slurred speech; sudden, severe headache or vomiting; swelling of the fingers, hands, legs, or ankles; unusual or severe vaginal bleeding; unusual tiredness or weakness; vaginal irritation, discharge, or change in secretions; and yellowing of the skin or eyes.

If you experienced a pulmonary embolism or other serious blood clot, please contact us for a free no-obligation consultation and the latest Nuvaring lawsuit 2010 news update. We are currently representing women and families throughout the United States.

Your doctor has several treatment options available that he or she can use to address Nuvaring stroke problems. One option involves administering anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications. Another involves the use of thrombolytic (or, fibrinolytic) drugs. Both options target the carotid arterial blockage by dealing with your body’s clotting system. But they do so in different ways.

How Thrombolytic Therapy Works

Blood clots form as the result of chemical reactions that affect platelets and your body’s thrombin system. Platelets are tiny cellular fragments that are produced in bone marrow. They represent one of several clotting factors, and travel through your bloodstream looking for venous or arterial injuries. When a vein or artery is injured, the platelets undergo a chemical change that results in their surface becoming sticky. They clump together at the site of the injury, and “plug it” to prevent bleeding.

Meanwhile, your body’s thrombin system also undergoes changes in order to contribute to the plug, or clot. A glycoprotein called fibrinogen (produced by your liver) is converted into a protein called fibrin. This protein forms the strands of sticky material that aggregate and create an interlinked mesh over the platelet plug. The mesh secures the clot.

Thrombolytic medications target the fibrin mesh. They perform a function that is normally handled by your body. Normally, a protein called plasminogen travels through your bloodstream. When your clotting system is triggered, another protein called tissue plasminogen activator converts plasminogen into plasmin. Plasmin degrades – or digests – fibrin strands, and thus dismantles blood clots.

During a stroke, there is an insufficient amount of plasmin available to dismantle the clot blocking the carotid artery. Given enough time, your body would dissolve it naturally, but recall that your brain cells start dying within moments. For this reason, your doctor may administer tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) to accelerate the conversion of plasminogen into plasmin. This helps to break apart the obstructing clot and restore blood flow to your brain. Unfortunately, thrombolytic medications often pose a greater danger than can be justified.

The Risks Of Using Thrombolytic Medications

There are two factors that may give your doctor pause before treating a stroke with thrombolytics. First, the medications increase the risk of bleeding in the brain. Because bleeding can cause additional brain damage (as occurs with a hemorrhagic stroke), your doctor will want to minimize the likelihood it will happen. Hence, if you have recently undergone surgery, are predisposed to bleeding, or suffer a heart infection, use of thrombolytics may be deemed too risky.

A second factor involves the amount of time that has elapsed since the first symptoms presented. The more quickly tPA (or alternatives, such as streptokinase or urokinase) can be given, the greater effect they will have on the obstructing clot. Some doctors will only administer thrombolytic medications if they can do so within three hours of the first symptoms. Past this point, the risk of bleeding in the brain begins to outweigh the benefit of giving the drugs.

Many physicians will administer tPA up to eighteen hours after a Nuvaring stroke has begun. If this is done, the medication must be introduced via catheter, rather than injection or through an IV. The catheter is inserted into a vein near the groin and advanced to the site of the obstruction.

Because the brain begins to suffer injury almost immediately when it is deprived of oxygen-rich blood, a stroke is considered a medical emergency. It must treated as quickly as possible. If you have suffered blood clots, stroke, or other NuvaRing side effects, you may be able to file a claim for compensation for your injuries. Contact a Nuvaring lawyer to discuss your case.

DVT is characterized by circulation problems since the deep veins in the lower extremities become partially occluded by clots. In addition to venous insufficiency, however, a Nuvaring deep vein thrombosis problem may pose more serious risks. In rare cases, clots in the deep veins may cause a total blockage. This is a condition known as phlegmasia cerulea dolens. It can lead to venous gangrene and if left untreated, the eventual loss of the affected limb.

When The Leg Veins Become Completely Blocked

Pain and swelling in the legs are common with DVT. However, a total occlusion of the veins exacerbates both symptoms. The one-way venous valves that normally control the direction of blood flow become damaged. This allows blood to pool, and fluid to accumulate, a condition known as edema.

The veins swell in order to accommodate the extra fluid. Meanwhile, red blood cells seep from the veins and come closer to the surface of the skin. This causes discoloration and makes the skin more susceptible to damage from even minimal injuries. In such circumstances, it is not uncommon for a minor scratch to develop into a skin ulcer.

The pain that accompanies a complete blockage of the veins (typically, the iliac and femoral veins) is severe. Blood is prevented from returning to the heart and lungs for oxygen. Thus, the affected limb may become cyanotic as oxygen-poor blood accumulates near the skin’s surface.

The problem is more than cosmetic. Starved of oxygen for a prolonged period, the tissue will begin to die. This is called gangrene. If it is not addressed, the condition can lead to the amputation of the affected limb.

Preventing Limb Loss With Venous Thrombectomy

When venous gangrene presents in cases of Nuvaring DVT, treatment usually begins with thrombolysis rather than surgery. This is because the most common form of surgery for phlegmasia cerulea dolens – venous thrombectomy – cannot resolve valve incompetence, a defining trait of postphlebitic syndrome. Worse, the procedure may even cause it.

That said, thromboyltic medications may be unable to break apart the offending clots. Because a rapid response is critical to prevent tissue death from spreading, doctors will often recommend moving forward with thrombectomy.

Prior to the procedure, heparin is administered to prevent thickening of the blood. Then, a vascular surgeon will make an incision in the popliteal vein or femoral vein. A catheter is inserted and a contrast dye is introduced into the targeted vein to help the surgeon visualize the venous occlusion.

Next, a second incision is made near the blockage. A catheter is inserted through this incision to release water at high velocity for the purpose of breaking apart the clots. This strong jet of water also creates a mini vacuum which brings the resulting clot fragments back through the opening of the catheter. This allows them to be evacuated from the vein. The drawback is that, as noted above, there is a high incidence rate of postphlebitic syndrome following the procedure.

While venous gangrene is rare, other Nuvaring problems are much more common. One of the most serious complications is pulmonary embolism, a condition that occurs when a deep venous clot breaks away from the vein’s wall and travels to the lungs. If you have suffered clotting, DVT, or pulmonary embolism after using the birth control ring, contact an experienced Nuvaring lawyer. You may have a right to file a claim for compensation against the manufacturer.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in the veins of the leg, usually in the lower part. Blood may pool and thicken in that area for a variety of reasons. Certain illnesses may increase the likelihood of developing deep vein thrombosis. DVT is also called the “economy class” syndrome since it can occur because of long periods of immobility, as on an airplane. It can also occur in pregnant women as the weight of the baby on the pelvis slows the flow of blood to the legs. Critics of the newer generation birth control say that women who use Nuvaring birth control are at higher risk of developing DVT because of the way the contraceptive affects the blood’s ability to clot or coagulate.

Although DVT can be treated in a variety of ways, the condition can often reoccur. In fact, one report says that over time, the majority of patients with DVT have continued symptoms after initial treatment.

Post-thrombotic syndrome can occur after DVT because of a number of factors. The initial cause of DVT may remain, such as a clotting problem in the body. Previous clots that may not have been completely removed by the initial treatment may continue to cause pain. Blood may still pool in the veins, or may have some type of abnormality. The blood vessel walls may be damaged from the initial DVT.

Typical symptoms of post-thrombotic syndrome include inflammation, pain or a heavy sensation in the limb. The skin may also develop sores or darken (hyper pigmentation).

Nuvaring Blood Clot Symptoms Treatment
Treatment for post-thrombotic syndrome is similar to that of DVT. Compression stockings are often recommended, although their effectiveness has been questioned recently. Gentle massage and exercise are also effective in keeping the blood moving. Doctors may also prescribe anticoagulant medicines to keep the blood from clotting. Doctors must use these drugs carefully because the medicines can also cause excess bleeding.

A patient with DVT or post-thrombotic syndrome should consider this a long-term condition. Talk with your doctor about treatment options and continue to be diligent about follow up care.

If you have DVT or post-thrombotic syndrome and have used the birth control ring contraceptive, you may be able to seek a legal remedy. Please contact us to discuss your legal options including filing a Nuvaring lawsuit. We currently represent women throughout the United States who have developed Nuvaring problems involving blood clots. Consultation is free, and there are no fees unless we win your case.

Nuvaring blood clots problems (also called thrombi) can form within the veins or arteries. Venous clots are more common and pose serious risks. If thrombi form within the deep veins, it is possible for them to embolize (i.e. break away from the venous wall) and migrate into the arteries, obstructing blood flow to major organs. For this reason, it is important to diagnose their presence as soon as possible. Your doctor will conduct some – or all – of the following tests.

Compiling A Patient History

Before your physician orders or performs any diagnostic tests, he or she will review your medical history and ask questions regarding your symptoms. The purpose of doing so is to identify risk factors that increase the likelihood of blood clots. Such factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, habitual smoking, and an existing clotting disorder.

A physical examination is then done to look for signs of clots. These signs often indicate the severity of the clotting disorder.

Doppler Ultrasonography

This is the most common test used to identify blood clots. High-frequency sound waves are emitted from a transducer (a small hand-held device) that is pressed against the skin near the suspected clotting site. The sound waves are reflected by blood vessels and blood cells, and used to construct images that display the flow of your blood through the veins and arteries. Images that show restricted or nonexistent blood flow suggest an obstruction.

Doppler ultrasonography is most useful for examining blood flow within large veins. For smaller blood vessels, the images may be less clear, and thus inadequate for identifying clots. In such cases, your doctor may order a CT scan.

Computerized Tomography (CT) scan

CT scanning is commonly done when a pulmonary embolism (i.e. a blockage in the arteries of the lungs) is suspected. It may also be done when Nuva Ring blood clots are suspected in the deep veins of the calves and thighs.

Traditional CT scans have largely been replaced with helical CT scans. The latter approach takes multiple x-ray images with a scanner that rotates around your body. The x-rays are then compiled by a computer to produce a 3-dimensional image that can reveal venous clots. This test is reasonably accurate and noninvasive, which is the reason many doctors prefer it. However, it is possible to miss clots. If the results of a helical CT scan display no thrombi, yet your doctor suspects they exist, he or she may order a venogram and arteriogram.

Venography And Arteriography

These tests use similar approaches to study the veins or arteries, respectively. A radiopaque contrast dye is introduced by injection or catheter. With venography, the entry site depends on the location of the suspected Nuvaring blood clots. The dye can be injected directly into the blocked vein. With arteriography, the entry site – whether for injection or catheter insertion – is usually the groin.

The contrast dye is allowed to flow into the suspected vein or artery. X-rays are taken to display its progress. Your doctor will be able to identify obstructions in the blood vessels by noting areas in which the flow of the dye is impeded. There is a high likelihood these obstructions represent clots. While both venography and arteriography are accurate, they are invasive, and thus less commonly used.

Nuvaring Lawsuit 2010

Nuvaring clotting events have caused serious health problems for many women. These problems include deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and stroke. If you have suffered a clotting disorder, DVT, PE, or other Nuvaring side effects, you may have the right to file a claim against the manufacturer. Contact an experienced Nuvaring lawsuit settlements attorney to discuss your options.

Clots can form in the deep veins or arteries. The former defines a condition known as deep venous thrombosis (DVT). DVT poses serious risks because muscle contractions around the veins can cause clots to break away from the venous lining. Detached from the vein’s wall, they can be carried along with your bloodstream toward your heart and lungs. This can lead to life-threatening medical emergencies.

How NuvaRing Clotting Problems Are Treated

The measures used to treat Nuvaring birth control side effects depend on the circumstances. For example, doctors will often prescribe anticoagulants, such as warfarin and heparin, to treat DVT and prevent further clotting. Urgent medical problems, such as stroke and pulmonary embolism, are usually treated with thrombolysis if the patient can tolerate the medications.

Thrombolytic drugs are known as clot-busters. They are introduced to your bloodstream in order to break apart and dissolve blood clots that are blocking major arteries. These medications can be delivered intravenously, but are more commonly delivered through a catheter, especially during emergencies.

The most common clot-busting drugs used today include streptokinase, urokinase, and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). This latter medication is currently the only FDA-approved drug for treating ischemic stroke. However, because all thrombolytics pose a significant risk of internal bleeding, these medications are only administered in certain situations.

When Are Thrombolytic Medications Used?

Thrombolytic therapy may occasionally be used to treat DVT if your doctor suspects one or more clots are likely to break free of the venous wall. Otherwise, use of the drugs is reserved for treating myocardial infarction (heart attack), ischemic stroke, and severe pulmonary embolism. They are not given if you suffer from bleeding, have undergone recent surgery, or cope with extremely high blood pressure.

The sooner therapy begins, the higher the likelihood of successfully treating the underlying condition. For a heart attack, the medications should be administered within ninety minutes of the first symptoms. The American Heart Association goes further to suggest treatment can produce positive effects if it is delivered up to twelve hours from the beginning of the heart attack.

When treating Nuvaring problems involving a stroke, the drugs are most effective when they are delivered within three hours of the first symptoms. As before, if there are any signs of bleeding, therapy is not given. It’s also worth noting that thrombolytics are not used to treat hemorrhagic strokes. Doing so would risk increased bleeding in the brain.

Clot-busting drugs can be used to treat a pulmonary embolism. However, doctors will normally do so only if there is reason to believe your life is at risk. They must weigh the potential adverse effects of thrombolytic therapy (i.e. hemorrhages) with the possibility of significant lung tissue death.

Possible Side Effects Of Thrombolytic Therapy

Bleeding is the primary concern because it can quickly become life-threatening. For example, approximately 1% of patients who receive thrombolytic drugs experience bleeding in the brain. This can cause a stroke and lead to brain damage. It is also estimated that one in four patients experience minor bleeding that manifests from the gums or nose. A bloody cough, sudden dizziness, low blood pressure, or a severe headache may also indicate internal hemorrhaging. Receiving medical attention is critical.

Nuvaring clots are dangerous because they can block key arteries that supply blood to your lungs, brain, and heart. While thrombolysis can break apart and dissolve these clots, there are serious risks. If you have suffered clotting disorders, pulmonary embolism, or stroke after using the birth control ring, contact one of our Nuvaring attorneys to discuss your rights including the latest Nuvaring lawsuit 2010 news. You may be able to file a claim against the manufacturer for compensation.

Women who use the birth control ring are supposed to be informed regarding the risks of Nuvaring blood clot problems through the warning label. Despite this, many would be surprised to learn they are exposed to deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, and other serious circumstances. The following provides an overview of these Nuvaring side effects.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

If thrombi form in superficial veins near your skin’s surface, they pose little to no danger. This is because they rarely break free from the venous lining. By contrast, thrombi located in the deep veins (usually the legs) can become detached from the wall due to the contractions of surrounding muscles. This presents an immediate problem.

Blood returns to your heart and lungs to receive oxygen. Loose clots from your deep veins can travel with your bloodstream and clog one or more lung arteries. This triggers a pulmonary embolism (described below).

Post-Thrombotic Syndrome

In order for blood to flow in the right direction, the deep veins in your legs are equipped with small valves. These valves ensure blood moves toward your heart, and prevents it from pooling within the veins.

DVT can eventually inflame and damage the valves. This is called post-thrombotic syndrome. The valves become less capable of regulating the flow of your blood. As a result, blood pools and leads to further clotting. You’ll experience circulation problems that can lead to swelling, redness, and chronic pain.

Pulmonary Embolism

As noted earlier, thrombi that have broken free from the deep venous lining can travel with your bloodstream toward your heart and lungs. Blood enters the right side of your heart and flows through your pulmonary arteries to receive oxygen from your lungs. Clots can follow this same path and become lodged within these arteries. This creates a blockage and causes the underlying lung tissue to starve. This is a pulmonary embolism.

If the blockage is substantial and enough time passes without treatment, a PE side effect caused by Nuvaring can be fatal. Even when treatment is administered quickly, a portion of the affected lung tissue may sustain damage or die.

Ischemic Stroke

NuvaRing problems involving blood clots can also form in areas of your body that provide them passage to your carotid arteries. These arteries supply your brain with oxygen-rich blood. In many cases, the lining of these arteries will accumulate fatty deposits, calcium, and other types of cell debris. This results in a mass called an atheroma, which narrows the passageway through the artery. A thrombus – even a small one – that arrives near the atheroma can block the artery and prevent blood from reaching your brain. This triggers an ischemic stroke.

Stroke is rarely fatal. However, it can produce many side effects that impair key abilities, such as speech, memory, and cognition. It can also cause paralysis. The size of the offending thrombus and the amount of time that passes before the blockage is treated influence the severity of these side effects.

Heart Attack

If a thrombus forms within the left side of your heart and exits through the left ventricle, it will emerge in the aorta. From there, it can find its way into your coronary arteries and their supporting blood vessels. These arteries feed oxygen-rich blood to your heart tissue. A clot-induced blockage prevents this blood from reaching the tissue and triggers a myocardial infarction (i.e. heart attack). This event can be fatal.

Nuvaring Lawsuit 2010

Complications involving Nuvaring blood clots can lead to several dangerous consequences. If you have suffered from abnormal clotting, DVT, pulmonary embolism, or other Nuvaring side effects, you may be able to file a claim against the manufacturer. Contact a Nuvaring attorney to discuss your case.

If you or a family member has suffered from a blood clot please contact us and one of our Nuvaring lawyers can help explain your legal rights including filing a Nuvaring lawsuit.

Deep vein thrombosis can be caused by a number of factors. Certain inherited or congenital diseases may affect the body’s ability to clot. Other illnesses like cancer can also increase the likelihood of DVT. People who have recently had surgery or who are immobile are also at greater risk because of poor circulation. One of the causes of DVT among young women is the use of contraceptives containing hormones, such as the NuvaRing. Blood clot side effects from the hormones are believed to affect the body’s blood clotting ability.

For patients with DVT, one important form of treatment to keep the clots from reaching the brain or lungs has been the use of compression stockings.

Compression stockings are worn either above or at the knee. They are usually tighter at the bottom, and gradually become looser as the stocking reaches the knee. This tightness is designed to help ensure blood does not pool in the lower extremities, where it can begin to clot.

While compression stockings may be tight, hot and uncomfortable, they have been a standard method to try to prevent DVT. New studies, however, question whether compression stockings are as useful as previously thought.

One new study found that compression stockings were not exceptionally effective in preventing DVT after a stroke had occurred. In fact, patients who used the stockings had a number of skin problems as a result. Patients had skin breaks, ulcers, blisters and lack of blood flow to the skin, leading to necrosis and in some cases, amputation.

A difficulty in treating DVT is that other options, such as long-term anti-clotting medicines may cause excessive bleeding. If you have DVT, talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of all of your treatment options.

If have used the birth control ring and have been diagnosed with DVT, or suffered other serious Nuvaring side effects please contact us. We are currently representing women throughout the United States who have had side effects in filing Nuvaring lawsuits, after using this contraception. We can advise you of your legal rights and options during a free no-obligation consultation.