What is a Bartholin's Gland Cyst or Abscess?
Thursday August 28, 2008
Has your doctor told you that you have a Bartholin's gland cyst or abscess? Discover the facts about Bartholin's gland cysts and abscesses from the discovery of the Bartholin's gland to symptoms and treatment information.
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What happens after a bartholin cyst is removed with thick old blood in it?
Is is malignant?
HEY SO IS IT AN DESEASE AN THNX FOR LETTIN ME KNO THE FACTS
I just had a double Bartholin’s cyst lanced in the gp’s office b/c I could not wait until surgery on Monday.
they were filled with old blood with clots and also fresh blood. The doctor was surprised b/c this 4X2 cm dbl cyst was essentially in my upper leg.
I don’t know what I could have done differently, even though I have read that lancing in the least effective treatment.
I am now hoping it will heal without further intervention.
we shall see. I am having alot of fresh bleeding right now… making me wonder if there is some bleeding blood vessel in there somewhere.
I have been told that I have a bartholin gland cyst although the truth is they really don’t know exactly what it is growing down there. It could possibly be a tumor since they did not biopsy anything. I am most likely going to have it removed, but unlike everyone talking about lancing it, this is more complicated according to my gyno. He said it is deep and I will have to be either under general anethesia or have a spinal for the surgery. Anyone hear anything about this more complicated surgery? I’m scared.
I have a 2.5 x 2.5 cm cyst or abscess of the left bartholin gland. Mine also is deep and the doctor is talking general anesthesia. I am 56 years old and this is the third go-round with this. It is painful!
did you have surgery and how did it go?
I had a Barthlon’s gland cyst, and it came back four times before I got surgery. Honestly, getting it lanced is pointless, in my opinion. It is utterly painful when it comes back, it looks ugly, and getting it lanced only makes it go away for a little while. I got surgery, yesterday in fact, and, I’m not even totally sore!I don’t remember a thing, and it only pinches a little when I walk, but I’m back to school in a few days.
And, it doesn’t have to be a disease. The gland being blocked, is apparently, hereditary. But the infection CAN result from getting STDs, but, some people, like myself, are just prone to infection. Getting tested for STDs after you find that you have a Bartholin’s gland cyst is always the smart thing to do.
But no worries anyone! It’s actually really common to happen to women, we’re not freaks. =]
I used a homeopathic remedy, Silica (also sometimes Silicea) 30C and my cyst, which developed about a week ago and had gotten huge and painful, started to drain 3 hours after the first dose and is still draining 24 hours later. It’s a painful and scary problem but this remedy seems to be working so far.
I wish I had known earlier what was going on. I had one in July that apparently drained on it’s own. I went back to my gp on Wednesday and she sent me to OB/GYN yesterday where they drained it with a needle, not a pleasant procedure! Although he used Lidocaine to numb the area it still hurt due to the sensitivity of the area. It was infected (puss & blood) and I’m on Kelflex (Cephalexin) antibiotic used for skin infections & UTI’s 4x day for 7 days. I now get to wear the Word catheter for 6 weeks which will, as I understand it, create a new duct for fluid secretion and presumably the cyst won’t come back. I don’t really feel the catheter & I am MUCH more comfortable compared to the cyst. Sucks since my hubby & I are trying to have a baby right now! The OB also recommend shallow spritz baths as a good treatment/prevention of the Bartholin Gland Cysts. If you think you have one of these get it checked out early-they can rupture if not treated in time. I can’t even imagine how that would feel! Knowing is half the battle right? I am sorry to read about the more severe cases, good luck everyone!
Hello, Everyone…
Just had a Bartholin’s glad cyst removed,and WOW was it PAINFULL!!!
Per my Gyn I decide to had the drain place with a cath, hopefully it will not return….
Hi Everyone,
This might be a little detailed or gross but I wanted others to get some insight from my experience. Hope this helps…
After much pain and the left side of my vulva blowing up almost the size of a golf ball I decided to go to a walkin clinic. I was checked out by the gyn and was told that I had bartholin gland cyst but need not do anything much except take a sitz bath. I was given a pill(diflucan) for the yeast infection I got as a result of this and was told to return if the pain didn’t stop. After taking the pill and doing a few sitz I felt much better the next day. From then on the cyst somehow got much smaller and the pain had gone. I believe the relief had more to do with the pill than the baths. Anyhow, two months later the cyst swells up again and this time I was going out of my mind. I can’t believe how much pain women have to endure!!! I couldn’t take it. I couldn’t even walk! I decided to take hot baths(as hot as possible without burning myself) 4 times in one day and sometimes for more than an hour at a time. I just kept adding more hot water when the water was beginning to get lukewarm. After that day of intense warm baths and my skin looking like prunes, I went to rest but the pain seemed to have gotten even worse so I decided to put an ice cube in a face towel as a compress to somehow cool the pain. I felt less discomfort and was actually able to fall asleep. I think the constant warm baths and the final ice compress worked because when I woke up the next morning the cyst opened up itself and began to drain (blood and pus) on it’s own. It’s been one day now but I feel soooo much relief and I can walk now! The only pain I get is when I want to pee but I try to cover the cyst area as best as I can to avoid the stinging. Prior to this I had ordered the Silica pills as mentioned by others but haven’t received it yet. Hopefully I don’t have to go through this again. If I do then those silica pills better work cause I can’t see myself doing surgery. It sounds too painful from what others have mentioned.
Hi,everyone I can honestly sympathize with all of you ladies,as I myslef have been dealing with this condition for the past 19yrs since the birth of my 1st child. I am now 39yrs old recently had yet another 2nd procedure of a word catheter placed. Right now I am in excruciating pain every movement is torture the tube to the catheter just will not stay in place & is causing me horrific pain & bleeding. The docot now wants to do a marsupialization which I’ve heard horror stories about as well. It’s not an end all to this tortorous,extremely painful condition. I’ve so had it with this already. Over the years it would flare up causing me to go to the ER on 2 occasions but I’d be given antibiotics & was told by my then Gynocologist it was best to leave it alone if it didn’t hurt he said that surgery would only be more painful & more complicated & it wouldn’t be a permanent solution “boy was he ever so right”! My husband has the patience of a saint it’s now been over 2 months since we’ve had any relations @ all. At first the drainage is immediate relief for me but they insist on keeping the word catheter in for 4-6weeks & I guess as it is healing the tube falls out and it just makes it that much more painful to walk,sleep,sit etc no differnce from having the abscess.I recently tried pulling it out myself I was so desperate for relief but it only made matters worse.Ladies I have a high tolerance for pain but this is like nothing I’ve ever felt before every part of you hurts.I also have a 2 1/2 yr old & it’s not easy when your in pain constantly. Please if anyone has had the surgery (marsupialization) I’d like your opinions on it…Thanks all my wish for all of us is a painfree, healthy bartholin gland
I have had my bartholin glad drained twice now and it is swelling back up again. This last time I would have had the dr put in a catheter while I was already numb, but she didn’t have any on hand. I have an appointment on Thursday for my yearly checkup and at that time I will probably go ahead and have her do the catheter.
As for the pain, just to give a wide variety of experiences for those who are dealing with this and don’t know yet what to expect…the draining of the cyst is painful because of the shots they give to numb the area. It’s not horrible, but it does hurt. Once the area is numb it’s always been easy from there for me. I have always healed up quickly and with no complication. My glands have never hurt before the drainage either, they just swell up really big but are not painful.
I’m anxious to see what happens with the catheter. Good luck to everyone who has to deal with this!
t
hye everyone,
i have got a bartholin cyst in my right vulva. i had been admitted to hospital during 3 days and was put on antibiotics. its really not paining but am worried coz the swelling is still there. am really afraid of surgeries and all. can you help me finding a home treatment to have the swelling disappear. there is no discharge anything only the swell which is present. Need help. Thank you.
Vani
Wow, I think I need a new gyno.
Twice, I have had abscesses. The first time was one of the worst experiences as my life.. incredibly high fever, then the swelling/pain and the draining sore.. I ran to my gyno in an absoulte panic and he figured it was herpes. All STD tests came back negative but he still didn’t know what was going on.
It went away.. a year later, it came back. This time I ran straight back ASAP and we ran all STD tests again. This time, he suggested I soak in warm baths several times a day. That was the only thing that gave me any relief, and made the abscess break open much sooner than the previous one. Tests again came back negative and my doc seemed confused.
A few weeks later I was at my primary care doctor and he asked why I’d recently been in to the gyno.. I explained and he immediately told me the name of the gland so I could researc it and explained what had happend.. and that if it keeps happening there are options!! GOOD LORD why didn’t my gyno know this!! And why doesn’t WebMD have any info on them, that was the first place I ran to.
Anyways, good luck to all of you experiencing this, it is excruciating. Warm baths, add some epsom salts or boric acid to the water even, and I bet antibiotics would help if its a really bad infection.
Keeping my fingers crossed none of us need to ever experience a repeat, but I’m so glad to know what happened to me twice now!
I had two marsupialization surgeries — one seven years ago, another seven weeks ago. There were no problems in the seven intervening years.
When I first saw a gyn. about it, he didn’t know what it was, either. All the general practitioners were able to diagnose it right away.
Some dr.s suggested they lance it, and others said it would be a bad idea. I went with the surgery. The first time around, there was not too much pain afterward, but I couldn’t empty my bladder by myself, and had to have a catheter for two days. The hospital didn’t warn me this could happen, and they’ve sent me home. I then had to return, of course, and spend the night in the hospital.
The second time around, the dr. said she was using a different type of suture. The post-surgery recovery was harder, and though I’ve been told that sexual activity could resume in six weeks, the swelling still persists after seven.
I am 21 years old and I’ve had a history of recurring cysts since last year. The last one was so painful I’d cry after just walking for a few meters. I couldn’t take it anymore, I just wanted to die. But then we went to this good gyn who suggested that I have the gland marsupialized. And I did. Just hours after the operation, I was feeling great (hours because the anesthesia was still there so I wasn’t sure if it was still sore or not). It has been 3 months since my operation and I have been feeling fine.
I sympathize with everyone that has posted an experience. I apologize in advance for how ling this is –
In January 2000, I had my first cyst on the right side. Over several long excruciating days, it became an inflamed abscess and had to be drained. It was an extremely painful procedure, as the local anesthetic used does not work if you have an abscess. However, the relief was immediate. The moment the doctor cut into it, I felt relief. A ward catheter was inserted and remained in place for several weeks. About a year later, it came back. I had the procedure done again, and again, a ward catheter was put in place to help prevent a reoccurrence. The catheter fell out a few days later. The doctor could not replace it without causing agonizing pain. I have since read that if the incision is too large, the catheter will fall out.
About a year later it came back a third time. This time I talked to a specialist that scheduled a surgery to have the gland marsupialized. After the surgery, that required going under a general anesthesia, I woke up and felt minimal discomfort. I could feel the stitches, but the healing process was quick. It has been about seven years and I have had no problems on the right side. Occasionally, I feel mild tenderness or a little bit of swelling but, overall, the surgery was a success.
A cyst has formed and popped or drained by itself twice on the left side a few years apart. The first time, it was swollen and painful and drained during a long car ride in the summer heat. The second time, it again drained by itself during an extremely hot summer day. I believe that heat will help a cyst drain without medical intervention if you can tolerate the pain.
Most recently, on Saturday I started to fell the characteristic swelling and pain of a bartholin cyst. I also felt sluggish, tired, and feverish. I immediately knew what was happening. The pain had gotten so bad by Monday that I had to stay home for work and wait for the on-call gynecologist at my clinic to see me. That afternoon, he drained it and inserted a ward catheter. This time, I did not feel immediate relief. The procedure was significantly more painful than the two previous times. Also worth noting, this time think clotty blood cam out as opposed to the other times when a watery puss-like liquid came out. I was in the most pain I have felt since this whole ordeal began almost a decade ago. When I went home, thick blood clots continued to come out which was extremely painful with the catheter in place. I had to call the doctor to prescribe vicodin. I had never experienced blood draining from the glad and am not sure if that is normal.
It has been four days since the procedure and I am still in pain.
Im wondering…….I havent been to the gyno but, def know I have a block Bartholins gland. It doesnt hurt at all and unless ive had sex or anything is the only time it swells up….if push on it the liquid comes out…..one time it was slightly tinged red but have never been in pain from it………..does that mean i have a re occuring cyst? it started happening a cpl years ago but i read up about it and wasnt concerned due to the lack of pain…..
hi girlfriends, sympathizing with all of you. this is no fun, for sure. i am almost 49, mother of three wonderfuls born by cesearian, divorced by default for a decade, and have been in a “monogamous” relationship since. first bartholin gland swelling started on the left about two or three years ago, first a grape size, then a walnut size, but no pain at all. i only knew something wasn’t right there. the cyst formation then became an abcess during a period of lots of stress and self-neglect, facing foreclosure, selling my home, moving twice in six months, and learning of my long term partner’s infedility only when questioned about my compromised physical condition. great time, hear my sarcasm? still i didn’t seek med attention because of $$ and no insurance. self-treated the first abcess with hot compresses and tea bags (recommended by a knowing friend, the tannic acid helps draw out the poisonous infection). immediate relief, nothing but ugly pus, and i seemed fine for a while. but then it swelled again, this time a bit more painful, and almost egg-sized, and after more hot compressing, when it erupted, it was dark blood mixed with pus. scary, but i still avoided docs, again no $ and fear of docs in general. all seemed okay for a while, but now i have a constant seeping of not so nice smelling discharge of the gland; more pus dishcarges when i press on it, again no pain, but i am sure there is infection, and i am sure i need antibiotics or biopsy possibly. research i have done scares me, though, about the possibility of cancerous situations at my age.
does anyone know of any home remedy antibiotic treatments for such weird infections of such a weird gland situated in such a difficult place in our bodies? thanks in advance for all response.
I would just like to say thank all you wonderful ladies for sharing.I am a mother of five and have been dealing with this cycst for a while now off and on. I never knew what it was since it never hurt(would just swell up, then go away after a while)I seriously thought something was wrong with me, thank you so much for the education. I have an apt this week to see about this draining process.
Inhousepharmacy dot com you can order antibiotics if you can’t afford to see a doctor. I have just started to deal with this problem now for 2 weeks it swelled and i went to a doctor he referred me to OGYN to get it drained with a word tube and prescribed me antibiotics. It started draining that night so I decided to save money and monitor it myself. I had to use antibiotic cream/ peroxide wash. and i would constantly squueze out puss and even have to pull puss until there was no more. that area healed. now two weeks later the front area is doing the same thing. I am hoping to get all the infection out so i dont have to go through this again. Good luck with all this. I have order anitbiotics to go on them for a couple weeks.
I had my first cyst when I was in my mid-20s. It was the only one that went away on its own. After giving birth to two children I had 4 more that all abscessed. All of them were on the same side. I reached the point where I was having them every six months. One was incised in the doctor’s office. That was very uncomfortable. I found it was easier to live with the pain of the abscess and have it rupture on its own, as it healed quicker than if the doctor opened it. When it ruptured on its own, everything drained out immediately and it healed rapidly. However, it was excrutiatingly painful waiting for that to happen. When I got my last one, I had it marsupialized in the hospital. I really wish I’d done it sooner. I was out of the hospital the next morning. There was minimal discomfort afterwards and I felt slightly cranky for 24 hours after getting home. It also has never returned and it has been about 13 years.
Unfortunately, I have now got one on the other side. I thought I was too old for them (48) but obviously not. This time, the doctor has prescribed antibiotics. I’ve been taking them 24 hours and haven’t really seen a change – it just hasn’t gotten worse. The doctor said it was too deep to bother taking sitz baths but I might just do so anyway as it won’t hurt.
My first Bartholin cyst appeared 3 months ago at the age of 50, just 3 weeks after a routine baseline colonoscopy. Coincidence? Maybe not, and people might want to think twice about prophylactic antibiotics before such a procedure…the orifices are awfully close.
Anyway, within a month I took a strong course of antibiotics, had the gland lanced, but the infection returned twice in a four week period. I decided to go with Marsupilization. The site where the Marsupilization (done under general anesthesia) and Word Catheter insertion (I wore that 4 days post-op) is a little nubby but not too bad. I was home from the hospital five hours after admission and up walking around the next day…went shopping the day after that, and rode a motorcycle a week later, all pain free. Hope the infection stays away. Wish everyone luck with these things. They are painful and nasty, especially when they burst on their own, like one of mine did.
I just wanted to leave a little bit of info to hopefully give some of you some hope! I noticed a golf ball sized growth around November of last year. Did some research and was reasonable sure that I had a BGC. Went to the doc in December and had it confirmed. My doc is a jerk and said that unless it was hurting me, he wasn’t willing to do anything to it (no lancing, no nothing). Well, I don’t know about you guys but even if it isn’t hurting, infection can be growing and let’s just be candid: it’s not the most attractive thing in the world! Talk about an intimate mood buster! Anyway, I did some internet searches and found an at-home thing to try: everyday for about a month I took HOT baths, twice a day with lavendar oil and juniper berry and branch oil. After the bath, I applied neosporin cream. And every chance I got, I also spent some time in the jacuzzi (the hot water can break up any material that might be creating a blockage and preventing drainage). By the end of January, the cyst was greatly diminished. In fact, no one would know it was there. I now do the bath thing once a week just for good measure and maintenance. So if you aren’t having any pain, you might try this before doing surgery. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!
This is my 2nd time getting a BGC. The first time resulted in me having to withdraw from school due to the pain and missed days. When I went to the gyn, it lysed right in her office. She then proceeded to place the word catheter in but the opening created from the rupture did not allow it to stay in and in the middle of the night the balloon from the catheter burst. I am stressed because I am back in school and don’t want it to get to that point again. Where can I purchase some Silica pills? Also my nursing school instructor stated something about alternating warm and cold compresses. I sure hope this works because I am stressed…
I just had a BGC removed on the first, the pain is moderate…lots of swelling and bruising.I have an eight month old who I have had to have alot of help with. I hope to be back to work by Monday. I am hoping after 9 years of dealing with this that I will be able to forget about it. My OBGYN opted for complete removal of the gland, she told me the other procedures often did not work and were painful as well. I had already had it lanced 3 times, always came back immediately.
I just had a BGC drained a couple of hours ago, though the draining was extremely painful atleast when I left the doctors office afterwards I was able to walk without wanting to cry which is the condition I was in prior to the prcedure. When the cyst first appeared I researched Web MD thinking I might have a latex allergy and through my research there soon realized what I had was a BGC. The site amongst others said not to worry unless the cyst became painful. The cyst was never painful until this weekend when the pain switch went from minor discomfort to excrusiating pain within a matter of 24 hours. My OB was concerned with just how much fluid came out of it and has prompted me to make a follow up app for next week, she also said it is very common for the catheter to follow out prior to the 6 week healing period, most falling out within the first week. My only issue now is the catheter burns really bad but then again the procedure did just take place hours ago, did anyone else have this issue with the catherter? Well atleast I got some percocet from my doc for the pain…
I had a Bartholin Cyst exactly one year ago. I had no idea it was there and it was HUGE! Lancing in the office did not work (too sensitive) The first surgery in the hospital DIDN’T work! Cyst filled again and I had to have ANOTHER sugery a few weeks later! Was laid up for almost one month, with a very attractive ice pack tied between my legs. Now, I feel it filling or growing yet AGAIN (in the same spot) Left gland. Now that I’m aware of what the cyst feels like, I know this is what is going on. Mine is very painful/uncomfortable. Trying Sitz Baths until “my friend” is finished….so I can go see GYN & have exam. Not looking forward to another surgery.
I have an Bartholin Cyst on my right gland. Its my first and I have to have it removed by surgery. Even though its not a major surgery, I have never had one before and I’m afraid. I hope I canbe put to sleep and was wondering just how painful it is and how long is it to recover?
I am so glad I found this site! Thank you all for sharing your stories. A few years ago when I was 18 my left gland would swell every time I had my period. It was never painful and always went away. Well one time it became swollen and very painful and didn’t go away after my period. I had never mentioned it to my doctor before mostly because it never hurt before but also because I was embarassed and didn’t know what it was. I had no idea so many women deal with this! I have never met another woman who has had this. When my cyst became too painful I went to my gyno. She drained the cyst and explained to me what it was. I can say it was the most painful and disgusting experience of my life up to that point. It took a few days for me to be able to walk comfortably and for the blood and pus to stop draining from the gland. Well since then, my left gland has swelled without pain almost every time I have had my period. Finally, just this past period a few days ago the gland became swollen and painful again. I knew it was only a matter of time before this happened again. Knowing what it was this time, I went to my gyno sooner and had it drained again, today actually, before it got too bad. I didn’t have any pus this time so no infection and no antibiotics needed. Instead I’m just taking Tylenol 3 (acetophetamine, codeine, and caffeine). Today was even more painful than I remember the last one. The local anesthesia is the worst part. It is administered via syringe directly into the cyst and I actually screamed out loud, crying the entire time. I told my gyno I do not want to go through this ever again, so she told me I should have it removed. Having done research, I asked her about the cathiter. She said it’s often extreemely painful, must stay in for several weeks and most women can’t take it that long and have it removed early. Having the gland surgically removed is the only way to ensure the cyst never comes back. I have never had this problem with my right gland, but I wonder if it would be worth it to remove it anyway? All I know is that draining is incredibly painful and will not solve the problem. The cyst will eventually come back, it’s inevitable.
Good luck everyone with whatever you decide. Talk to your gyno’s about ALL of the options and do research so you are fully prepared.
I am 23 years old and have had these cyst problems going on 3 years now. I am having a huge amount of problems trying to find a cure for this issue!!! i have had so many i am all scar tissue now! i am currently in the end of one that i have had for about a week! my dr. is thinking about doing Marsupialisation” on me but honestly i do not feel this will help or work! I was cut open and then given a cather and then within 4 hrs it well out and the cyst was back and huge! the worse i had ever had in the past 3 years! the cut that was there 4 hrs before had already closed. i had so much discomfort i couldnt walk, sit stand lay down, go to the restroom, shower nothing made it better! so i made it open myself and i drained it! it was all i could do! This wasnt the first time i had to do that! because most dr’s tell me that your fine come back in a few days etc! and i have to stay in pain and continue to be in discomfort! I am currently looking into a surgery that will remove my gland compeletly! this surgery is called “excision of a bartholin gland cyst” I am very interest in this more so than the marsupialization” because if the cut doesnt even stay open for 4 hrs how will the marsupialization work for me! i know they pin my skin back but i rather just not have the gland at all! if anyone had any input on this please let me know
- 3 years in pain!
I just had my bartholin’s cyst drained a few hours ago. I’m only 21 and this is the second time I’ve had to deal with them. They can be so painful and I’m hoping this is the last time I’ll have to cope with that pesky bartholin gland. Do they always tend to re-occur? I hope I don’t have cysts the rest of my life.
I am 22 yrs old and have had 5 recurring cysts in 3 yrs. I am currently battling one, the worst one yet might I add, & there is no relief!! My mother is a nurse in the ER & dissuaded me from going to the ER to get it lanced & drained because they’re not specialized in those things even though they know how to do them, but my OBGYN appt isn’t until Monday…I know I’ve had these before, but is there nothing else out there to help? 5 cysts later & I’m still ignorant as to a solution…when will it drain? I’ve had it for 3 days now & I’m losing hope again. I don’t think I can keep doing this
I have also been fighting a Bartholi Gland Cyst for the past 2 1/2 years Well actually I have had the thing for about 15 years but my OB/GYN just decided to drain it 2 1/2 years ago and could not get a word cath in that first time so of course it sealed off and came back within a little while. I have been thru 2 word caths and about 5 rounds of some pretty bad antibiotics with no success. Last week I went to a different OB/GYN and went into out patient surgery He did a marsupulazation with ANOTHER word. This one has been different from the last 2 I have had a lot of pain and the stupid thing is still draining!!! WHEN WILL IT END!! I really wish I had found a doctor that would just remove the gland!!! That is my next step. I am SO TIRED of fooling with it
I am 29 years old now and when I was 19 I began getting these cysts. I had endured approximately 7-9 of them in a one year time span. Every time I would go to the doctor they would lance and drain it and give me antibiotics. Sometimes it would re-occur before my antibiotic was finished! And every time they came back they got bigger and more painful. These things are VERY painful and obviously this lancing and draining thing was not working (it typically dosen’t). I finally found an OB/GYN that listened to me and was very understanding. He could not figure out (for the life of him) why no one had tried the marsupialization after all these times. He did the marsupialization for me and it was the best decision I ever made. It hasn’t returned as of yet. It was very painful to have done but so worth it! I understand that now it is typically done under general anesthesia (lucky people)! Mine was done with only a local but, like I said, it was well worth it!
I had my 1st BG problem at 19 (6 yrs ago) and on my way to the doctor it drained on its own. The doctor still wanted to do a marsupialization and scheduled me for surgery the following day… after asking around I found out that this doctor was known as a ‘cutter’ so I cancelled and chose to go to my regular OBGYN and he said to let it be. I had another about a year later and did the sitz baths as soon as I noticed the lump, it went away. I went about 6 more months without one and then had another when I had strep throat. The doc gave me antibiotics for that (I didn’t say anything about my BG as I was too nervous to get surgery) it went away, with the help of antibiotics I think. I had another last summer and it was horrible…but after dealing with it for almost 4 weeks, it burst. This year I have had them come back about 3 times, but about 3 weeks ago it was the worst ever!!! I had high fever, could not sit, stand, and could barely lay without crying from pain. I had tried everything-sitz baths several times a day, tea tree oil in the bath and directly on it (read it on the web somewhere) but no help. I was forced to go to the ER. Once in they told me that it needed to be drained and that a WORD catheter should be put in for a few weeks. I was very reluctant because it sounded so painful, but had no choice. They hooked me up to all kinds of machines and gave me something in an IV that cause me to become ‘cloudy’ and gave me a shot to numb the area. I won’t lie…it was super painful, but soon, nothing. I was awake (but not completely ‘with it’ when they did the procedure. It took about 15 minutes and it was over. The catheter was very strange because it is like a balloon in you with a tube hanging out about 1.5″. It was very uncomfortable the first day, but they gave me strong pain meds to deal with it. The second day it wasn’t so bad and after the surgery, although awkward feeling, it was immediate relief compared to what I was feeling. The catheter fell out the end of the second day. I was so scared I would have to have it redone. To my surprise, this happens often. The told me to just keep it clean and go to my follow up the following week with the gyno, as they couldn’t replace it. There is no pain whatsoever. I think that although it was a painful procedure, it is SO WORTH IT! They say that the odds of it coming back are very small. It is a huge relief in itself knowing that I shouldn’t have to worry about it coming back!!! I would recommend the WORD catheter to anyone…just get it over with!!! I had a friend get the marsup procedure and it has come back several times. The doctors are moving to the WORD catheter more because of the effectiveness. I really hope that if you have one, you will face it and just get it done for peace of mind … and NO MORE PAIN!!!! 1000% worth it!
I have been dealing with a bartholin cyst for several months now. It was not painful, just a bit uncomfortable and annoying. I took hot sitz baths most days, and went to see my doc, who told me it should go away on its own. After that it got larger, so I requested a referral to a specialist (which is why I had to wait two months for my appointment!).
Yesterday I finally got in to see the gynecologist, and he suggested they drain it and insert a word catheter. I have read everything I can about the cysts, so I was expecting this. He inserted it precisely and quickly, so the only pain I felt was the needle numbing the area with lidocaine (felt like a couple of quick stings). I felt no pain at all during the procedure and was able to drive home fine.
Not soon after that the lidocaine wore off and it was pretty painful. Every time I use the bathroom, fresh blood appears, so it seems like it’s reopening and not healing up quickly. Luckily, I had a couple vicodins on hand, as the doc told me ibuprofen should suffice. That helped, but today is the second day and I am still seeing the blood and having a hard time sitting up, standing, bending over, or walking. It’s very uncomfortable!
For those of you who have had word catheters inserted, is this normal? How long should I expect to keep bleeding before it starts to heal? How long until I’m able to get out of bed and get to work? I’m curious to see if others have had similar experiences, or if mine just went badly!
Thanks,
Stacey
I had one of these cycts in my left gland 13 years ago. A gyn then drained it in a surgical procedure. I have not had any problems at all with it since. Now I have one on my right gland. My new gyn is talking about removing the gland completely. Has anyone had this done? I am mostly concerned with the possibility that I will no longer be able to produce the lubricant that the gland is for. Does that become a problem?
i’m 23,and experienced the 1st one 2 months ago. As i took my sweet time getting myself to a doctor, it abscessed and i was sent to the ER by my OBGYN.The resident GYN suggested immediate Marsupialisation.From my research, i now see that this is a second or third option for these pesky things.
Well,after the surgery, i had decent scar tissue which has started to subside, but 3 days ago, less than 2 months after the MARSUPIALISATION, its back.Lucky for me, i had a spare pack of anti bi’s that i’d kept around after the last one.
i will see how i go over the next few days. but if it does not subside, i will be forced to have it removed.The pain is like nothing i’ve ever felt in my entire life.Most describe it as worse than childbirth!
to all the ladies out there, who are going through this, i feel your pain! literally.
Hi Everyone!
Well I has a cyst for about 2 weeks. The pain was undescrible. I couldn’t do anything. I even has to take off work. Went to the OB-Gyn today and he did surgery on the spot. Did not hurt at all and I had 100% relief when I work up in recovery. I would recommend it to anyone. Surgery was nothing.
SUGGESTIONS FOR REACCURING BGC?? I am 27 years old and am expiercing my 4th cyst. The first one was so out of control I was admitted to the hospital, the second one was marsupiled (spelling?), the third I caught in time and was treated with antibiotics…and now, same story…back at it again. The obgyn wants to do another marsupile, but here’s my question, you have to be put under for this procedure which is supposed to make it not happen again, correct?….wrong! because i’ve had it done and it is back again….does anyone know about actually removing the gland? what are the cons of having it out? is it a common procedure? I’ve asked the dr and he doesn’t really comment on it. feedback would be wonderful!
I am 23 years old and this is my fifth Bartholin Cyst the first two were drained but not catherized, the third one was catherized but fell out on the way to the doctors visit two weeks later and hurt everyday the catheter came out involuntary and still inflated, three years later I just had my four one this MAY 2009 and they almost had to put my under because I was in so much pain and I had so much scar tissue from previous incisions, so they drained it and put in a word catheter, which also fell out inflated and hurt but felt better as soon as it came out… So now 10 days later I have my fifth one and now I refuse to get another catheter. So now in a few days I will be getting a marsupulazation and hoping this will be over with but I am so scared I just dont want anymore PAIN or SWELLING!!!!
I am 42 have a pain free cyst but my doc says I need it out as over 40 .It is quite big. Does it effect sex life having no gland and is operation /recovery painful?
I am so glad I found this site!!! I’m 21 and a few weeks ago I noticed the swelling and went a doctor. She told me I had BV and I took antibiotics and the swelling went away. I noticed a few days ago that the swelling has returned and I finally decided that I need to see my OB/GYN (haven’t made the appointment yet, though) to get this fully looked at. It doesn’t hurt at all and the cysts are small; it is just a scary situation when you feel/see some growth that you know shouldn’t be happening. I never considered it could be a cyst and I’m glad that I’m not the only woman out there that has this problem. Thanks so much and I hope that everyone is well!
To everyone that has posted here, I totally feel your pain.
I had a Bartholin’s abscess right before Christmas in 2008. It was misdiagnosed by my family doctor who determined that I had some sort of rectal infection. He gave me scrips for Keflex and oxycodone. This stuff didn’t work at all!
Two days later we traveled out of town over the holidays and I was in so much pain…traveling 4 hours in a car was almost unbearable. The day after we arrived at our destination, my hubby took me to an Urgent Care Center where the kind female doctor there immediately knew what was wrong. She lanced my abscess and I gotta tell you…it was horrible…more painful than childbirth! Before the lancing, I asked if my hubby could be there during the procedure, and she said, “Honey, I can tell you that you REALLY don’t want your hubby here during this.” She was so right! She then prescribed strong Vicodin for pain and a sulfa drug for infection.
When we got back home after three days, I was still in so much pain. After sitting again in a car for 4 hours I developed a large marble-sized balloon-like abscess in a place that was NOT where I was lanced! Fortunately, it burst the next morning while I was on the toilet and I felt immediate relief! Sorry to gross anyone out, but the blood, pus and smell was really obnoxious, to say the least.
So, now I have two lesions…the one where I was lanced and the other where the abscess burst.
And now the abscess has come back again after six months. Doing IB for the pain and going to OB/GYN or family doctor in the morning.
I just really hate this!
Hello all, I am looking for some advice as i seem to getting nothing of doctors, I have had a BC for 5 days it took three doctors two visits to a snd e and one to a walk in centre before anyone would tell me what it was, when they did they said i would be fine with antibiotics, knowing i was in severe pain and researched the internet i was sure there was an abceses i took another visit to a and e in terrible pain having not slept for 3 days, i was there for 6 hours to be examined by a doctor who said there is no visable abcese and to see how i am in 24hrs!!! No internal examination was carried out though!! Having been taking the warm baths and 6 days after the pain started it has just popped, i now researching what should happen now, i have a very smelly brown discharge and blood!! now more than less pain free i have looked in the mirror and have a massive abceses wound just inside the vaginal wall. Any advice would be appreciated, like will it come back?? do i need to see anyone now?? is the foul smelling coloured discharge normal??
Thank you so muchxx
You poor ladies…like all of you i have had these several times. I am 33 and presently have my 6th abscess. I know what you’re going through, it is the worst pain i’ve ever experienced! you’re not alone!
i’m goign to my doc tomorrow for a consult. we had discussed during my last draining appointment that i should have the gland removed surgically when the cyst caem back but before it became an infected abscess again. so tomorrow i’ll consult with the doc and hopefully have th esurgery. then i’ll report back with any and all informaiton i can provide for y’alls!
hang in there! try sitz baths in hot, salty water (use epson salts or baking powder), alternating with cold compresses. this is supposed to help abscesses drain faster. unfortunately i’d just recommend going to the doc to have these drained, as they can put you through excruciating pain for days. (my last one had me down for about 7 days,and i missed 5 days off of work>..) don’t suffer, go to the doc!
I have dealt with Bartholin cysts for over 10 years, but only in the past year realized what it was. They started in my mid-teens, and quite honestly I thought it was because during sex part of my skin was being irritated to the point of swelling. It always aches when I get turned on – weird right? But last year it got infected for the first time and the pain is unimaginable. I was going to call the doctor the day after it started hurting real bad, but I woke up in the middle of the night and it had burst so I never went in.
Anyway, ever since that I would get them without the sexual aspect – how annoying! And they wouldn’t go away. They didn’t hurt, but they were in the way of sex. So I talked with my gyny, and when she saw it she couldn’t believe it wasn’t infected or didn’t hurt – I was dealing with a golf ball size. Two weeks later I had it marsupialized, because the word catheder does nothing as you all know, so we skipped that step. The surgery was painful of course, but I had good painkillers and pillows to sit on and a week later, my vagina had never been happier! It did swell up one more time a month later, and I was very angry to have gone through the surgery for nothing but it burst a day later instead of staying for months, and hasn’t been back since – this was January. I haven’t had a problem a single time since and I am relieved as all get-out. Every once in a while I will wake up with heavy discharge and I do believe it gets irritated during sleep but drains due to the stitches right away.
To all the women that had issues after a marsupializing and continued pain: you have a bad doctor.