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lilac12

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Bartholin Cyst - Ever Better After Draining ? Posted: 07-13-07 13:56pm


I've been reading all of the posts on Bartholin Cysts, and it seems pretty grim. Is there anyone who has actually managed to get rid of the problem completely? I'm 19. I first had a cyst problem when I was 16. I was prescribed antibiotics and sitz baths the first two times, which helped. Every once in awhile, I would feel twinges down there, but luckily, nothing developed for awhile. The last nine months, I haven't felt anything, and I thought that maybe the problem was gone for awhile. Two weeks ago, I got a cyst again, and this time it developed into an abcess. I had it drained on Wednesday (two days ago). Has this ever helped anyone without it recurring? I've heard that it usually does come back. Also, do you mean by that that it comes back within a matter of days or weeks, or just that it heals that time but will probably come back in a few months or years? If it did heal for you, how long did it take? What should I be looking for/doing? I have been doing sitz baths four times a day, walking around my house without underwear, and generally just not going out and trying to rest. I'm also still on antibiotics and painkillers. I have an appointment to check back next Thursday. Is there any hope at all?

urbanlm

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2nd Cyst Posted: 09-14-07 21:20pm


I had my first cyst (not abscess) in 2004. Although it was uncomfortable, it wasn't horribly painful. It also went away (the duct opened and the contents emptied out) after sitz baths and hot compresses to my relief. My second cyst occurred in the first week of September 2007 while I was on vacation. The sitz baths and compresses DID NOT work. So I was forced to the hospital when it became painful to walk, sit, stand and lie down, even while on ibuprofin. The doc put 5 needles in me to anesthetize the area and then proceeded with an I+D (incision and drainage) which provided immediate relief. After saline wash he packed the area. The packing fell out the following evening, although the area remains swollen and slightly firm/tight to the touch (as if packing were still there). I will go in on Monday for a follow up to ensure the area is healing well, and will revisit later with an update if/when the cyst comes back. Please provide detailed updates of your episodes. It most certainly helps to communicate with the doctors/gynocologists. I am hoping to learn about your experiences with the word catheter (how long does it stay in? how long does it take to heal the area?) versus marsupialization. Thanks!

mltmoe

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Bartholin's Gland Cyst Posted: 09-16-07 15:32pm


I had my first cyst in April of this year. When I first found it, I was so worried about what it could be. I first thought it was a lymph node that was swollen. When I went to my doctor, she told me it was a Bartholin's gland cyst. It was swollen at the time and I also had a yeast and bacterial infection. It was horrible! Now, 5 months later, I have another cyst on the same right side. It's painful and very tender. I'm concerned about what I should do first. Reading from so many of the previous posts, it sounds like this is something that I will have to deal with for the rest of my life. I don't like the sound of surgery (I work at the hospital, I'm around that enough!) I'm going to try the warm compress first and taking some Aleve and seeing what helps before I call my doctor. Does anyone have any further advice to give since this is a new thing to me? I'm getting married next May and I would like this to not be an issue when I begin to be sexual active. I'll appreciate anyone's help. God Bless.

lilac12

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Posted: 09-16-07 16:48pm


Thanks for replying. I find it helpful/informative to see what has happened to others on these forums. I actually did not have a word catheter inserted, which I found to be strange later since that seems to be a typical experience. Mine was left to drain on its own. When I went back (about a week later, I think), I was told that it was "95% better" and that I didn't need to restrict myself in any way. Since then... it's been about two months, and the area is tender to the touch at times. Sometimes it will bother me (small pangs), but it usually gets better when I change into sweatpants or use a hot washcloth as a compress. I'm trying to be optimistic, but it's still a worry that I have that it will come back at some point... The "95 percent better" and the "it might come back/it might not" explanation didn't really satisfy me. My doctor did say that she (and many other doctors) can be reluctant to try to remove the gland altogether and that it's a painful and messy process. I'm not sure what will happen if/when it comes back for me. mltmoe, the best advice that I can give is the baths and compresses and then going to see your doctor. The antibiotics that were prescribed seemed to help me the first two times this happened. Maybe someone else would have better advice?

urbanlm

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Hot And Cold Posted: 09-17-07 19:28pm


On another forum it was suggested that sitting in a hot sitz bath and then applying cold compresses caused the abscess/cyst to "burst" or release on it's own. I would take that to mean, go with a HOT-COLD-HOT-COLD pattern to agitate the cyst to release its contents on its own. I have not tried this yet but it will be the first thing I do on the next round.

cyst sister

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Bartholin Gland Removed Posted: 09-22-07 10:07am


hey all, I've had four cysts in as many years. Honestly, I wish I'd done my research better on the first one because I never would have gone through a drainage, then a word catheter, then a marsupialization. I would have insisted on having the gland removed which they just did four days ago. After reading enough boards this time, I see that anyone who did this found relief. The recovery is a bit painful, hey it's the labia for goodnessakes, but if I never have to deal with another one, its' worth it. Anyone out there who can tell me what their best recovery method was after surgery? I'm feeling worried about infection etc.

jusfrm

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Re: Bartholin Cyst - Ever Better After Draining ?
Posted: 11-07-07 00:50am

lilac12 wrote:

I've been reading all of the posts on Bartholin Cysts, and it seems pretty grim. Is there anyone who has actually managed to get rid of the problem completely?

I'm 19. I first had a cyst problem when I was 16. I was prescribed antibiotics and sitz baths the first two times, which helped. Every once in awhile, I would feel twinges down there, but luckily, nothing developed for awhile. The last nine months, I haven't felt anything, and I thought that maybe the problem was gone for awhile.

Two weeks ago, I got a cyst again, and this time it developed into an abcess. I had it drained on Wednesday (two days ago). Has this ever helped anyone without it recurring? I've heard that it usually does come back. Also, do you mean by that that it comes back within a matter of days or weeks, or just that it heals that time but will probably come back in a few months or years? If it did heal for you, how long did it take? What should I be looking for/doing? I have been doing sitz baths four times a day, walking around my house without underwear, and generally just not going out and trying to rest. I'm also still on antibiotics and painkillers. I have an appointment to check back next Thursday.

Is there any hope at all?

Hi,
i am suffering from the same. Now i have a question to u, r u sexully active or not? when u had this in ur 16, did u had sex that time? or it formed as it is? plz explain......
Because i am confused whether this cyst forms only for those who r sexully active or even for a virgins?? please answer

lilac12

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Posted: 11-07-07 00:54am


I wasn't sexually active when I got my first and second cyst a few years ago. So I think it can happen to any female whether she has been sexually active or not. I am sexually active now, and sometimes that can be a problem if I am experiencing pain. But most of the time it is not a problem for me. I'm not sure about other people's experiences.

tabtasha528

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Recovering,now. Posted: 12-23-07 12:08pm


My doctor told me I had the cyst years ago and since I had no pain I decided to leave it alone since removing it required surgery. I wish I would have gone ahead and had it taken care of then. October of this year it went from being a small painless lump the size of a large pea to a very painful walnut sized lump in about a weeks time. I was taking Tylenol, using heat, and baths to try to get relief. My fiance had planned a romantic getaway that was canceled and we spent the evening trying to get in to see a doctor. I am very partial to seeing female doctors and this made it even harder, as I wouldn't just go to the ER. After a couple hours of wandering from Dr office to Dr office, it finally abscessed and drained which brought immediate relief. I went a month later for a check up after it had healed and scheduled a marsupilization. Here is a link that really shows what is done and shows why it works. The duct is supposed to drain, when it doesn't the fluid builds up. The word catheter wasn't recommended to me because if they are not put in right they will come out before the pocket is healed and this will put you right back where you started. http://www.aafp.org/af p/20030701/135.html You can get them when you are not sexually active, but since bacteria & damage to the duct can cause a blockage I would think you would be more likely to get them if you were having sex. I had my surgery through the hospital day before yesterday. I went in, was put under for the surgery and was headed home within several hours. I had some pain that evening. That night I took a pain pill the doctor had prescribed and slept fine. The pains were not as bad as some cramps I have had and felt about the same as a cramp. You just wear a pad for the drainage, which isn't much. Yesterday (the day after surgery)I was getting cramp like pains every once in a while through the day, but Tylenol helped. Today I got up and took my soak in warm water and so far no pain. I am restricted from lifting and obvious activities that might pull my stitches loose. (They dissolve on their own, which is great) I am 99% sure she has solved my problem. The surgery pain was not even a fraction of what it is like when these things swell up and now I don't have to worry about ending up in pain at my wedding or wrecking our honeymoon. I hope this helps.

lilac12

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Posted: 04-26-08 13:47pm


Well, I just wanted to give an update in case anyone is ever about to have their abscess drained and has my original question. I had occasional pain since last July, but it never really materalized into a cyst. There was one time-- October, I think-- where I was convinced (the experience of the pain of having the abscess drained has made me paranoid) that I was about to get one and I was having pain, so I got antibiotics right away. It was fine, and I guess I'll never know whether I was about to get one or not. Anyway, it's been since last July... and now I have another one when I was just beginning to wonder whether it was all over. Usually I feel pain for about a week and then I start to feel the lump and it getting bigger... I felt pain last night and then five hours later, I had a lump. I'm completely devastated. I know some people on here must know how I feel. It's just so frustrating that you have no control over it. It's so frustrating that one day I can be fine and the next it hurts to walk around. I've been crying all day; I wish I could be better at dealing with it. In any case, I had a prescription for antibiotics that my doctor gave me and I started taking them an hour ago. I am hoping with everything that it gets better and doesn't need the procedure again. I don't know how I can make myself lay down on that table this time knowing the pain that is going to come next. Also I am away from home and I would prefer to go to the doctor that I know. I am also terrified about this summer when I will be overseas for a month. What if this happens then? It's a trip I've been looking forward to taking for years and probably my only chance to go overseas for a very long time (also my first chance). I just can't believe that might be ruined. Sorry for the length but I am so upset right now.

tabtasha528

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After surgery update Posted: 04-26-08 14:58pm


I had a marsupilization for my cyst four months ago. The pain after surgery was enough to take a pain pill, but I wasn't crying in pain or anything....like I did when the cyst abcessed. It is definately better to have the surgery. You go in are headed home within hours. ( I was put asleep) The pain was only rough the first couple days....mostly after that first day it was like having cramps. My doctor actually found a lump in the duct, so I had a large area removed besides the marsupilization, so I doubt that everyone has to take the pain medicine or have cramps as long. It healed quickly. I had my stitches taken out at my follow up visit because I was healed and they hadn't dissolved yet. I still get tender at the location, but being a newly wed and wanting to have a baby ASAP...well...you can figure that out. LOL I am just glad that I won't have to suffer through another surprise flare up. **Make sure if you have surgery you have a marsupilization and not just drainage!!! They are two different procedures and you are almost sure to have a repeat if you just do drainage!!!!**

urbanlm

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3rd cyst Posted: 06-02-08 15:53pm


OK, my last cyst was in Sept 07 (first in 2004). I'm having another episode; it's starting with swelling in my right labia and tenderness. It hasn't gotten to any size yet, but after having it the size of a tennis ball, not being able to walk, sit or lay down, and having it lanced in the ER, I'm definitely not looking forward to this again. I've read here that people have had SEVERAL marsupializations. What went wrong with the first couple? To me, it sounds like marsupialization DOES NOT work every time. I've also read that the gland/duct can become TWISTED, and cause blockage. That is interesting an unusual. Please confirm if this is also true for you. Or rather, what your doc finds in removing the gland! Finally, how did you find a doctor to perform the surgery to REMOVE the gland? My gyn seemed so hesitant about the procedure. I would like to find one who is familiar with it and has performed it successfully for other women (not someone who only occasionally sees such cases and attempts to fix it). Any recommendations? I'm currently doing sitz baths 4 times a day (just started) but am experimenting with HOT and COLD compresses. Let you know how this goes. Doing only hot compresses is hard on the skin I feel. I am so desperate for the cyst to reduce in size and go away. I'm currently traveling and seeing my boyfriend, and to have to turn him away is awful but he's quite understanding. It really makes you wonder when the doc says, "just take some antibiotics, do sitz baths 3/4 times a day, and hang in there." While I imagine life is NOT PERFECT, there has got to be relief somehow... how do women with the condition maintain an active lifestyle? With the pain, the recurrences? Their sex lives? Thank you to all the other women out there for sharing their experiences & findings.

urbanlm

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More on 4th cyst Posted: 06-06-08 14:20pm


So this time I tried cold and hot compresses (one after the other -- kind of like shock therapy), AND I tried using a vibrator -- hyper strong one -- to massage the gland and the ducts. Of course, no one RECOMMENDED it, but I figured you might be able to dislodge the blockage by vibrating it loose. What did I hvae to lose, seriously? So today is Friday and I first detected the cyst or swelling on Saturday. So six days later, and I'm feeling that the cyst went away! Certainly, it might have NOTHING to do with the hot/cold compresses, or the creative use of my vibrator, but what if those were key? Just sayin' Of course, my cyst began small and was not abscessed. So there are likely many limitations on this course of action. However, I was thinking that at the end of the week or two weeks it would have to be lanced anyway. And that I should try everything possible (remotely logical) that had even the slightest chance of working. Best wishes to all you women. I'm going to monitor closely for the next two weeks, of course. These ARE RECURRING, and you never know when it strikes again.