I recently had emergency surgery on what was what they call a Bartholin's cyst. According to the surgeon he was going to remove the cyst and possibly the gland. I am now at home, but very concerned. My vaginal area is very swollen. I have a dark blue bruise on my labia and a dark purple, black bruise in a 6x6 inch area on my buttock on the side where the cyst was located. Ive done research about this and cant be sure what was done. The doctor will not be available for consult until Wednesday when he will give me the results of the biopsy. Does anyone know why there is so much bruising for just the removal of a cyst? Or does this describe more like the removal of the gland? Is there anyway I can call the hospital and ask them what kind of surgery I was scheduled for and what the actual surgery happened. This was suppose to be minor surgery but I was unable to leave the hospital for over 12hrs due to the pain and not being able to pee and then urinating blood. Its the weekend and Im planning on calling first thing monday, but my dr never calls back. Please post to me if you have any experience or knowledge about the trauma and recovery between the removal of a cyst or the removal of a gland, or if you know how I can get more detailed information on what procedure was actually done as emergency surgery. Thank you.
Hi, I found that this post expressed very similar problems to my own, and was wondering if anyone could tell me where I could access the relevant information, or offer any advice.
Many thanks.
Many thanks.
I had the cyst and the gland removed in January this year. I have had issues since having it done. Most of these issues seem to be quite common from the informatin I have read. I have noticed that no one has talked about numbness or loss of feeling afterwards. I have had no feeling on the left side of my labia since the operation. I am wondering if anyone else has had the same problem as me. Apparently, the cyst was quite deep so they had to cut extra out hence the reason why I was in so much pain. I was originally told that it would take about 2 weeks to heal but it ended up taking about 6 weeks all up because I got an infection.
For those of you going for this operation, make sure that you speak in depth with your doctor and surgeon before having the operation done. I had a private doctor and I am upset that I was not told that there could be a possibility that I would loose feeling or still have tenderness for this amount of time.
Good luck
For those of you going for this operation, make sure that you speak in depth with your doctor and surgeon before having the operation done. I had a private doctor and I am upset that I was not told that there could be a possibility that I would loose feeling or still have tenderness for this amount of time.
Good luck
i am recently experiencing bartholins gland cyst. a size of a grape a little bigger to be exact.. this morning suddenly it ruptured. overjoyed that it popped by itself.. but im not so sure if its drained all the way cause it still has a bump but its no longer painful.. is that normal? and so im not sure whether it still has a bump cause its still fresh from being popped or its not still drained all the way.. reallyyyy tried draining it all the way. what do i do next??? i worried. but a good thing its not painful anymore. i can walk n run LOL. ok im still worried again :-)) but im trying sitz bath.. ill see in days if it'll get back to the normal.
Bartholins cyst and Oil gland infections, these both are similar. If you have one, hot bath, hot sitz bath, hot washcloth directly on, gentle manipulation, and spritz with hot water 90% and 10% hydrogen peroxide. If there is still a lump after it drains or pops, you will need to try to manipulate out the lump, out of the hole. The hot washcloth and the spritz with water & hydrogen peroxide is helpful, as well as a helper. Husband, lover, best friend or sister. When you think it is empty continue with rinsing with the hydrogen peroxide mix after every urination and shower. At any time if the hydrogen peroxide mix burns, you should add more water, different people are different. But use the mix until you are healed. At anytime, if you start to recognize when the lump is comming, (I get a slight burning itch about 24 hours before), you can start rinsing with the water & Hydrogen peroxide mix, and gentle manipulation, then mix again. and often you can keep it from getting any worse, and preventing all that pain. Best of luck to all, these hurt!
Hiya, I am on my 12th day following my excision of bartholins gland and small golf ball sized cyst removed. My experience has been and still is very painfull, I thought I was going in for marsupulization but was told it would be best to excise it and remove the gland completely to avoid it coming back. I was not told about the after effects and loss of feeling, I have a lump where the cyst was an am still very swollen. The bruising has gone now and the scar is inside, I have little cuts to the labia and it is kind of hanging, but also swollen and looks like a little tongue poking out! know it sounds funny but it is not very nice, this swelling has also gone down a bit since, so I am thinking it will continue to go down and back to normal.
I am worried about the numb feeling to my right side, I also keep getting stabbing pains in my outer lip, and it makes me jump out of the chair. I have bathed every day with antiseptic lotion and it is getting better, but I really want to find some hope that I will regain the feeling down there. But from what I keep reading I think im going to be like this forever!!!!! I did not have time to investigate the long term affects before I had it done, as I was in on a day case and on of the first on the list!.
I would recommend to anyone going for this procedure that you find out all the information you can before going through with it, I am still in the process of healing but I will post again soon with an update of how it is going.
I am worried about the numb feeling to my right side, I also keep getting stabbing pains in my outer lip, and it makes me jump out of the chair. I have bathed every day with antiseptic lotion and it is getting better, but I really want to find some hope that I will regain the feeling down there. But from what I keep reading I think im going to be like this forever!!!!! I did not have time to investigate the long term affects before I had it done, as I was in on a day case and on of the first on the list!.
I would recommend to anyone going for this procedure that you find out all the information you can before going through with it, I am still in the process of healing but I will post again soon with an update of how it is going.
Hi Again, This is an update. This is now my 16th Day after the op....I am feeling alot better now, it is funny how soon you can feel better. I managed to sit most of the day without the sponge doughnut seat thing. Also, have made love and it felt very strange at first as it was a little bit numb still, the scar area was a little bit sore but not too bad. We then made love again and it felt so much better. I think the numb feeling will go away eventually which is good. I think if it is possible for you, you should try to make love as soon as possible after this procedure because I think leaving it too long will make you stay numb...Im no doctor but that is my theory. Think about it, all the nerves have to go back and mend and this will happen with some sexercise lol. I will update in a few weeks and let you all know how things are. I hope you found this useful and I wish you well with everything :-)
I have had a continuous swelling of my bartholin's gland for over a year and a half now. It tends to mostly go back to normal when I am not sexually active, but upon the first time I become aroused (doesn't even have to be actual sex), the swelling comes right back and it is tender and annoying. Because of this, I have thought about having the gland removed so it no longer poses a problem, however, I am quite nervous about it. Also, the doctor has said that the gland needs to be swollen in order for the surgery to take place, as it can be difficult to find the gland otherwise. Obviously, this would be better done when I am single and hence not swollen, but it seems like I will only be able to have the surgery when I am having symptoms, and am sexually active. Has anyone else heard this as well?
Has anyone tried C02 Laser therapy for removal of the cyst (not the gland) ? I have been dealing with Bartholins Cyst for 8 years !!! And I have had it drained 3 times. The last time the Dr said he would insert a Word Catheter. I had read blogs and was afraid....then I realized people usually only blog about the problems not the wonderful cures out there....so I tried it....he cut and drained the cyst and tried to insert the catheter but no luck....the cyst was not big enough....he numbed me again and dug in a little further, and still could not get the catheter to take. So I was sent home with a big bill and in lots of pain. I still feel the cyst altho it is small now, but a problem remains ....I am sore from the lancing and feels like I am being pinched, it hurts when I sit, It bothers me when I lean forward to tie my shoes !!!! I went back to the Dr and he said there is no redness or sign of and incision....and that the cyst is smaller than a grape....and to come back when it is big and swollen and he will try again.....NO THANKS. I have been reading articles on the new C02 Laser surgery but can not seem to find anyone in West Michigan that knows about it, has the machine or is trained in it. Does ANYONE have any info on that procedure, How about the Jacobi Ring method? I am looking for an alternative to having the gland removed.
anonymous wrote:
UPDATE: 10 WEEKS SINCE REMOVAL OF BARTHOLINS GLAND AND GOLF BALL SIZE CYST:
Hello again, its been 10 weeks now and I am 100% back to normal, my numbness has gone and the feeling returned to normal, the hanging lip has also gone back into place. I get the odd pinchey feeling when making love but it is not uncomfortable. I feel great and happy that everything has settled down and I am also happy that I will never have to go through this again as the gland was removed. I would urge anyone to have the gland removed, it is a long healing process but it will never come back. Good luck to anyone who is about to go through it and I wish you all the best for your recovery.
Anonymous wrote:
Hiya, I am on my 12th day following my excision of bartholins gland and small golf ball sized cyst removed. My experience has been and still is very painfull, I thought I was going in for marsupulization but was told it would be best to excise it and remove the gland completely to avoid it coming back. I was not told about the after effects and loss of feeling, I have a lump where the cyst was an am still very swollen. The bruising has gone now and the scar is inside, I have little cuts to the labia and it is kind of hanging, but also swollen and looks like a little tongue poking out! know it sounds funny but it is not very nice, this swelling has also gone down a bit since, so I am thinking it will continue to go down and back to normal.
I am worried about the numb feeling to my right side, I also keep getting stabbing pains in my outer lip, and it makes me jump out of the chair. I have bathed every day with antiseptic lotion and it is getting better, but I really want to find some hope that I will regain the feeling down there. But from what I keep reading I think im going to be like this forever!!!!! I did not have time to investigate the long term affects before I had it done, as I was in on a day case and on of the first on the list!.
I would recommend to anyone going for this procedure that you find out all the information you can before going through with it, I am still in the process of healing but I will post again soon with an update of how it is going.
Hi Again, This is an update. This is now my 16th Day after the op....I am feeling alot better now, it is funny how soon you can feel better. I managed to sit most of the day without the sponge doughnut seat thing. Also, have made love and it felt very strange at first as it was a little bit numb still, the scar area was a little bit sore but not too bad. We then made love again and it felt so much better. I think the numb feeling will go away eventually which is good. I think if it is possible for you, you should try to make love as soon as possible after this procedure because I think leaving it too long will make you stay numb...Im no doctor but that is my theory. Think about it, all the nerves have to go back and mend and this will happen with some sexercise lol. I will update in a few weeks and let you all know how things are. I hope you found this useful and I wish you well with everything :-)
UPDATE: 10 WEEKS SINCE REMOVAL OF BARTHOLINS GLAND AND GOLF BALL SIZE CYST:
Hello again, its been 10 weeks now and I am 100% back to normal, my numbness has gone and the feeling returned to normal, the hanging lip has also gone back into place. I get the odd pinchey feeling when making love but it is not uncomfortable. I feel great and happy that everything has settled down and I am also happy that I will never have to go through this again as the gland was removed. I would urge anyone to have the gland removed, it is a long healing process but it will never come back. Good luck to anyone who is about to go through it and I wish you all the best for your recovery.
Hi you are a Godsend for me right now! I am on day 11 of my surgery to remove the Bartholin Gland. I have every symptom that you have had except for the numbness. Omg I feel so much better because the way I feel right now is how I felt when I had my very first abcess. I had a marsupulation last year almost to the day and then abcessed 3 more times (like every 3 months). Every time I was going to try to have sex, I would get an abcess. I am 53 and married 32 years. My husband has been a very patient man. Anyway I am so so happy for you that they removed the gland. I actually thought that that was what my Doc did the first time until I abcessed and then he said i misunderstood. it was a marsupulation. Anyway, my Doc did make very light of the recoup (i don't think he wanted me to worry) so I am so glad to hear about you but sorry for your suffering. That's what I call this. I am a very strong woman but this has done me in right now. I am so depressed. The only other thing I am concerned about and will ask my Doc on Monday is that my husband said that the Doc said he got MOST of the gland out? I do understand that that could happen. I spoke to another Doc. If that is the case, you can abcess again. I suffer from anxiety and fear the worst so I am trying my best to stay calm and give myself time to heal. After reading your post, I see that I am not crazy and this will take some time :-) I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Susan
PS I write to you as I sit on my pillow and right leg up lol. I through away my donut after the marsupulation. :-( Guess I need to get another one lol
PS I write to you as I sit on my pillow and right leg up lol. I through away my donut after the marsupulation. :-( Guess I need to get another one lol
Hi there, this is normal. I realized this is the same thing that has happened to me. I would only get a bad flare up after I became sexually active with someone. It is frusterating, dampens your experience, and certainly sucks!! When your body becomes aroused the Bartholyn creates fluid automatically. Sometimes, your body may be blocking the opening for the fluid, or it could just be infected, backed up, anything - and it starts creating a cyst that way when there is no way for the fluid to come out. It sucks and its just how our bodies wind up. Don't believe the BS about people with HPV or stds have this.
My story is that I had my surgery last year, 2009 in June. Prior to that years before, I constantly would get small, relatively painful cysts from sex. I learned to deal with it. In March 2009 a cyst grew so large that I couldnt even sit down without being in pain. I decided I needed help and I got the cyst drained by a practioner. It came back almost immediately. I got it drained again, this time by a specialist in bartholin cysts. His name is Dr. Kocur in Manhattan, if anyone in the area needs to have this done he is amazing. He is the nicest man I will ever let touch my hooha! hah!
Anyway so after it came back for the 3rd time he told me it was better off to remove the gland entirely. The swelling became so huge it took up my entire right side up to my thigh. It was like a basketball was sliced in half and imbedded into my body. He said it was the worst he's seen. So I decided fine, it was time to get rid of this thing. I missed enough school ( I was 22 ) and it was affecting my grades. In June I left my job early to get this done. Waiting for the actual surgery is the worst part, and what is even worse is that they drag you into the room conscious and everyone introduces themselves to you before they knock you out. Next thing I know, I wake up feeling groggy as hell and it feels like a huge pad is suffocating my crotch. Eventually when I get to leave, I have to prove I can stand up and put on my clothes. A nurse helps me remove the current pad on me to replace with another and man, the gruesome look of skin, blood and pus is NOT what you want to see when you're drugged up post surgery coming out of your crotch. (Sorry for being gruesome! LOL !)
The pain was tolerable. They give you meds. If they don't, you demand it. I took painkillers every 4 hours inbetween my antibiotics. The drugs made me groggy and sleep most of my recovery away. Over time I became dependant on them to fall asleep so be careful! Another mistake I made was looking at the area. Turns out the scar tissue build up was so deep they had to cut me internally AND externally.. hooray for a scar, and now MORE scar tissue to make my sex life akward! Yes, if they cut you up on the inside of your vagina you will develop a CRAPLOAD of scar tissue to make your body feel awkward. Also as reported you will feel numb on that side. In fact, if I trace my fingernail around the area, its almost painful. Hair removal in that area is very very sensitive and painful. If I do it on the opposite side no sign of pain whatsoever.
I came back to searching about this because a year later and then some, I noticed today after relieving myself in the bathroom that I was BLEEDING. I was bleeding pus and blood from the surgery area where the doctor made a permanent hole to release fluids. Well, this is great. This is why I'm here, trying to figure out answers. Its either blood and pus building up again into another cyst and releasing itself or I have some issues at hand. I was also told by my doctor that there is a chance that he did not take out everything from the area, and that could cause problems later on. This might be it. I don't know. GRR!
Anyway good luck all. If you have a reoccuring cyst I would recommend removing the gland entirely because you are just making it worse by letting it slide. The deeper the scar tissue buildup, the worse you are damaging that area. Post surgery is not THAT bad. I think draining a cyst is 10x worse. The pain is horrible. As someone who has gotten surgery consciously, its really not that bad to remove your gland. You just need to take 3 weeks of recovery time where you stay HOME. No sex. I wasn't able to have sex until after 6 weeks. Do not even try to mess around with that unless you know for sure you are healed completely.
My story is that I had my surgery last year, 2009 in June. Prior to that years before, I constantly would get small, relatively painful cysts from sex. I learned to deal with it. In March 2009 a cyst grew so large that I couldnt even sit down without being in pain. I decided I needed help and I got the cyst drained by a practioner. It came back almost immediately. I got it drained again, this time by a specialist in bartholin cysts. His name is Dr. Kocur in Manhattan, if anyone in the area needs to have this done he is amazing. He is the nicest man I will ever let touch my hooha! hah!
Anyway so after it came back for the 3rd time he told me it was better off to remove the gland entirely. The swelling became so huge it took up my entire right side up to my thigh. It was like a basketball was sliced in half and imbedded into my body. He said it was the worst he's seen. So I decided fine, it was time to get rid of this thing. I missed enough school ( I was 22 ) and it was affecting my grades. In June I left my job early to get this done. Waiting for the actual surgery is the worst part, and what is even worse is that they drag you into the room conscious and everyone introduces themselves to you before they knock you out. Next thing I know, I wake up feeling groggy as hell and it feels like a huge pad is suffocating my crotch. Eventually when I get to leave, I have to prove I can stand up and put on my clothes. A nurse helps me remove the current pad on me to replace with another and man, the gruesome look of skin, blood and pus is NOT what you want to see when you're drugged up post surgery coming out of your crotch. (Sorry for being gruesome! LOL !)
The pain was tolerable. They give you meds. If they don't, you demand it. I took painkillers every 4 hours inbetween my antibiotics. The drugs made me groggy and sleep most of my recovery away. Over time I became dependant on them to fall asleep so be careful! Another mistake I made was looking at the area. Turns out the scar tissue build up was so deep they had to cut me internally AND externally.. hooray for a scar, and now MORE scar tissue to make my sex life akward! Yes, if they cut you up on the inside of your vagina you will develop a CRAPLOAD of scar tissue to make your body feel awkward. Also as reported you will feel numb on that side. In fact, if I trace my fingernail around the area, its almost painful. Hair removal in that area is very very sensitive and painful. If I do it on the opposite side no sign of pain whatsoever.
I came back to searching about this because a year later and then some, I noticed today after relieving myself in the bathroom that I was BLEEDING. I was bleeding pus and blood from the surgery area where the doctor made a permanent hole to release fluids. Well, this is great. This is why I'm here, trying to figure out answers. Its either blood and pus building up again into another cyst and releasing itself or I have some issues at hand. I was also told by my doctor that there is a chance that he did not take out everything from the area, and that could cause problems later on. This might be it. I don't know. GRR!
Anyway good luck all. If you have a reoccuring cyst I would recommend removing the gland entirely because you are just making it worse by letting it slide. The deeper the scar tissue buildup, the worse you are damaging that area. Post surgery is not THAT bad. I think draining a cyst is 10x worse. The pain is horrible. As someone who has gotten surgery consciously, its really not that bad to remove your gland. You just need to take 3 weeks of recovery time where you stay HOME. No sex. I wasn't able to have sex until after 6 weeks. Do not even try to mess around with that unless you know for sure you are healed completely.
Hi thanks so much for your story. Mine is the post above yours. I have all the same experiences as you and I am still uncomfortable as I sit here. I am 5 weeks post op and still feel uncomfortable. My Doc says all this is normal and that he did get the whole gland cause I did learn that sometimes they can't and if they leave some you can still abcess again. I then asked him why I still feel lumpy like it is still there and he said it will contract, it is tissue and muscle, give it time but do remember (like you said) there will still be some scar tissue that I may feel forever but I should not be in pain? He wants to see me in 4 weeks so I am just doing my time and trying not to get upset about feeling like a freak. Sorry you are experiencing this but so glad this site is here to share cause I feel very alone in this.
Don't worry too much. Its still early to tell! I experienced jolts of pain, or throbbingpain, for up to three months after my surgery. There will be scar tissue externally depending on where they cut you to extract the gland. To anyone getting it I personally recommend getting it removed from outside the vagina. An internal cut is where you get LOTS of scar tissue and wind up having complications in sex - though surgeons perfer to do it this way, they think externally will affect a person's sex life. They are thinking BACKWARDS! So what if you get a little lump of tissue mass outside of your lips. It is 10x better to have an imperfection than scar tissue that makes sex uncomfortable! And whatever you do wait at least 2 months before you have sex again. It can really change how you heal and affect your life forever if you have sex too soon.
First how are you feeling? Did you find out why you had some discharge from the surgery? Thanks for your most encouraging and informative post. I wouldn't even think of having sex right now. In fact I never want it again. Please don't get me wrong. I am not in pain just uncomfortable to the touch or when sitting certain ways. I am still feeling what I call lumps. I do agree with you 100% about where the incision is!!!! I can't beieve the Docs think it is better inside. They are crazy. Well I look forward to hearing from you again. My name is Susan.