I had my first marsupialization 7 years ago, just a few months after my first child was born. I've had 3 other flareups since then. My ObGyn informed me that as long as the gland is present, there is always going to be a chance for another flareup. The side with the affected gland is always swollen, constantly. After intercourse, it enlarges and I get worried that it will become infected again. A few months ago, after a recent pap, my doctor asked if it was always that swollen. I told her it was something I had become used to, though it gets sensitive to touch. She recommended complete removal.
I waited for a bit, and finally talked myself into getting the surgery done. I read up on any posts I could find about others' experience in this. What I saw got me freaked out: long recovery times, numbness, loss of sensation, scarring, and ongoing pain. So I called my doc with my concerns. The first thing she said? Stop looking at the internet! She assured me that none of her patients who have had the procedure had any complaints about numbness and that the way she was doing the procedure would give minimal scarring that would likely be unnoticeable within 6 months after. She did agree that there was approximately 6 weeks of recovery, in which I was to not have intercourse, nor use tampons.
After calming down about her reassurances, I also realized that people have different pain-level tolerances and that often people will speak of their bad experiences more often than good. I went through with the procedure. After waking up, I was still a bit "out of it", but not necessarily groggy. They had me in lovely medical underpants (gauze, lol) with a large maxi pad and an ice pack. I can be sure how long I was awake before being sent home, but the procedure was at 8:30 am, and I was home by noon. I was prescribed Oxycodone. Take 1 to 2 every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain.
I felt fuzzy-headed most of that day, and the next 2. I alternated using 15-25 minute icepacks and 15 minute hot sitz-baths with Epsom salt every couple hours. That Monday, I went to work but only lasted half a day before getting tired. I worked full days the rest of that week and used a soft cushion on my chair. I have only taken one pill each night, right before going to sleep because I get a slight 'twinge' at the surgery site (likely because I don't have the day-time noises and activities to keep my focus away from it.)
Today, I am on day 9 post-surgery. I finally got up the nerve to inspect the 'damage.' I have a large purpley-red bruise, about the size of a half-dollar, but as the doctor promised, the incision is more towards the 'opening'. It looks a bit strange, but not horrible, at the moment, though she explained she was stitching it open. Sounds awful, right? The reason for this is so that it will heal from the inside, out. Within a few weeks,the stiches will dissolve and the skin will continue to heal closed. Already, I can tell that the swelling is almost non-existent, but I still put ice on it if I sit wrong and irritate the incision. As for numbness? For the first couple days, the labia on that side did feel a bit strange (which I later noticed had a small bruise, as well.) As of now, I have full sensation, though I haven't touched the area of the surgery (and won't, until it is more healed.)
For the bleeding/drainage aspect, I happened to start my cycle the day after surgery, so I cannot be entirely sure how heavy it was from either, lol. However, I am currently down to the little pink-packaged Carefree pads, being that there is hardly any bleeding at all. I felt comfortable having the surgery done, because I fully trust my doctor and know she knows what she's doing. I recommend this procedure to anyone who has that same relationship with their doc.
I waited for a bit, and finally talked myself into getting the surgery done. I read up on any posts I could find about others' experience in this. What I saw got me freaked out: long recovery times, numbness, loss of sensation, scarring, and ongoing pain. So I called my doc with my concerns. The first thing she said? Stop looking at the internet! She assured me that none of her patients who have had the procedure had any complaints about numbness and that the way she was doing the procedure would give minimal scarring that would likely be unnoticeable within 6 months after. She did agree that there was approximately 6 weeks of recovery, in which I was to not have intercourse, nor use tampons.
After calming down about her reassurances, I also realized that people have different pain-level tolerances and that often people will speak of their bad experiences more often than good. I went through with the procedure. After waking up, I was still a bit "out of it", but not necessarily groggy. They had me in lovely medical underpants (gauze, lol) with a large maxi pad and an ice pack. I can be sure how long I was awake before being sent home, but the procedure was at 8:30 am, and I was home by noon. I was prescribed Oxycodone. Take 1 to 2 every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain.
I felt fuzzy-headed most of that day, and the next 2. I alternated using 15-25 minute icepacks and 15 minute hot sitz-baths with Epsom salt every couple hours. That Monday, I went to work but only lasted half a day before getting tired. I worked full days the rest of that week and used a soft cushion on my chair. I have only taken one pill each night, right before going to sleep because I get a slight 'twinge' at the surgery site (likely because I don't have the day-time noises and activities to keep my focus away from it.)
Today, I am on day 9 post-surgery. I finally got up the nerve to inspect the 'damage.' I have a large purpley-red bruise, about the size of a half-dollar, but as the doctor promised, the incision is more towards the 'opening'. It looks a bit strange, but not horrible, at the moment, though she explained she was stitching it open. Sounds awful, right? The reason for this is so that it will heal from the inside, out. Within a few weeks,the stiches will dissolve and the skin will continue to heal closed. Already, I can tell that the swelling is almost non-existent, but I still put ice on it if I sit wrong and irritate the incision. As for numbness? For the first couple days, the labia on that side did feel a bit strange (which I later noticed had a small bruise, as well.) As of now, I have full sensation, though I haven't touched the area of the surgery (and won't, until it is more healed.)
For the bleeding/drainage aspect, I happened to start my cycle the day after surgery, so I cannot be entirely sure how heavy it was from either, lol. However, I am currently down to the little pink-packaged Carefree pads, being that there is hardly any bleeding at all. I felt comfortable having the surgery done, because I fully trust my doctor and know she knows what she's doing. I recommend this procedure to anyone who has that same relationship with their doc.
Susan, I figured out what the discharge was. On my bartholyn removal the doctor made a permanent open hole to help release any discharge. From time to time, I will get a pain twange in that area, and if I press on the side, some mucus discharge will release. Most people will be freaked out by a permanent open hole in that area, especially, but I got over it. If it prevents me from having this problem again I don't care.
To the person above, I agree with your comments 100%. Sometimes people have different pain tolerances. I have a very high threshold to pain and the worst pain I have ever experienced was a needle in that area and the forced drainage by qtip and a gyn's hand inside of you, pushing drainage out. You are still healing so remember, clean the area, take it easy. My doctor told me not to ice myself after the first day because it can confuse your body and reverse the healing process. Remember not to have sex for a while, don't jeopardize anything. If your stitches do not dissolve like they're supposed to I wouldn't recommend trying to take them out like I did. Good luck and take it easy :-) You will be just fine! I do not regret my surgery whatsoever. I just regret I didn't get it done sooner, the longer I waited the deeper the damage was.
To the person above, I agree with your comments 100%. Sometimes people have different pain tolerances. I have a very high threshold to pain and the worst pain I have ever experienced was a needle in that area and the forced drainage by qtip and a gyn's hand inside of you, pushing drainage out. You are still healing so remember, clean the area, take it easy. My doctor told me not to ice myself after the first day because it can confuse your body and reverse the healing process. Remember not to have sex for a while, don't jeopardize anything. If your stitches do not dissolve like they're supposed to I wouldn't recommend trying to take them out like I did. Good luck and take it easy :-) You will be just fine! I do not regret my surgery whatsoever. I just regret I didn't get it done sooner, the longer I waited the deeper the damage was.
Well, I'm a little comforted to know that someone else had the same experience, but worried that it's been over a year and you have experienced more pus and blood leakage. Yikes! I'm scheduled for my surgery 1/20/11, and will post updates when that has taken place. I'm very nervous about it because they want to remove both glands as I have cysts on either side. So, double the chances for the scar tissue, for painful side effects, etc. And as I understand, they will make the incisions inside the vagina, not outside. But now that I think about it, I will inquire if there's any way to remove from outside to avoid creating additional scar tissue.
Judging from the feedback above, getting them removed now is a wise choice, even though I question the decision. The repeated build up of fluids and the development of the cysts (I have one on one side, and two-three on the other side) cannot be healthy and WILL NOT go away on its own. Having the entire glands removed is, I feel, my last resort, but also my only option for putting this all behind me. I suppose the remaining question is whether or not it will open up a whole new host of issues/problems. Fingers crossed it won't! I will be having my surgery at Duke Hospital, in Durham, NC, so it is one of the better hospitals in the nation and I am counting on them to do a good job.
Judging from the feedback above, getting them removed now is a wise choice, even though I question the decision. The repeated build up of fluids and the development of the cysts (I have one on one side, and two-three on the other side) cannot be healthy and WILL NOT go away on its own. Having the entire glands removed is, I feel, my last resort, but also my only option for putting this all behind me. I suppose the remaining question is whether or not it will open up a whole new host of issues/problems. Fingers crossed it won't! I will be having my surgery at Duke Hospital, in Durham, NC, so it is one of the better hospitals in the nation and I am counting on them to do a good job.
Hi. Reading through this forum has been a tremendous help!!! I am 8days post op for the removal of BOTH Bartholin Glands plus a labial cyst (located about the right B-GLand). It has been hell on earth!
I have pretty much experinced what everyone has mentioned and made the awful mistake of looking at myself or images of the operation on the net....i cried the whole day!
I had been sufferring from my problems since 2008. I had never had anything treatment apart from absteinence and medication. My own personal research showed that laser, marz and catherters were all just experiments or even "re-training" for doctors and most often left women in horrific pain with no positive outcome, or success but the problem would return again. I knew the only way to solve this problem once and for all would to be to excise the cysts.
My doctor in Campbelltown Sydney was amazing. Answered every little question i had plus i researched on my own. I would recommend the excision to anyone with this problem, but advise them to put their life on hold for at least one month!
I have pretty much experinced what everyone has mentioned and made the awful mistake of looking at myself or images of the operation on the net....i cried the whole day!
I had been sufferring from my problems since 2008. I had never had anything treatment apart from absteinence and medication. My own personal research showed that laser, marz and catherters were all just experiments or even "re-training" for doctors and most often left women in horrific pain with no positive outcome, or success but the problem would return again. I knew the only way to solve this problem once and for all would to be to excise the cysts.
My doctor in Campbelltown Sydney was amazing. Answered every little question i had plus i researched on my own. I would recommend the excision to anyone with this problem, but advise them to put their life on hold for at least one month!
I am supposed to have my bartholin gland removed next week and I'm really scared. I'm considering canceling the surgery. I have had the cyst for 2 years now. I had a marzupilation (spelling?) 2 years ago as I had a really bad infection and abcess. This has really caused a lot of stress and pain and frustration in my sex life (I got married a year ago) but my husband is very understanding and patient. I just don't want to make the mistake of having the gland removed only to create more problems. Can anyone give my any long term side effects as a result of the gland removal? I'd really appreciate it, thanks.
I had my bartholin gland cyst removed about a year and a half ago. I looked everywhere for this information back then, and never found it. It looks like my experience has been very similar to others. I thought I would add my story for anyone else out there looking for info.
I had my cyst drained twice, but it never got too huge and it never abcessed or caused me pain (unless it was being stabbed with a needle!) I probably would have tried the ward catheter next, but became pregnant and miscarried at 9 weeks. I mentioned the cyst (which wasn't terribly big at the time) to my doctor when we scheduled my D&C and he said he could go ahead and marsupialize it during surgery...might as well since I'd already be out, and he'd already be there!
Well, during my surgery, the doctor called an audible and decided to go ahead and remove the entire gland.
I think I may have had some internal bleeding after surgery. The doctor said he hit a pretty bad bleeder in there but managed to stop it. After surgery, they told me I could leave the hospital and go home after I peed. My mom had driven 3 hours to be at the hospital with me (my husband was home with swine flu during all this mess!!) and had to go home that night. It was getting late and I didn't want her waiting any longer, so forced it just a little. I suspect that was a bad move that may have triggered the bleeding. If you have this surgery, don't do that.
The recovery was horrible. My entire left labia was completely black for weeks. It was numb for months. The pain was really really bad for the first week or so, despite heavy doses of vicodin and toradol. The first two nights I laid awake and cried most of the night. After a week or two the toradol gave me a panic attack and I had to stop taking it.
After the incision healed, there was a very large mass left behind which I suspect is a combination of scar tissue and blood clot. It has shrank considerably (and slowly) over the last year and a half or so, but there is still a knot there and it is still tender sometimes during sex. Now it might be about half the size of a marble.
Had I known what I was in for, I wouldn't have opted to remove the gland. I'm 19 weeks pregnant today and absolutely terrified of tearing during delivery because of the awful experience I had the last time I had broken skin in that area.
I feel like I should add that despite the bad outcome, I don't blame my doctor and still wouldn't see anyone else. He was just trying to make sure I wouldn't have to worry about it any more! My other disclaimer is that I think my experience may have been worse than most. Just be sure if you are having this surgery or considering it that you talk it over with your doctor carefully and make sure all of your concerns are addressed and your options explored. It's easy for me to say that the surgery was a nightmare when I never had the pain of an abcessed cyst to compare it to.
Good luck ladies!
I had my cyst drained twice, but it never got too huge and it never abcessed or caused me pain (unless it was being stabbed with a needle!) I probably would have tried the ward catheter next, but became pregnant and miscarried at 9 weeks. I mentioned the cyst (which wasn't terribly big at the time) to my doctor when we scheduled my D&C and he said he could go ahead and marsupialize it during surgery...might as well since I'd already be out, and he'd already be there!
Well, during my surgery, the doctor called an audible and decided to go ahead and remove the entire gland.
I think I may have had some internal bleeding after surgery. The doctor said he hit a pretty bad bleeder in there but managed to stop it. After surgery, they told me I could leave the hospital and go home after I peed. My mom had driven 3 hours to be at the hospital with me (my husband was home with swine flu during all this mess!!) and had to go home that night. It was getting late and I didn't want her waiting any longer, so forced it just a little. I suspect that was a bad move that may have triggered the bleeding. If you have this surgery, don't do that.
The recovery was horrible. My entire left labia was completely black for weeks. It was numb for months. The pain was really really bad for the first week or so, despite heavy doses of vicodin and toradol. The first two nights I laid awake and cried most of the night. After a week or two the toradol gave me a panic attack and I had to stop taking it.
After the incision healed, there was a very large mass left behind which I suspect is a combination of scar tissue and blood clot. It has shrank considerably (and slowly) over the last year and a half or so, but there is still a knot there and it is still tender sometimes during sex. Now it might be about half the size of a marble.
Had I known what I was in for, I wouldn't have opted to remove the gland. I'm 19 weeks pregnant today and absolutely terrified of tearing during delivery because of the awful experience I had the last time I had broken skin in that area.
I feel like I should add that despite the bad outcome, I don't blame my doctor and still wouldn't see anyone else. He was just trying to make sure I wouldn't have to worry about it any more! My other disclaimer is that I think my experience may have been worse than most. Just be sure if you are having this surgery or considering it that you talk it over with your doctor carefully and make sure all of your concerns are addressed and your options explored. It's easy for me to say that the surgery was a nightmare when I never had the pain of an abcessed cyst to compare it to.
Good luck ladies!
A note to all the ladies going through the pain of a bartolin gland cyst or sugery. Mine was removed over 20 years ago. My gyne was out of town when I discovered the lump right side. I was so scared so I went to a surgeon and he removed the gland. There is terrible bruising and it is painful. Having said that all this time later I am now going into menopause and that gland is the gland that lubricates. Lubrication is one of the things that slowly declines when going into menopause. I still have scar tissue pain now made worse by menopause. But at the time when my gyne came back he was so upset that I did go to a surgeon, he said most times they do burst going under the knife put me in a pecarious situation he said any surgery comes with risks. So wait if you can. But as women we go through so much! I just have learned to go with the flow but I now listen to my gut reaction before I knee jerk a surgery. :-D
The Bartholin cyst has been torturing me for the past six years. After trying different procedures, I finally had the gland removed two days ago. The operation took 2.5 hours and the doctor said the cyst had gone all the way up to my uterus. So, unfortunately, I have too many internal stitches. I don't know if I'll even be able to have sex again. It wasn't easy to go ahead with the surgery, but I really didn't have a choice. I'm still in pain, but I guess it takes couple of weeks to recover. I'm in my early 30s and not married. I'm wondering if I can have normal sex again?
I'm on my 4th weeks from recovering my Bartholin gland removal surgery. After I woke up they asked me to go pee before they discharge me but it's awful because the blood will drop down rapidly. At the first 2 day everytime I go pee I see a lot of blood but it wasn't a lot on the pads. The lips are buises and swollen for a week then it go down but still a lot of blood water plamas discharge. The pain wasn't that exteremly bad, but I eventually took 1 week off from work because it is very sore and there are also thunder kind of pain come thur sometimes.
I was told to not have sex for 3 weeks and then I've a follow up check after 3 weeks and told I still can't have sex for another 2 more weeks. I'm on my 4th week now and still can feel a tiny bump there. The doc said it's healing ok. He eventually leave a hole at the stitiches to make a drainage there. I still not compeletely well and consistently worry about infection because the yellow discharge =(
I will not suggest this operation but if it keep coming back it's your best bet
Hi there,
Congratulations on your surgery, and hang in there. There will always be a bump, that is knots of your internal tissue mixed with scar tissue.
I did not heal until 8 weeks past surgery. I tried having sex at 5 weeks and it was a painful experience. Do not try to remove your stitches!! I also had discharge and had to wear a pad for about 2 months. It was a frusterating 2 months of my life but you move on. Keep doing sitz baths and keeping the area clean, it is very important.
Congratulations on your surgery, and hang in there. There will always be a bump, that is knots of your internal tissue mixed with scar tissue.
I did not heal until 8 weeks past surgery. I tried having sex at 5 weeks and it was a painful experience. Do not try to remove your stitches!! I also had discharge and had to wear a pad for about 2 months. It was a frusterating 2 months of my life but you move on. Keep doing sitz baths and keeping the area clean, it is very important.
hi...it is good to hear a positive for once. I am greatly encouraged as I am 8 days into recovery from removal of the gland. I also had a emergency second operation following gland removal as I bled profusely and had to go back to theatre with a second anaesthetic for hematoma removal. I was cut again and have many external stitches. There is a large numb lump which feels awful and I am so worried it will not go. It is as hard as a rock. I know its early days but I feel so unattractive because of it and that sex is an unlikely event in the future because of this. I will see how I am in another week I guess. Thank you for the positive post above.
hi. I am 7 days into recovery from the removal of my bartholin gland and I too have a large, numb lump. I was worried about this as well until i read some posts from other women about this. I've heard nothing about whether this is normal or not, but knowing that other women experienced this gave me some comfort. One woman even said that her numbness had eventually disappeared. I have an appointment in two days, at which time I plan to ask the doctor many things, one being the numbness. Yesterday I was still in a great deal of pain. Today seems to be a better day. How are you feeling now at 12 days into your recovery? I am hoping I will be able to sit by day 12 bc I am a student. I was told I could go back to school the day after my surgery, but there was absolutely no way! I STILL can't sit down, lay on my back, or barely walk. I don't know how they figured I would be able to sit through 8 hrs of class and walk all over campus the day after surgery. I am unsure where they get their information that they give you bc from every post i've seen from women who have gotten this surgery, it seems after a week NONE of them are able to walk or sit. I would be very interested to hear how your recovery is coming along.
Hi Terrysis,
I'm one of the women above that keeps posting about her exp. I had mine about two years ago.
The numbness does go away but you will never have the same feeling. You will be able to tell when you trace your finger on the skin of the surgery (after healing, long time ) and then trace on the other untouched side.
I dont know what kind of doctors you deal with but mine advised me not to move for a week.
I also did not go anywhere for 3 weeks. At the month mark, I was still doing sitz baths and bleeding blood/pus.
Please be careful!
For the person above you,
bruising is really normal. You just had the bloodiest surgery in gynecology. Keep doing sitz baths and keeping the area clean. Bleeding is very normal. What makes this surgery such a huge risk is that they operate in an area that is filled with blood vessels, right there. If they fail to burn off the ends of a nerve/blood vessel, you will keep bleeding.
Sometimes I bleed in that area, or the hole that is made for drainage. It is normal to bleed a little bit. But if you are constantly changing pads every hour of the day I think that requires immediate medical attention.
I'm one of the women above that keeps posting about her exp. I had mine about two years ago.
The numbness does go away but you will never have the same feeling. You will be able to tell when you trace your finger on the skin of the surgery (after healing, long time ) and then trace on the other untouched side.
I dont know what kind of doctors you deal with but mine advised me not to move for a week.
I also did not go anywhere for 3 weeks. At the month mark, I was still doing sitz baths and bleeding blood/pus.
Please be careful!
For the person above you,
bruising is really normal. You just had the bloodiest surgery in gynecology. Keep doing sitz baths and keeping the area clean. Bleeding is very normal. What makes this surgery such a huge risk is that they operate in an area that is filled with blood vessels, right there. If they fail to burn off the ends of a nerve/blood vessel, you will keep bleeding.
Sometimes I bleed in that area, or the hole that is made for drainage. It is normal to bleed a little bit. But if you are constantly changing pads every hour of the day I think that requires immediate medical attention.
Hi Terrysis and latest posters....It is so helpful to read everyones experiences and to feel that I am not alone in this. Thank you to the lady who posted who had the op 2 years ago too and please could you advise me if the hard lump goes away. I read about the numbness not going entirely but that is less of a worry to me. Just dont like the large lump where I have been stitched. My other bruising has gone but not the lump. Please can you reply?
Terrysis.....I am now 13/14 days post op and my pain has now mostly subsided. I have gone from a ridiculous amount of pain killers a day that upset my stomach dreadfully to no pain relief. I still get low level pain but not enough to keep taking more than a couple of nurofen a couple of times a day in the hope that the lump will subside. I still bleed a tiny amount but nothing a thin pad doesnt deal with. I am also up and about and can walk about but get tired very quickly. I am not driving yet and will give it another week before I feel I am strong enough to go back to work. I can sit relatively comfortably but am still uncomfortable in trousers/jeans so its skirts and soft leggings with long tops! So try and be patient....there is certainly a light at the end of the tunnel after 2 weeks.....and I am hoping day by day to see some further improvements as I have to be back at work on 3rd Oct. I hope that the lump will go gradually and hope that the other lady who posted will reassure me on this. Feel free to ask again...and take care.
Hi I'm that other lady again :)
I believe the lump varies from person to person. Were you cut on the inside opening of your vulva or on your skin outside?
I was cut on both.. I have a small, excess skin where the stitches were on the outside. On the inside cut it is a soft area. The surgeon who worked on me recommended to slowly massage the area after I got the surgery. By gently massaging the hard tissue you are kind of kneading everything out. With time it should go away or at least be not as hard anymore. Remember you just got this so you're body is still trying to heal itself, there will be a lot of backed up blood (hence the bruising) and over time that gets absorbed back into your body.
When you go back to work I'd suggest getting those O cushions to sit down.. It makes things a lot easier :) And wear a lot of skirts!
Hope that helps..
I believe the lump varies from person to person. Were you cut on the inside opening of your vulva or on your skin outside?
I was cut on both.. I have a small, excess skin where the stitches were on the outside. On the inside cut it is a soft area. The surgeon who worked on me recommended to slowly massage the area after I got the surgery. By gently massaging the hard tissue you are kind of kneading everything out. With time it should go away or at least be not as hard anymore. Remember you just got this so you're body is still trying to heal itself, there will be a lot of backed up blood (hence the bruising) and over time that gets absorbed back into your body.
When you go back to work I'd suggest getting those O cushions to sit down.. It makes things a lot easier :) And wear a lot of skirts!
Hope that helps..