Hi, I am almost 2 yrs post bart. Cyst removal. I experienced pain for a few months after and it steadily decreased. I remember the odd shooting pain and throbbing ache even at thr 3 month mark. I weny to my doc and she said it was normal as there are so many nerves.
I would go see doc just to ease your mind about it.
I would go see doc just to ease your mind about it.
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Hi I think I have a bartholins cyst too, but I don't know. I've had a cyst before awhile and the gyno told me it was caused from shaving and it was an ingrown hair, she gave me antibiotics and the antibiotics gave me a yeast infection... She did not mention that would happen. Now my cyst is located on the bartholins gland I think and it's huge, the first day it was the size of a pea, then a quarter and now the whole lip of my vagina is swollen and red. It hurts to even move, plus I think it spread because now towards the top of my vagina there's another bump that is very painful. I'm very scared of what this could be. I saw many bad comments about the side effects of the surgery, i'm already in so much pain right now. Plus I do not think it's an std because I haven't had sex in over 2 months and this just came up a few days ago. I'm so scared, has anyone ever had this? Does the pain spread into another bump?
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This thread has helped me so much!
I had my bartholin gland removal surgery 8 days ago. Up until a couple days ago, the left side of my vulva and labia (the side where the gland was removed) were numb to the touch, but I've regained almost all feeling back.
I've had to wear maxi pads everyday which has been annoying. My doctor told me that if I'm soaking through a maxi pad, then there might be an issue, but I just change them frequently to keep everything clean down there.
I'm not bleeding anymore (for the first few days I was bleeding from the incision site), just some icky pus, which I was assured was normal. I was told that the incision would drain for a few weeks. I find that sometimes I get sharp twinges of pain (especially after getting out of bed) and then after that, the incision site will drain more pus. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night because pus has leaked onto my thighs if I've been sleeping on my side. It's made the skin on my inner thighs a little bit tender, but I'm not worried about it. I was told that if the pus starts to smell really bad or if the pain gets considerably worse, then I need to see a doctor because it might be infected.
I had my surgery on a Friday and went back to university on Monday, however, I wish I had been able to take the first week off. Sitting, walking, and standing for long periods of time is really tough. When I'm at home, I try and lay still as much as possible.
I inspected the "damage" and it doesn't look very good down there. I'm still a little swollen on that side, and my surgeon had to cut part of my labia off, so it looks like there's a bit just hanging off (sorry to be graphic!). I think things are going to look a lot better once the swelling is completely gone.
If I were to go back, I would have taken more time off from school and work. I really needed a week at least to just lay around and recover. I had a bad reaction to the oxycodone I was given, so all I have is 800mg of ibuprofen to deal with the pain. I would also HIGHLY recommend taking a laxative. It'll really help because bowel movements are a little bit painful after surgery and anesthesia can make you constipated.
Overall, I'm really glad that I had the surgery. I started getting cysts last year, and a few weeks before my surgery, I had the cyst drained (again) and it filled up within a few days and the pain was so horrible that I could barely walk. It ended up bursting suddenly on its own, but I am SO glad that I'll never have to deal with that again!
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That was so helpful to read. Thanks for sharing your experience and timeline. When could you get up and walk about again? I can do that (10days after) but I can't sustain very long until I have to lie down again as my legs and body weigh a ton and it is still very uncomfortable. I'm trying to plan for work.
I don't feel I was properly informed about the recovery. Thank goodness it's the Easter hols and I've got time off work. If you had young dependent children at home you'd need to be well prepared and get things in place before you went in!
Thank you, glad you have recovered so well!
I don't feel I was properly informed about the recovery. Thank goodness it's the Easter hols and I've got time off work. If you had young dependent children at home you'd need to be well prepared and get things in place before you went in!
Thank you, glad you have recovered so well!
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Hello everyone. After reading all these posts it's really apparent how everyone's' experience of gland removal is different. On a practical note ( 10 days after my operation in uk) these are the things I needed to know:
*Before you get home you will need a ring doughnut. I have an episiotomy ring from Amazon, this made more sense to me than all the others for piles or coccyx pain as the hole is bigger. I struggled with pillows for days and it doesn't cut it.
*you will need a stool softener (I took Dulcoease, take straight away and I also had glycerine suppositories. I didn't go for a couple of days and was worried but it was fine and didn't hurt my vagina.
*i didn't bleed as much as I'd expected in the first couple of days, probably because the swelling was blocking the exit but as the swelling went down it started. Like a period.
*it would be a good idea to get signed of work in case you need it. I was told I'd be sore for a couple of days. 10 days in I'm still in bed. I can get up and put a sandwich together but can't waddle around or stand for more than a couple of hours top. I was flat on my back for the first couple of days. Don't underestimate the recovery time, if you are one of those who are OK in a week then that is great but assume you won't be. The first couple of days were OK as I still had morphine in my system but it is really uncomfortable. You need to be prepared to take a long break from work just in case.
* get some Homeopathic Arnica to help with the bruising , mine was from Helios. Speak to them before as the gave me a combination to help, including tissue repair, body trauma etc. Also one to negate effects of the general anaesthetic. My external bruising and puffiness was helped quickly by this. Also get some good pro biotics (optibac) to help your stomach flora through all those Meds. I didn't have an infected cyst when they took the glad so wasn't prescribed antibiotics which concerned me at first but I've been fine. Ive started drinking beetroot juice and eating grapefruits to cleanse my liver as I felt pretty rubbish after the general anaesthetic.
* you are completely oblivious to the operation under anaesthetic and totally unaware so there is nothing to fear on that score, it's just the recovery that in my experience has been hard going.
*VERY IMPORTANT IF YOU ARE A MUM WITH YOUNG KIDS: enlist help!! You need someone who can help them and get dinners ready etc. You may be ok but be prepared in case. I have teenage sons but I keep thanking my lucky stars that I don't have dependents as I was so unprepared for the recovery. At least cook and freeze before you go in!
* you need good books, magazines, phone charger near your bed, paracetamol, lots of sanitary towels, including 'long' nights ones. I slept on a child's bed pad (pampers 'dry nights') but I didn't need it in the end.
*you need to face that you will spend a long time on the bed and eventually get up to potter about but to return to the bed. I found it helped the discomfort if I moved about until I felt tired and my body felt heavy.
*i haven't done sits baths but I have showered everyday and used a jug of warm water to splash over myself when I've been for a wee.
*the nurse told me on leaving that I needed a low ph soap but I was unprepared. Since then I have looked on line and there is a company that does organic parable and glycerine free lives and washes so that would be good. It's called yes yes yes.
Good luck to all of you. Get a good book that you can't put down like anything by Sarah Waters or half bad by Sally Green. Xxxx
*Before you get home you will need a ring doughnut. I have an episiotomy ring from Amazon, this made more sense to me than all the others for piles or coccyx pain as the hole is bigger. I struggled with pillows for days and it doesn't cut it.
*you will need a stool softener (I took Dulcoease, take straight away and I also had glycerine suppositories. I didn't go for a couple of days and was worried but it was fine and didn't hurt my vagina.
*i didn't bleed as much as I'd expected in the first couple of days, probably because the swelling was blocking the exit but as the swelling went down it started. Like a period.
*it would be a good idea to get signed of work in case you need it. I was told I'd be sore for a couple of days. 10 days in I'm still in bed. I can get up and put a sandwich together but can't waddle around or stand for more than a couple of hours top. I was flat on my back for the first couple of days. Don't underestimate the recovery time, if you are one of those who are OK in a week then that is great but assume you won't be. The first couple of days were OK as I still had morphine in my system but it is really uncomfortable. You need to be prepared to take a long break from work just in case.
* get some Homeopathic Arnica to help with the bruising , mine was from Helios. Speak to them before as the gave me a combination to help, including tissue repair, body trauma etc. Also one to negate effects of the general anaesthetic. My external bruising and puffiness was helped quickly by this. Also get some good pro biotics (optibac) to help your stomach flora through all those Meds. I didn't have an infected cyst when they took the glad so wasn't prescribed antibiotics which concerned me at first but I've been fine. Ive started drinking beetroot juice and eating grapefruits to cleanse my liver as I felt pretty rubbish after the general anaesthetic.
* you are completely oblivious to the operation under anaesthetic and totally unaware so there is nothing to fear on that score, it's just the recovery that in my experience has been hard going.
*VERY IMPORTANT IF YOU ARE A MUM WITH YOUNG KIDS: enlist help!! You need someone who can help them and get dinners ready etc. You may be ok but be prepared in case. I have teenage sons but I keep thanking my lucky stars that I don't have dependents as I was so unprepared for the recovery. At least cook and freeze before you go in!
* you need good books, magazines, phone charger near your bed, paracetamol, lots of sanitary towels, including 'long' nights ones. I slept on a child's bed pad (pampers 'dry nights') but I didn't need it in the end.
*you need to face that you will spend a long time on the bed and eventually get up to potter about but to return to the bed. I found it helped the discomfort if I moved about until I felt tired and my body felt heavy.
*i haven't done sits baths but I have showered everyday and used a jug of warm water to splash over myself when I've been for a wee.
*the nurse told me on leaving that I needed a low ph soap but I was unprepared. Since then I have looked on line and there is a company that does organic parable and glycerine free lives and washes so that would be good. It's called yes yes yes.
Good luck to all of you. Get a good book that you can't put down like anything by Sarah Waters or half bad by Sally Green. Xxxx
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I just wanted to post an update of my previous post.
It is now three weeks post-op and while I feel better, I am definitely in more pain than I thought I'd be in. My doctor said that I'd be pretty sore and that is definitely still the case. I find wearing pants to be quite uncomfortable. Even sitting is hard for me sometimes.
Since my last post, I got an infection and had to go on a dose of antibiotics, which definitely helped. The drainage went down significantly and I stopped getting those really sharp sudden pains that I had previously been experiencing. Now, I have a little bit of discharge, but I think that has to do with the fact that my stitches aren't completely dissolved yet.
On the side where I had the surgery, I still have some numbness at the skin, however, the whole side feels like there's a bruise underneath (even though I can't see one). It's still very sore and tender to the touch. I am also experiencing soreness towards my pubic bone and down towards my butt still.
I find that I am experiencing the most pain as my body works to dissolve the stitches. My surgeon had to remove part of my labia, so I have a bunch of stitches there. Those hurt the most. I also thought that things would start to look better by now, and while things down there look a lot better than even just a week ago, there's a part of my labia that it just hanging off. My labia are now very asymmetrical and I think I'm going to have to have some sort of reconstruction surgery to correct it.
I have my follow-up appointment with my surgeon today, and I was hoping to also get my IUD removed (that's a whole other super long story) but I honestly don't think she'd be able to get a speculum up there, that's how much pain I'm in.
It is now three weeks post-op and while I feel better, I am definitely in more pain than I thought I'd be in. My doctor said that I'd be pretty sore and that is definitely still the case. I find wearing pants to be quite uncomfortable. Even sitting is hard for me sometimes.
Since my last post, I got an infection and had to go on a dose of antibiotics, which definitely helped. The drainage went down significantly and I stopped getting those really sharp sudden pains that I had previously been experiencing. Now, I have a little bit of discharge, but I think that has to do with the fact that my stitches aren't completely dissolved yet.
On the side where I had the surgery, I still have some numbness at the skin, however, the whole side feels like there's a bruise underneath (even though I can't see one). It's still very sore and tender to the touch. I am also experiencing soreness towards my pubic bone and down towards my butt still.
I find that I am experiencing the most pain as my body works to dissolve the stitches. My surgeon had to remove part of my labia, so I have a bunch of stitches there. Those hurt the most. I also thought that things would start to look better by now, and while things down there look a lot better than even just a week ago, there's a part of my labia that it just hanging off. My labia are now very asymmetrical and I think I'm going to have to have some sort of reconstruction surgery to correct it.
I have my follow-up appointment with my surgeon today, and I was hoping to also get my IUD removed (that's a whole other super long story) but I honestly don't think she'd be able to get a speculum up there, that's how much pain I'm in.
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Hi. I'm so pleased to have found this group and see its still active. I had my right Bartholin gland and 2 cysts removed 11 days ago and completely underestimated the recovery!
I had it done privately in the UK after 12 bouts of Cysts and abscesses. I had drainage and marsupialisation on the nhs previously but, with 2 toddlers, I really needed a permanent solution. Before the op my gynae suggested I might not be able to drive for 2 weeks, so went in thinking I may be sore for a bit after the op. However, post- op my gynae told me once the anaesthetic wore off I'd hit the roof with the pain and it would hurt for at least 4 weeks as she went in deep to remove cysts, gland & surrounding tissue & she's done 3 layers of stitches.
She wasn't kidding. I'm struggling to manage the pain, got an infection and keep getting shooting pains high up on pubic bone area - no where near stitches.
I know that long- term this is the best solution but I certainly wasn't prepared for this level of pain! I can only lay on my left and occasionally my back. I can't sit and if I stand for any length of time the pain is unbearable. Has anyone else experienced the stabbing pains around pubic bone area - I can't describe it very well but it feels like it's in the skin rather than the bone and makes me yelp! I'm wondering if it's a bruise from a clamp in the op?
It's encouraging to read that people have got back to normal and I'm not alone in feeling this sore post-op.
I had a third degree tear having my first baby and this is much worse than that!
Really hope I start to feel better soon. It's so frustrating not being able to play with or take care of my children properly :-( I do know it's worth it for no more abscesses but I have to keep telling myself that!
Hope all those going thru this feel better soon too x
I had it done privately in the UK after 12 bouts of Cysts and abscesses. I had drainage and marsupialisation on the nhs previously but, with 2 toddlers, I really needed a permanent solution. Before the op my gynae suggested I might not be able to drive for 2 weeks, so went in thinking I may be sore for a bit after the op. However, post- op my gynae told me once the anaesthetic wore off I'd hit the roof with the pain and it would hurt for at least 4 weeks as she went in deep to remove cysts, gland & surrounding tissue & she's done 3 layers of stitches.
She wasn't kidding. I'm struggling to manage the pain, got an infection and keep getting shooting pains high up on pubic bone area - no where near stitches.
I know that long- term this is the best solution but I certainly wasn't prepared for this level of pain! I can only lay on my left and occasionally my back. I can't sit and if I stand for any length of time the pain is unbearable. Has anyone else experienced the stabbing pains around pubic bone area - I can't describe it very well but it feels like it's in the skin rather than the bone and makes me yelp! I'm wondering if it's a bruise from a clamp in the op?
It's encouraging to read that people have got back to normal and I'm not alone in feeling this sore post-op.
I had a third degree tear having my first baby and this is much worse than that!
Really hope I start to feel better soon. It's so frustrating not being able to play with or take care of my children properly :-( I do know it's worth it for no more abscesses but I have to keep telling myself that!
Hope all those going thru this feel better soon too x
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I also had shooting pains up near my pubic bone! I had no idea why, but now that I am almost 3.5 weeks post-op, they've pretty much gone away. My public bone area is still a little sore on that side (almost feels like a bruise) but the shooting pain is gone- thank God!
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actually I wish I never had the gland removed ever...just drained as I did the first time...as I was butchered by my dr who cut away third of my right inner lip near cyst and that was 10 yrs ago and have never been pain free because of scar tissue from cut on and loss of portion of inner right lip and left deformed looking still very painful and very very regretful....yet haven't come across anyone else who has had it removed as my dr did to me.
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Hi. I hope you are feeling better. Yes, I underestimated the recovery too. The fatigue and the discomfort. It's hard when you don't know what to do with yourself to get comfortable and you wake up every day expecting to feel better but don't. It really drags on! I really feel for you with toddlers.
Im pleased to report that I'm now nearly 4 and a half weeks post op and I have no shooting pains or swelling anymore so I hope you are feeling a bit better now. I went back to work today and still need to sit on my episiotomy cushion. I managed a 4 hour car journey at the weekend so that was a massive improvement. It's still tender down there, and if I push the area it feels bruised but I can forget about the pain so it must be better, I'm aware of it when I focus on it. You know that initially, you can't help but focus on it! I can wash the area as normal without being nervous about it. I know it's scary as you don't know if what you are going through is normal but hang in there, it gets better. I have confidence that things will improve. It's important not to do too much too soon as I put my recovery back a couple of times, trying to look after my boys and a sick parent.
I've not tried sex yet so I can't comment on that.
Good luck everyone.
Im pleased to report that I'm now nearly 4 and a half weeks post op and I have no shooting pains or swelling anymore so I hope you are feeling a bit better now. I went back to work today and still need to sit on my episiotomy cushion. I managed a 4 hour car journey at the weekend so that was a massive improvement. It's still tender down there, and if I push the area it feels bruised but I can forget about the pain so it must be better, I'm aware of it when I focus on it. You know that initially, you can't help but focus on it! I can wash the area as normal without being nervous about it. I know it's scary as you don't know if what you are going through is normal but hang in there, it gets better. I have confidence that things will improve. It's important not to do too much too soon as I put my recovery back a couple of times, trying to look after my boys and a sick parent.
I've not tried sex yet so I can't comment on that.
Good luck everyone.
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O My Gosh, I'm so sorry this is so late. I didn't realize I had replies on here. Thank you for your concern. I ended up having the Bartholin Cyst removal surgery. Yes, painful but I have not had any issues with pain ever since. Recovery was over two weeks. I went back to work, and since I do alot of walking it was tiring the first few days. Post surgery it took months for me to complete;y heal. I would feel a tightness in the area that the glad was...and I would at times have to go to the bathroom to apply pressure to the area (I'm not sure if it was draining?) but after I did that it would feel better. It did take many months for me to feel completely normal. Thanks everyone for their well wishes. All of your posts prepared me for my surgery. I hope my experience can help others too.
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Hello, I'm relieved to find this thread still active.
I am scheduled to have my right bartholin's gland removed in three days, my doc also said she'll be making a permanent hole for any drainage. I have never had any procedures for my cysts, I have always done hot baths and then lanced and drained them myself. I finally went to see my obgyn since it was my sixth cyst in just over a year and since I have had so many she recommended we completely remove the gland rather than trying the other procedures. She did try to express some fluid out that day but to no avail. Since I last saw her the cyst did drain so it is not currently a bother. I guess my worry is that she may have difficulty removing the gland since there's not currently a cyst?
I am scheduled to have my right bartholin's gland removed in three days, my doc also said she'll be making a permanent hole for any drainage. I have never had any procedures for my cysts, I have always done hot baths and then lanced and drained them myself. I finally went to see my obgyn since it was my sixth cyst in just over a year and since I have had so many she recommended we completely remove the gland rather than trying the other procedures. She did try to express some fluid out that day but to no avail. Since I last saw her the cyst did drain so it is not currently a bother. I guess my worry is that she may have difficulty removing the gland since there's not currently a cyst?
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I'm starting to regret my surgery too. My surgeon had to remove part of my labia, and while it doesn't look horrible, it doesn't exactly look good either. I can also feel a TON of scar tissue that has formed and I'm really worried about it. I'm almost 9 weeks post op and the side where the gland was removed is still sore to the touch. I haven't tried having sex yet, but I'm really scared that the pain won't go away enough for me to have a good sex life.
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