hey, im a teen who recently had the surgery and just though i'd share my experence:
i was in the hospital for 24hr after and also had a drain (mine was about the size of an orange). i was in quite a bit of pain during the first fews days, but was able to switch to over the counter pain meds two days after going home. i took 5days off of school, but was fine after then. my biggest suggesting is just to be aware beforehand how much you use your neck muscles. i kept forgetting and would go to do something that would accidently cause me lots of pain
i was in the hospital for 24hr after and also had a drain (mine was about the size of an orange). i was in quite a bit of pain during the first fews days, but was able to switch to over the counter pain meds two days after going home. i took 5days off of school, but was fine after then. my biggest suggesting is just to be aware beforehand how much you use your neck muscles. i kept forgetting and would go to do something that would accidently cause me lots of pain
I just had surgery for a large branchial cyst and lymph nodes involvement. I have a 5in incision with a drain for 3 days.
Recovery is supposed to be 1 week from surgery day.No lifting above 10lbs for 2-3- weeks.
No pain only uncomfortable at night with the drain.
Pathology was negative,completed when I was in surgery,still waiting for culture results.
Recovery is supposed to be 1 week from surgery day.No lifting above 10lbs for 2-3- weeks.
No pain only uncomfortable at night with the drain.
Pathology was negative,completed when I was in surgery,still waiting for culture results.
Hi, my 2 yr old was diagnosed with this condition 6yrs ago.Since then he has had surgery 3 times to remove the cyst; it still occurs everytime he catches a cold. We try to keep him healthy but with school and all, it's difficult. We are relunctant to take him back to the hospital because normally they put him on intraveinous antibiotics and he screams through the whole process because it "hurts and burns". We have found that once we see the first sign of a lump, if we give him the oral antibiotics it goes away in about a week. If the lump gets too to be the size of a marble it tends to continue swelling with the antibiotics until it bursts through his scar...but this way it is not painful.He plays and refuses painkillers. We're just hoping that this way of treatment won't cause any adverse affects later.
I was recently diagnosed with a second branchial cleft cyst and am looking forward to having my cyst drained and subsequently excised. I am glad to see that others found benefit from surgery. The ENT made it sound like it is my choice to have the surgery or not, but since it will most likely reoccur, I feel more comfortable having the surgery. Thank you all for posting your information. It's very helpful. :-)
Last week I was fine then Thursday I had a big knot on the size of my neck. I was diagnosed with brancial cleft cyst. I am trying to figure out why it is so hard to tell me about how long I will be out of commission. I am scared of getting cut on my neck and most of all them taking something out of my neck. :cry: Since I see that most people who have had this are ok it makes me feel a little better but I am not happy about this AT ALL. Considering this is something I was suppose to have when I was a baby to teenage. But will update in 2 weeks after the surgery.l :?
Anyone with questions should ask to be referred to a ENT(Ear Nose and Throat Dr) and ask to have to removed if it is large or causing you illness.
There is no reason why your doctor should just be giving you pain killers, antibiotics, or anything of that nature.This is a birth defect and it will not go away on its own. So again, if it is causing you any kind of pain (physical or phycological) have it removed.
There is no reason why your doctor should just be giving you pain killers, antibiotics, or anything of that nature.This is a birth defect and it will not go away on its own. So again, if it is causing you any kind of pain (physical or phycological) have it removed.
I had my surgery and it went from 1 1/2 hours to 4 1/2 hours surgery. Apparently the cyst got bigger within 2 weeks before the surgery. Now I am having problems with my shoulder and being able to pick up or even stand for too longer without any pain and it is going on 3 weeks when they told me a week maybe 2 for recovery. I am going back to the doctor to see if there is anything they can do about the pain. Trying to raise a child and can barely make a sandwich is very frustrating. I can't even lift my child now all she sees is that mommy is hurting. A 4 year old should not have to see their mother like this. :'(
Hi Everyone!
I was at work one day in November and I reached up to touch my neck and found an egg sized lump, it was painless and immobile and solid. I wen t to my GP the following Tuesday, who set me up with an appointment for a CT and and to see and ENT. By the time I got my appointments, it was mid January. When I went in to see the ENT, he drained the lump and told me that I had a Branchial Cleft Cyst. The fluid was tested and came back benign. I was on antibiotics in Nov-Dec from my GP, and now I was on them again from the ENT. He scheduled surgery and told me to come back if it reappeared...which it did about a week later. I let it go a couple of weeks before getting it drained again,a sit was still painless. The surgery was not until May, and in that time I had it drained three more times, was on antibiotics almost the whole time and in the last month I was experiencing severe pain as the cyst was pushing out on my neck muscle. The doctor put me on Tridural 200s, which were phenomenal as pain killers, but after being on them two weeks I stopped and went through withdrawal symptoms for three days. Whopee! I finally had my surgery last Friday, the 14th. It went well, apparently the cyst went a little deeper then he had anticipated so the surgery ran about 4 hours, but he got it all and I didn't even need the drain. After surgery, between the recovery room drugs and the morphine drip was horrendous pain. I cried, I'm a wimp :-) I was released Saturday morning and I came home and laid around on the couch. Sunday I was more mobile. I was taking Tramacet for the pain, which was manageable. Everyone already said this but you would not believe the muscle it takes to hold up your own neck. I've been getting my fiance to rub that polar ice stuff on my neck and shoulders and that helps. He also washed my hair for the first week, which was highly amusing. I went back to work on Tuesday, I just have a desk job and a really good boss who understood that I would be working a little sloooow. I stopped taking hte pain meds on Thursday, and I haven't taken even and Advil since. The muscles are still sore, and the area around the incision is still swollen, but it's not too bad. I even went for a drive yesterday and was able to check my blind spots without much pain. I go to get the stitches out on Tuesday, and I'll be asking to see how long he expects the swelling to last, as well as the numbness, which spreads up my jawline and my whole right ear. It's a weird feeling :-) So I hope that helps anyone who has any questions. I think my journey has been pretty easy considering how I know others have had it harder, but this was how it was for me and hopefully it goes well for you all!
I was at work one day in November and I reached up to touch my neck and found an egg sized lump, it was painless and immobile and solid. I wen t to my GP the following Tuesday, who set me up with an appointment for a CT and and to see and ENT. By the time I got my appointments, it was mid January. When I went in to see the ENT, he drained the lump and told me that I had a Branchial Cleft Cyst. The fluid was tested and came back benign. I was on antibiotics in Nov-Dec from my GP, and now I was on them again from the ENT. He scheduled surgery and told me to come back if it reappeared...which it did about a week later. I let it go a couple of weeks before getting it drained again,a sit was still painless. The surgery was not until May, and in that time I had it drained three more times, was on antibiotics almost the whole time and in the last month I was experiencing severe pain as the cyst was pushing out on my neck muscle. The doctor put me on Tridural 200s, which were phenomenal as pain killers, but after being on them two weeks I stopped and went through withdrawal symptoms for three days. Whopee! I finally had my surgery last Friday, the 14th. It went well, apparently the cyst went a little deeper then he had anticipated so the surgery ran about 4 hours, but he got it all and I didn't even need the drain. After surgery, between the recovery room drugs and the morphine drip was horrendous pain. I cried, I'm a wimp :-) I was released Saturday morning and I came home and laid around on the couch. Sunday I was more mobile. I was taking Tramacet for the pain, which was manageable. Everyone already said this but you would not believe the muscle it takes to hold up your own neck. I've been getting my fiance to rub that polar ice stuff on my neck and shoulders and that helps. He also washed my hair for the first week, which was highly amusing. I went back to work on Tuesday, I just have a desk job and a really good boss who understood that I would be working a little sloooow. I stopped taking hte pain meds on Thursday, and I haven't taken even and Advil since. The muscles are still sore, and the area around the incision is still swollen, but it's not too bad. I even went for a drive yesterday and was able to check my blind spots without much pain. I go to get the stitches out on Tuesday, and I'll be asking to see how long he expects the swelling to last, as well as the numbness, which spreads up my jawline and my whole right ear. It's a weird feeling :-) So I hope that helps anyone who has any questions. I think my journey has been pretty easy considering how I know others have had it harder, but this was how it was for me and hopefully it goes well for you all!
I'm so happy that I've stumbled into these posts on branchial cleft cysts. My son, who is 7.5yrs, is finally getting his removed tomorrow. After reading all the comments and personal experiences, I feel a bit more relaxed about what to expect. As he recovers from surgery, I'll be sure to return to share his post-op experiences.
Just wondering if you've found out about your numbness issue... I had a brachial cleft cyst in my neck, which got itself infected a few times which made it swell and attach itself to my currotted artery and juggular... It was a risky surgery, but was successful, however, I also have numbness along my jawline on the side where the cyst once was...
Also, to anyone who has ANY lump ANYWHERE, get it checked out ASAP... I was once of those "stubborn males" and thought: "well... it doesn't hurt or bother me... So I'll just leave it be..." then it got to larger than a softball, restricted a bit of blood flow and some breathing before I decided it was a good idea to see a doctor and in turn, it made the surgery a lot more complicated.
Also, to anyone who has ANY lump ANYWHERE, get it checked out ASAP... I was once of those "stubborn males" and thought: "well... it doesn't hurt or bother me... So I'll just leave it be..." then it got to larger than a softball, restricted a bit of blood flow and some breathing before I decided it was a good idea to see a doctor and in turn, it made the surgery a lot more complicated.
Ok so I admit it I am terrified to have this surgery! :-D I am not admitting that to my family because I have to be brave. I have had the lump for almost 4 months now and was diagnosed a week ago. I am just waiting for the ENT to tell me what day the surgery is scheduled for. This is at the worst possible time because school starts in a month and I have 5 kids! I do not know how on earth I will accomplish school clothes shopping and everything else after this surgery. I am wondering what will the scar look like? Did everyones surgery goes as planned or was the cyst unexpectedly attached to something else?? I am thinking about putting the surgery off till Oct. so that I can be 100% while trying to get them ready for school, extracurricular activities and 2 birthdays. Although, from what I have read it is easier to heal if it is smaller and mine is growing very fast. Also, I am wondering if anyone noticed less sinus infections or respiratory infections after having it removed. Other than the fact there is a large growing lump on the side of my neck is there any other reason that makes this surgery a must? I am looking for motivation. As of right now the occassional discomfort during its growth spurt just does not seem worthy of having my neck cut open! Any questions that anyone could answer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!! I will post my outcome because right now I feel like a kid kicking and screaming all the way there and I am sure it is not that bad!! (FYI: I am extremely independent and I do not like having to rely on others for anything so being dependent and out of it for even a few days is a nightmare. Most importantly, my kids need me and I must be there for them.) Thanks!!!
I'm reading all these stories and must say that you are all rather dramatic.
I just had my cyst removed, also the same size of a baseball. I was in hospital for 2.5 days with a drain in for the entire time. I was only in this long as i have low platelets so bleed a lot more. I was in hardly any pain at all, only a bit of tenderness. The only pain killers i had were paracetomal and ibuprofen but stoppped taking these after the first day.
I have a 4 inch scar, but not that worried about it as I would prefer a scar over a cyst.
I went back to work after 5 days of a potential 2 weeks. I could have gone back earlier as have not felt unwell at all, however as the wound is large it's best to stay at home to avoid any infection.
It's day 7 since my op and i only have a tender neck. Again, please note that there is minimal pain for this procedure. Researching procedures on the internet is never a good idea, as only the people who have suppossedly suffered 'pain' blog their experience. I think that we often do not appreciate how fortunate we are. Firstly, we take for granted modern medicine re pain killers, hospitals/care and general aneasthetic. I do not feel people have the right to complain when the situation can be a lot worse. Also I do not feel people know the actual meaning of pain. Luckily I have never experienced a serious illness or undergone major surgery. Only when I have experienced this (hopefully never) will I then complain about being in pain. However, for a removal of a cyst, I am not at liberty to complain. Get on with it !
In addition, I am a fit 29 year old man with a healthy diet who exercises everyday. This has been the key in a fast and painless recovery. I suggest those people complaining and who have experience pain, to re-assess their lifestyle habbits.
I just had my cyst removed, also the same size of a baseball. I was in hospital for 2.5 days with a drain in for the entire time. I was only in this long as i have low platelets so bleed a lot more. I was in hardly any pain at all, only a bit of tenderness. The only pain killers i had were paracetomal and ibuprofen but stoppped taking these after the first day.
I have a 4 inch scar, but not that worried about it as I would prefer a scar over a cyst.
I went back to work after 5 days of a potential 2 weeks. I could have gone back earlier as have not felt unwell at all, however as the wound is large it's best to stay at home to avoid any infection.
It's day 7 since my op and i only have a tender neck. Again, please note that there is minimal pain for this procedure. Researching procedures on the internet is never a good idea, as only the people who have suppossedly suffered 'pain' blog their experience. I think that we often do not appreciate how fortunate we are. Firstly, we take for granted modern medicine re pain killers, hospitals/care and general aneasthetic. I do not feel people have the right to complain when the situation can be a lot worse. Also I do not feel people know the actual meaning of pain. Luckily I have never experienced a serious illness or undergone major surgery. Only when I have experienced this (hopefully never) will I then complain about being in pain. However, for a removal of a cyst, I am not at liberty to complain. Get on with it !
In addition, I am a fit 29 year old man with a healthy diet who exercises everyday. This has been the key in a fast and painless recovery. I suggest those people complaining and who have experience pain, to re-assess their lifestyle habbits.
found this site interesting;
Here's my story; When I was born in 1964 I had a small mobile lump on my neck. They planned on removing it when I was a few months older. My Mom said they didn't want to cut it out unless I was at least 6 months old. Well, when they took me in for the appointment, the doctor could no longer feel the 'lump' and said that it went away, so it wasn't removed. At the onset of puberty around the age of 12, I developed what I thought was a very ugly 'zit'. My Mother recognized immediately that this was a return of the cyst that I had been born with, and took me to a well respected general surgeon. He thought it was a 'simple sebaceous cyst' and that it could be done at the hospital as an outpatient. I will always remember lying on the table, with my face covered, and having this 'simple cyst' removed with just lidocaine. I knew that things weren't going the way he had planned, and I could feel a considerable amount of blood running down my chest and being very frightened. The smell of burning flesh, especially your own is something that you never forget. Afterward, he showed my mother and I the rooted cyst about 2 inches long in a glass jar. He apologized because it was NOT a simple cyst but a brachial cleft cyst. He said the roots were wrapped around my larynx, but that he had burned all the roots. It had indeed been there since my birth. I went for follow up appointments every three months, and then every 6 months to access for its return. At one of these visits, he removed a lymph node from my neck that was 'inflammed' and was not related to the cyst at all. I also followed with an ENT afterward.
I've been free of this cyst for over 30 years, and glad of it. It was certainly something that I'll never forget! And thank god for Mother's intuition.
Here's my story; When I was born in 1964 I had a small mobile lump on my neck. They planned on removing it when I was a few months older. My Mom said they didn't want to cut it out unless I was at least 6 months old. Well, when they took me in for the appointment, the doctor could no longer feel the 'lump' and said that it went away, so it wasn't removed. At the onset of puberty around the age of 12, I developed what I thought was a very ugly 'zit'. My Mother recognized immediately that this was a return of the cyst that I had been born with, and took me to a well respected general surgeon. He thought it was a 'simple sebaceous cyst' and that it could be done at the hospital as an outpatient. I will always remember lying on the table, with my face covered, and having this 'simple cyst' removed with just lidocaine. I knew that things weren't going the way he had planned, and I could feel a considerable amount of blood running down my chest and being very frightened. The smell of burning flesh, especially your own is something that you never forget. Afterward, he showed my mother and I the rooted cyst about 2 inches long in a glass jar. He apologized because it was NOT a simple cyst but a brachial cleft cyst. He said the roots were wrapped around my larynx, but that he had burned all the roots. It had indeed been there since my birth. I went for follow up appointments every three months, and then every 6 months to access for its return. At one of these visits, he removed a lymph node from my neck that was 'inflammed' and was not related to the cyst at all. I also followed with an ENT afterward.
I've been free of this cyst for over 30 years, and glad of it. It was certainly something that I'll never forget! And thank god for Mother's intuition.
hi i am a father of 1.5 yrs old and my kid is diagnosed with first brancial cyst. we are very worried as tghw doctor hs suggested surgery. surgery at thhis age looks too risky to can anyonw plese share if they have faced any complication after the survey. also i was mostly inclined towards delaying the surgery if there are not any adverse effects.
i have read through all the posts in this thread and i am greatful that all of you have shared yourn opinions.
thanks
My 5month old was just diagnosed by his pediatrician. What kind of testing did you go through. And how did your son do with his special anomoly:-) quite frankly my husband and I are freaking out because no one we know knows anything about this topic.