pain still after bartholin cyst surgery

I just had my bartholins cyst removed today and the doctor didnt go over the procedure very well with me. i was under the impression that my incision would be external, but i checked and i couldnt see any cuts. so it would appear that my incision is inside my vagina. did anyone else have this done? cause i was rather concerned to not see a cut.
i was told initially that i would be able to return to work tomorrow, but then in the operating room before they put me out, i was told i would be really sore for at least a week. but im not so sore that i cant walk. its mainly sitting that is uncomfortable.
i wish all of you luck as this is a really unpleasant procedure to have done.

Had a Bartholin's gland/cyst removed 8/12... and yes, it has probably been the most painful thing I have ever experienced. I probably went back to work too soon, about a week later, but everything checked out fine with my post op visit. I still have a stinky drainage, but it does seem to be tapering off and I have apparently lost some of my external sutures (due to swelling), so I anticipate having a slightly deformed scar. My biggest fear is that after all this, sex will be a nightmare. Fortunately, my guy is deployed until March of next year, but I don't forsee this being healed by then. Has anyone else had this drainage or sex without pain after having problems with the wound healing? ?

Had Bartholin's cyst removed on 11/09/09. First presented 16 years ago but swelling reduced after taking a course of antibiotics. Reoccured 5-6 times throughout the years but always treated the antibiotics. End of August while I was on holiday on a greek island it reoccured and I was advised to remove it right away. I came back to the UK, visited the GP who booked an outpatients appt end of October. He did not examine me - he did not prescribe meds. The cyst/abcess was as big as an egg. Rather painful. I visited A&E and I was told that it has to be removed asap via marsupialization. I was admitted to hospital - discharged the same day - prescribed antibiotics and went to work the next day. No horror story here. Slight discomfort for a few days. Drainage for about a week - you need to use panty liners. Stitches are still visible. Might have to wait up to 4 weeks before they dissovle. Had sex last night (10 days after the operation) very carefull and used loads of lubricant. Swelling is still there but not painful. I feel confident that as soon as the stitches dissappear I will be back to normal. I just wanted to share this with you because I read the reviews before I went for the op and I was slightly worried. I hope this helps.

I'm sorry that you had to go through that but it sounds like you're already largely back to normal. Are you still around to give us an update? I'd like to hear how you're doing now!

I will be having excision surgery for my Bartholin cyst at the end of this month. Very scared :-( I was under the impression that they were only excising the cyst, but I got my paperwork in the mail today and it says "Bartholin gland excision." So I guess they are taking the whole gland?

My doctor says I will only need to be in bed for about 4 days and then can go back to work. This doesn't seem to fit what most of you are saying. :-(

She's not recommending marsupialization because she says the cyst almost always comes back. BTW, I'm 27 with no kids yet. I always thought my cyst was about the size of a grape but my doctor says it's more like a ping pong ball.

Is excising the cyst only (instead of the whole gland) an option? I'm worried about sex after the gland is gone. Won't I be dry? Sex has always been painful for me, but then again, this cyst has been present for years (before I had ever even had sex) so maybe the cyst is the reason for the painful sex.

I'm SCARED. :-(

I just want to let every woman know that has or will have a bartholin cyst YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Mine developed 2 weeks ago and I didnt think anything of it. Warm baths made it not hurt so bad but 2 days ago, it had grown to the size of an egg and was red and so so so painful. I lost sleep over it because I just couldnt get comfortable. Today I got into see the doctor and he places a drain into the cyst. The initial cutting to get the drain in was by far the most painful thing I have ever expereinced but let me tell you, IT WAS WORTH EVERY SECOND. Now, just 2 hours later I feel complete relief. I can sit and walk normal again and I have a feeling Ill be getting some sleep tonight too. The doctor used a Word Catheter and it is still currently in place letting the cyst drain. It has to be in place for a couple weeks but I dont even feel it and its so much worth not having the pain of the cyst anymore!!! Good luck and dont wait any longer if you think you may have one of these cysts

Thanks for posting this because I think a lot of women can really identify with it and take comfort in it. Thank you for posting it and please feel free to post more!

I was suffering from non-infected left Bartholin Cyst for three years. I've tried a simple antibiotic therapy(which won't work because mine was not infected), insertion of Word Catheter that fell out after 4 days(didn't work but painful process), Malsupialization that came back less than a month later. I finally decided to have the Bartholin Gland excised. That is the only permanent way to get rid of it for good. Somehow if your doctor isn't skillful or unexperienced at this procedure, I suggest you find a experienced gye doctor. It can make a huge difference post-op. I've Excison of Barholin Cyst and Gland about 21/2 weeks ago. First 4 days were painful but I didn't have to take any narcotics. The pain is tolerable. You will see some bruising around your vagina, little bleeding but it will all go away about a week later. Went back to work 5 days later. A little uncomfortable at sitting and bending for about two weeks. Sex will have to wait until the incision is completely healed. Overall, expect some amount of pain right after the surgery but it will go away slowly and surely. Good luck!

I am really glad tha toyu posted all the information on this but can you tell me what a gye doctor is/ I am not familiar with that term and I'd like to learn what it means. Thanks!

oh my this website is so nice to find out that im not the only one going throught this torture. i recently just turned 18 yrs old. and i discovered a painful bump on my labia about 5 days before thanksgiving... first i was put on antibiotics but that didnt do anything for me i went back a week later and got it lanced. they put a cathader inside me and the next day the darn thing feel out. on the night of my birthday party i ran to the ER to try to get the catheder back in but the dumb on call gynno gave me no anastetic and tried shoving the thing up there numerous times. the following sunday i felt a sharp pain and ran into my bathtub and realized it was rupturing i was crying i was so happy!!! but it wasnt over... it was still swollen! my gyno said he was going to operate and that he was going to take the whole gland out. i got the surgery exactly one week ago and at first it was so swollen and black and blue but i swear i lived in my bathtub and iced it every night and the swelling went dramatically down. buttt i still felt a lump in my labia. i just got back from my checkup and found out that i have a lllittle infection and it just needs to drain out and its normal.....im being put on antibiotics. he says its because of the soft tissue and should drain! but please has this happened to anyone else?!?!? i want to know the outcome of the infection. im too young for this and bartholins cysts are torture it seems like it never gets better!!!!!!!! one thing for sure im glad i got the excision cuz i hear they come back often and i CANNOT go through this again!!! ANY HELP WOULD GREATLY BE APPRECIATED!!!!

I had my Bartholins gland removed 3 weeks ago today, & Im moving around just fine, everything is pretty normal. Its still irritated because the stitches itch at times and its still a little swollen but I was up and about 4 days after the surgery. Soaking in hot tubs helps so much and my Dr says Vitamin C helps healing! I had the cyst lanced before but it kept coming back, this went on for TWO YEARS! So getting it removed was the best thing I ever did! :-)
I go for a checkup tomorrow, She said it takes 4-6 weeks to fully heal. So those who are NOT healing... go to the dr so you dont get an infection! The pain wasnt too too bad from the surgery it was kind of relief !

hello everyone and thank you for all your information. Last july i noticed a little lump in that area. after 2-3 days it was gone. No pain nothing. September it was back again. This time it was really painfull and in 3 days the hole area was swollen. I went to my doctor and he gave me antibiotics and told me if it didn't start healing in 3 days to go back. In 3 days it was worse. I went back and my doctor said the only way for me to be relieved now is for him to open it. He took a small razor and opened it right away. No anaisthetics. The pain was not as bad as the abcess was so in 10 min i was all better but the lump was still there only smaller. a lot smaller. 3 weeks after it appeared again, same thing, same procuder. Lump still there. ABout a week ago it appeared again. This time worse than all the other times. I went to the ER from the pain and they gave me antibiotics, told me its best if it openes on its own and sent me home. my doctor also had told me that it is best if it openes on its own cause there is a high chance that it heals itself when that happenes and i won't need to do anything. The same night i actually took 8 painkillers in 8 hours. I couldn't even get out of bed. My boyfriend had to litteraly pick me up and carry me to go to the bathroom.. As soon as a sat on the toilet i felt a bit relieved. When i wipped myself i was covered in blood and puss. It opened by itself!!! It drained on its own for about a day. That was monday. TOday it still feels uncomforatable. Not painfull though. On monday i have an appoinment. My doctor said because it happens so frequent i will probably have to syrgically remove the gland but since it opened on its own it may not be necessary. He also said we have to do some exams on monday and if diagnosed he will remove the gland the same day. He said its a minor procedure. After searching the net i don't really believe him and i'm really scared now. Should i do it? or is it better to suffer once in a while when it happens? I am 28 years old. This bartholin abcess sucks. It too painfull and i don't know what to do. I never even new it excisted before it happened. The last 3 times it was infected all times. :-( :-( :-(

I had my marlsupialization 3 days ago. My cyst was on the right side, and felt about the size of a golf ball. Not very swollen on the outside, however it was very deep. I've had this for 7 months. The cyst didn't look like the pics I've seen. No fluid was visual to the eye. Just swollen flesh with no pain. I'm 48 yrs. old and in menepause, so my doctor also did a biopsy. Should have the results back in a few weeks and will post. The only pain I was experiencing was only shooting pains in my rectum. Don't know if this is related or not, however I did read somewhere that the cyst can protrude into the anus and kidneys. Has anyone else ever experienced pain in the rectum from a bartholin cyst?? Since the marlsupialization 3 days ago, I can't sit up straight as the pain is pretty bad. I need to sit on an angle or a donut pillow. But most of my pain is again shooting into the rectum. I'm wondering if there is a nerve connected to it? So weird and painful. I see my doctor in a week and will let you know what he says.

Hi there,

I just had marsupilation three days agao and I can't see my incisions either. Must be deeper, inside the vaginal wall. I still can't sit or walk very well. The hospital told me it will be at least a week before I can return to work.

Hi,

Last week I have undergone surgery.. First 3 days was horrible.., taken 3 pain killers..... after that it was ok.. today I came back to work....

If I touch that area.... I didnt have any feeling at all.......I scared about having sex..... there wont be any feeling at all...