I had my right gland removed about 1 1/2 months ago, and I'm still in serious pain. This is the second surgery in 2 months I've had on this cyst (the first time they just removed the cyst and the second time they took the gland), and my doctor said because of that the second surgery was much more difficult than the first, and that's the reason for my continued pain. She said this pain could last for up to 3 months?! The last 2 days the pain has been so bad I can't even wear underwear and it hurts to wipe after going to the bathroom, but my doctor doesn't seem that concerned by it. Has anyone else had this sort of problem where things seem to be getting better and then all of a sudden you feel like you've taken 6 steps back? It's also extremely irritating to me that my doctor seems to be dismissing my concerns as paranoia.
My other concern is that the two times I've looked down there since the surgery, I am shocked by what I see. I feel totally and utterly disfigured. The best way I can explain what I see is that it looks like there's a claw coming out of my vag. There are two flaps of skin coming out of my vaginal opening that weren't there before the second surgery. I was told before the surgery that I would heal "eventually", and everything would look normal again, but after seeing myself, I am extremely concerned about whether these flaps will ever go away! I'm at the point right now that I don't want to have sex EVER again because what my husband would see would turn him off for the rest of his life. Just the thought of what my vag looks like makes me cry. Does anyone know if this will heal on its own? It's such a relief to have others to talk to who have gone through this!
My other concern is that the two times I've looked down there since the surgery, I am shocked by what I see. I feel totally and utterly disfigured. The best way I can explain what I see is that it looks like there's a claw coming out of my vag. There are two flaps of skin coming out of my vaginal opening that weren't there before the second surgery. I was told before the surgery that I would heal "eventually", and everything would look normal again, but after seeing myself, I am extremely concerned about whether these flaps will ever go away! I'm at the point right now that I don't want to have sex EVER again because what my husband would see would turn him off for the rest of his life. Just the thought of what my vag looks like makes me cry. Does anyone know if this will heal on its own? It's such a relief to have others to talk to who have gone through this!
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Hi everyone!I'm from the UK and am recovering from having my left Bartholin Gland totally removed. I'm 36 and have suffered from Bartholin cysts and abcesses since I was 17! It always came in the same spot and I had the same cyst marsupialized 4 times in hospital! Finally one of the surgeons said they wanted me to be examined when the cyst wasn't infected to see what could be done about permenantly sorting this recurring problem! So I went to my GP (doctor) who immediately referred me to a specialist gynae consultant who agreed to remove the gland for me. I don't know if people in the UK know this, but all patients now have a 'patient choice' where you are allowed to choose your consultant and hospital that you want to be treated in. You get a choice of 5 hospitals close to you that perform your surgery and you pick where you want to go. You can review the hospital online and check what feedback it gets from patients and government inspectors! My GP told me which hospital would be best (not my nearest one but one a 20 min journey away) so I went there!
I had the surgery 20 days ago and it is still very painful. I'm still not back at work, because it hurts to stand for long periods of time, and it hurts to sit down still. I also have pain if I try to sleep on my sides, but the pain is slowly getting better. Be warned, my consultant told my doctor (who called him to check my swelling of the area was normal) there are 3 things to know about this surgery; total removal of the gland is a very rare procedure, very painful as they have to dig so deep to remove the gland and surrounding tissue and a long recovery to boot!
I was given morphine when I was in hospital, and lots of painkillers and antibiotics when I went home (Augmentin antibiotics).
One tip you must take a laxative medecine when you get home as the morphine and anaesthetic caused me major problems in that area! I was prescribed 2 spoons of lactulose a day and am still taking it because the surgery and stitches made that aspects of things very painful!
10 days after the operation I developed an infection so I called the hospital again who told me to come straight back in and I was re-admitted as an emergency patient. I have to say they were fab-I saw a lovely female consultant gynae who called in the original senior consultant who performed my surgery cause she wanted him to check it as he would know how things were progressing! After 2 days of being on a drip and strong antibiotics I was allowed home and have to see the same consultant again for a check up this week to see how thing are! All in all, I'm very happy with the care I received here in the UK-after all this was free and I know you can pay a fortune in other parts of the world for medical treatment! Never once in all my visits to casualty A&E did any of the doctors not know what my problem was too!
The bruises are slowly going, I am still bleeding slightly but am reassured this is normal! Hope this helps, I will be happy to post more info if anyone likes!
I had the surgery 20 days ago and it is still very painful. I'm still not back at work, because it hurts to stand for long periods of time, and it hurts to sit down still. I also have pain if I try to sleep on my sides, but the pain is slowly getting better. Be warned, my consultant told my doctor (who called him to check my swelling of the area was normal) there are 3 things to know about this surgery; total removal of the gland is a very rare procedure, very painful as they have to dig so deep to remove the gland and surrounding tissue and a long recovery to boot!
I was given morphine when I was in hospital, and lots of painkillers and antibiotics when I went home (Augmentin antibiotics).
One tip you must take a laxative medecine when you get home as the morphine and anaesthetic caused me major problems in that area! I was prescribed 2 spoons of lactulose a day and am still taking it because the surgery and stitches made that aspects of things very painful!
10 days after the operation I developed an infection so I called the hospital again who told me to come straight back in and I was re-admitted as an emergency patient. I have to say they were fab-I saw a lovely female consultant gynae who called in the original senior consultant who performed my surgery cause she wanted him to check it as he would know how things were progressing! After 2 days of being on a drip and strong antibiotics I was allowed home and have to see the same consultant again for a check up this week to see how thing are! All in all, I'm very happy with the care I received here in the UK-after all this was free and I know you can pay a fortune in other parts of the world for medical treatment! Never once in all my visits to casualty A&E did any of the doctors not know what my problem was too!
The bruises are slowly going, I am still bleeding slightly but am reassured this is normal! Hope this helps, I will be happy to post more info if anyone likes!
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Hi all of you unfortunate women out there! I had a bartholin's cyst for 2 consecutive years, once every few months. It wasn't until the second year that they actually put in a word catheter rather than just repeatedly lancing it. When they lance it the skin grows back overnight unless you have time to spend your life in a bathtub or doing hot soaks! If this is your first experience... have them put in the word catheter and leave it in as long as you can! (up until the max recommended time.) My doctor took it out after a week & a half, it should have been left in longer. I saw quite a few doctors through the years, until I finally paid good money for a professional OBGYN to see me. They lanced it 4 or 5 times in a 2 month period, and told me about the surgery to remove the actual gland. They steered me to my local hospital which had a charity program. I was 22 years old when this happened, a student and working full time. I had to continue school while I still had a catheter in.... these cysts are horrible and vicious!!! Any who, the OBGYN really did not feel comfortable removing the gland and kept telling me how bloody the procedure was. It took me 3 more occurrences of the cyst before the hospital I moved to told me that there was no cyst, that I'm just so use to having them it was all in my head. They lanced me and lanced me, never got me into surgery, and then told me it was all in my mind. When I asked about surgery they said that the list was long and it would take a long time. I got a 20th opinion and the doctor got me into surgery within 3 days! I had my gland removed and there were 2 cysts formed. This is only 5 days after I was told it was "all in my head." Recovery was horrible, and bloody. I had to stay for an extra hour and a half because they couldn't control my pain. I was raised by older boys who were pretty brutal, so I am a pretty tough cookie and I remember crying just from having to walk to the bathroom and the process of doing so the day after or two days after my surgery. I had the surgery mid august of 2009. I am still pretty sensitive down there, and my sex life has been affected since. The lower quadrant of my labia minora seems to be missing. When I asked my OBGYN about it she said that they were probably trying to make it "symmetrical." I still don't know how I feel about that statement, which is why I am researching deformities post surgery. Although the surgery & recovery was the most horrific thing i've ever experienced, and although I still experience pain a year later, I believe the minor pain is better than dealing with an infected cyst every few months. My advise; Make sure a word catheter is placed the first time you get a cyst or asap. Don't leave the doctor until you are completely satisfied with and understand the information you are told! If you don't feel a doctor is right, get another opinion until you feel you have a doctor who is competent! Good luck ladies, and i'm sorry you're going through this!!!
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Just found this link and am visiting my UK consultant tomorrow so will post more info about my gland removal post op check! I had my gland removed on the 10th March 2010 and have had one check already when I got an infection which is pretty common if you read this link! Many doctors do say that total gland removal is a last resort-they are not usually keen to do this surgery. This link
may be useful-it's a UK specialist. Hope this helps!
***edited by moderator*** web addresses not allowed
may be useful-it's a UK specialist. Hope this helps!
***edited by moderator*** web addresses not allowed
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UPDATE; 4 week post Bartholin gland removal check-up
Hi, it's me from the UK again-have just seen my gynae consultant 4 weeks after having my Bartholin gland removed. He examined me carefully and asked me lots of questions about what pain I am experiencing where and whether it was still draining (yes) or bleeding (no) ect! He asked checked how my bowel movements were as these are often affected and said to keep taking the lactulose medicine if it helps. I told him it is getting slowly better but it still hurts to sit properly, bend and be on my feet for a long time. He said this is all to be expected and that recovery does take a long time and I should rest it for another 3-4 weeks. He said the area was no longer infected, with no collections of blood, although the area is still slightly swollen and tender. So I am to have another sick note certificate for 3-4 weeks for work and then see how it is after that. He also read me my histology report back from the lab which said there was scarring on the mass and gland removed concurrent with long-term chronic infection but no signs of cancer or anything else sinister! I am to see him in June for my 3 month post op checkup, so hopefully things will be even better then! I did pluck up the courage to have a look down there today and it does look pretty ugly and different but the bruising has gone and the Frankenstein stitches!
I am amazed at how many doctors on this forum seem to have told people that this is an easy op and they can be back at work within days-this is in no way concurrent with my experience and what my specialist has said! There was no way I could have gone back to work and even now 4 weeks later I am only just feeling well enough to walk around for an hour or two a day!
Hope this helps!
Hi, it's me from the UK again-have just seen my gynae consultant 4 weeks after having my Bartholin gland removed. He examined me carefully and asked me lots of questions about what pain I am experiencing where and whether it was still draining (yes) or bleeding (no) ect! He asked checked how my bowel movements were as these are often affected and said to keep taking the lactulose medicine if it helps. I told him it is getting slowly better but it still hurts to sit properly, bend and be on my feet for a long time. He said this is all to be expected and that recovery does take a long time and I should rest it for another 3-4 weeks. He said the area was no longer infected, with no collections of blood, although the area is still slightly swollen and tender. So I am to have another sick note certificate for 3-4 weeks for work and then see how it is after that. He also read me my histology report back from the lab which said there was scarring on the mass and gland removed concurrent with long-term chronic infection but no signs of cancer or anything else sinister! I am to see him in June for my 3 month post op checkup, so hopefully things will be even better then! I did pluck up the courage to have a look down there today and it does look pretty ugly and different but the bruising has gone and the Frankenstein stitches!
I am amazed at how many doctors on this forum seem to have told people that this is an easy op and they can be back at work within days-this is in no way concurrent with my experience and what my specialist has said! There was no way I could have gone back to work and even now 4 weeks later I am only just feeling well enough to walk around for an hour or two a day!
Hope this helps!
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o.O
I found this site doing a bit of research - and to be honest it's pretty much convinced me to let nature take it's course!
To explain, I contracted a bartholin's cyst after four years on the contraceptive pill - basically I dried up on the pill, and should never have been on it, and when I was returning to normal it all got blocked!
Anyway, it wasn't infected, and after a few weeks (and some cycling!) it basically all drained apart from a small bit. For two and a half years it swelled from time to time, but always returned to the same small lump. No pain. At Christmas just gone it got infected - I picked up some bacteria from a dirty towel by accident, my god did it hurt!!
Doc said take the antibiotics and have draining surgery after. Once the infection had cleared it was actually even smaller than before. I went to a specialist and they said it's very small, only 2cm, but you can have the gland removed. What the whole gland?? I thought this was a bit OTT. I asked for an alternative, she said she could drain it, simpler surgery but more chance of it coming back. Plus 'a bit of' pain (sounds like a lot from your reports!) and 'one day off work', and no sex for a month.
I decided maybe I should just leave it as it's not causing me bother, and I think as long as I don't go there with dirty hands or towels it's not likely to get infected, at least not often.
Reading these reports kind of affirms to me that perhaps I should not take the risk of months off work, off sex, deformities, other infections and recurrances! I was also concerned as I'm quite young and don't want to have weakened tissue if I have children...
But still, any affirmative comments to help me with my decision would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
I found this site doing a bit of research - and to be honest it's pretty much convinced me to let nature take it's course!
To explain, I contracted a bartholin's cyst after four years on the contraceptive pill - basically I dried up on the pill, and should never have been on it, and when I was returning to normal it all got blocked!
Anyway, it wasn't infected, and after a few weeks (and some cycling!) it basically all drained apart from a small bit. For two and a half years it swelled from time to time, but always returned to the same small lump. No pain. At Christmas just gone it got infected - I picked up some bacteria from a dirty towel by accident, my god did it hurt!!
Doc said take the antibiotics and have draining surgery after. Once the infection had cleared it was actually even smaller than before. I went to a specialist and they said it's very small, only 2cm, but you can have the gland removed. What the whole gland?? I thought this was a bit OTT. I asked for an alternative, she said she could drain it, simpler surgery but more chance of it coming back. Plus 'a bit of' pain (sounds like a lot from your reports!) and 'one day off work', and no sex for a month.
I decided maybe I should just leave it as it's not causing me bother, and I think as long as I don't go there with dirty hands or towels it's not likely to get infected, at least not often.
Reading these reports kind of affirms to me that perhaps I should not take the risk of months off work, off sex, deformities, other infections and recurrances! I was also concerned as I'm quite young and don't want to have weakened tissue if I have children...
But still, any affirmative comments to help me with my decision would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
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i had my cysts removed (yes both sides) on 04/20/10 it has been a week and if i have the butt pillow i can sit for more than 3 min, still cant stand for more than 15 min at a time. the site burns alot most of the time, but never both sides at the same time... kinda weird if you ask me. i have no painkillers so i have to deal with whatever pain there is, i just stand for the most part if there is pain or lay on my side with a pillow folded in half between my thighs so there is no pressure. constipation is a biggie for me, popped out another hemroid that decided to bleed. not fun, i just hope this doesnt take forever to heal. i had one cyst for 21 yrs. i am glad they are gone but if they come back, no way in hell i will do this pain again, sorry. i usually am not a big weenie, but once was enough, its worse than getting your nipples pierced every 5 mins a day.
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I'm glad I stumbled upon this thread because I've recently (5 days ago) been diagnosed with Bartholin's cyst.
Two weeks ago, I had sex with my boyfriend and the following day, my vagina was hurting like hell. Days after, I started to have very difficult time walking and sitting.
One night, I decided to feel up my vagina to check what was hurting. I felt a small lump (about an inch or smaller) near my labia so I went to the OB right away. After my initial check-up and a pap smear, she just prescribed me some Cataflam (for the pain) and then told me to come back for a culture and sensitivity test (which will be done tomorrow, btw). She didn't prescribe me any antibiotics yet because she said she wanted to make sure what type of infection I had.
I'm really scared as to what's going to happen in the next few days (weeks, months, even years) because of what I read here. But I think your stories can really help me prepare for the worst. Although what I have is relatively smaller than most of yours, I don't know what the doctor's going to do with my cyst - whether she's going to cut it and drain the fluid or just prescribe me something a little less painful due to its size. I really hope it's the latter!
Wish me luck! :-/
Two weeks ago, I had sex with my boyfriend and the following day, my vagina was hurting like hell. Days after, I started to have very difficult time walking and sitting.
One night, I decided to feel up my vagina to check what was hurting. I felt a small lump (about an inch or smaller) near my labia so I went to the OB right away. After my initial check-up and a pap smear, she just prescribed me some Cataflam (for the pain) and then told me to come back for a culture and sensitivity test (which will be done tomorrow, btw). She didn't prescribe me any antibiotics yet because she said she wanted to make sure what type of infection I had.
I'm really scared as to what's going to happen in the next few days (weeks, months, even years) because of what I read here. But I think your stories can really help me prepare for the worst. Although what I have is relatively smaller than most of yours, I don't know what the doctor's going to do with my cyst - whether she's going to cut it and drain the fluid or just prescribe me something a little less painful due to its size. I really hope it's the latter!
Wish me luck! :-/
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I just had my gland removed from the left side about a week ago im still bleeding and in soooo much pain im 23 and have had this cyst reoccur about 10 times before they agreed to do the surgery now i wish i hadn't the pain is so intense i can sit or even walk i have children and its so hard to watch them at the same time i just keep hoping each day will get better but so far it has not someone on here said the doctors did not understand the pain well i have to agree the doctors at my hospital think its not that bad well ive given birth naturally and this is no comparisan ive actually laid here in pain crying from this surgery i just hope the end reults were worth it!
any tips on pain?
any tips on pain?
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i would just like to say that i read these posts before i went in to have my bartholin cyst removed and it scared the heck out of me, and now that i have had it removed see that noone ever posts a good experience, and so i decided i would let anyone know that is reading this that i had a great experience in having my cyst removed, and its not as terrible as all these posts would have one believe!
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I had a bartholin abscess about 2 months ago. And i thought it was a boil. So i got it treated for that and just had it drained. But i got it back about 2 days ago because it didnt drain properly. The pain hurt sooo bad last time i couldnt sleep. I want to get surgery to have it removed before it gets painful again. But what are the side affects? Does the surgery work? I dont want to get another one! They hurt!! And.. I dont want to be in pain for long after the surgery.. Im only 15.. And my body does not respond well to pain. :-( ..Please help!
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I've had BOTH artholin glands completely removed. Three days after surgery. the pain was unbearable! Painkillers were useless! 4days after surgery my whole body didn't ache anymore, it was just localised on the operation site. Two weeks later i started bleeding and was rushed to hospital where i lost 1.5liters of blood. I had ot have surgery again as an infection developed inside of me near a blood vessel so the infection erroded away the blodd vessel walls so i started to bleed profusely! I had a blood transfusion.
Im now 6weeks post op. I'm back at work and i still have stitches (disolvable that last 6weeks). I still have pain which almost feels "nervy". Surgeon says im healing fine and upon next visit will investigate this 'nervy' feeling as it could be apart of the healing (as they must cut through nerves to excise the gland). It is a constant annoying evental disturbing pain!
Would i recommend the surgery for anyone else with constant B-Gland ptroblems...HECK YES! But do your reseach and be prepared!
Im now 6weeks post op. I'm back at work and i still have stitches (disolvable that last 6weeks). I still have pain which almost feels "nervy". Surgeon says im healing fine and upon next visit will investigate this 'nervy' feeling as it could be apart of the healing (as they must cut through nerves to excise the gland). It is a constant annoying evental disturbing pain!
Would i recommend the surgery for anyone else with constant B-Gland ptroblems...HECK YES! But do your reseach and be prepared!
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I had the gland and cyst excised on the 20th of this month so about 12 days ago...It was my 3rd cyst in three years and I was sick of it they wanted to do marsupilization but I requested to have it removed all together....I WIN (who is to make that decision for you but you) after having been through it all, lancing, draining, word catheter, I decided to have the gland excised.....
I'm in pain I'm constantly moody because it feels like your WOMAN HOOD has been snatched...I have a very supportive significant other who after all of this still finds me sexy even though we can't be intimate in that way....it helps, but I still have reservations about kissing and things like that because your brain still sends signals the only problem is it's sending signals to a hurt area so my clitoris hood is swollen and left lip is still swollen a little bit, but 12 days ago was much worse....I still feel major tingling, and the numbness is starting to wear off. The Percocets helped but cause constapation so be careful but they do work, because I'm dealing with my recovery pain a little better I have by request switched to Tylenol 3 (see how what I say goes in all of this) The key is to take control of the situation and if you feel like a minor procedure is gonna be a "botch job" go for the gold and just HAVE IT REMOVED, they go in thru your inner labia take out the gland and cyst and stitch u back, you won't even see the scar once you are 100% healed, my scar looks better in just under 2 weeks, that area is soft skin so it gels back together a little easier....Don't fret GET IT REMOVED after all the pain you have endured you owe it to yourself to not have the thing in you anymore
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I'm 25 and I've been dealing with bartholin cysts for about 10yrs now... I've had it lanced in the Obgyn's office over a dozen times, had it marsupilized in a hospital once, and had two caths put in. (neither of which stayed in more than a day before they fell out)
Here lately I've been able to take hot showers and drain it myself but this time I can't get it to drain. Went to the ER today because the le pain was an 8 on a 1-10 scale and my Obgyn's office is closed. The ER doctor said that it sits so low that he was afraid to lance it for fear that because I've been through this repeatedly that I'd just end up back there before the week was over with the same issue. He suggested that I talk to my obgyn about having it removed so that I don't have to deal with this again. I understand that my Obgyn has put off doing the surgery because I've already been through so much c**p when it comes to my female organs. (one thing being a hysterectomy at 23yrs old) I'm calling the Obgyn on Tuesday (today is Saturday and Monday is President's Day) and hopefully she'll be able to get me in and will see things my way. Fingers crossed. %-)
-Natasha
Here lately I've been able to take hot showers and drain it myself but this time I can't get it to drain. Went to the ER today because the le pain was an 8 on a 1-10 scale and my Obgyn's office is closed. The ER doctor said that it sits so low that he was afraid to lance it for fear that because I've been through this repeatedly that I'd just end up back there before the week was over with the same issue. He suggested that I talk to my obgyn about having it removed so that I don't have to deal with this again. I understand that my Obgyn has put off doing the surgery because I've already been through so much c**p when it comes to my female organs. (one thing being a hysterectomy at 23yrs old) I'm calling the Obgyn on Tuesday (today is Saturday and Monday is President's Day) and hopefully she'll be able to get me in and will see things my way. Fingers crossed. %-)
-Natasha
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i had a barthloin cyst they drained it and placed a catheter in feels better having the infection gone well i hope its gone but its still really painful just wondered if this is normal after they lance it and place a catheter in its not super swollen and hurts and there is some discharge like white creamish clear colored
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