I have been suffering fromt his problem for 6 years now. I have had around 9 procedures done. I've tried everything I can think of. My doctors just look at me like they don't understand. Is there any way to have this problem permanently solved. It is to the point that sitting, standing, walking and even having sex is painful and uncomfortable all the time now. The gland has been swollen to the size of a large orange every since the last procedure. All i'm told is come back when you need it lanced again.

Listen, I am sooo sick of this cyst issue. My first one happened in 1998 (at 22). I had not the slightest clue what was going on and I had just moved a couple of months before and had to use the city hospital in which it took 9 hours to be seen and get the problem rectified. I was told gonorreha or mucus build up from sexual lubrication was the culprit --which it happened to be mucus.


Today I know when it is going to happen because during arousal I can feel light sensations on the left side, like something fighting to get through.


Last year my 4th one resurfaced. I've been informing my mother --and like other family and friends, they don't know what the situation is neither. According to my grandmother, i'm not washing properly. Go figure! As a result of my mother's advise (she's also a nurse) I used benadine to help me with sitz baths. I didn't know why all of a sudden my labia started to enlarge over the next few days. So now I was dealing with a bartholin cyst and an enlarged, hard swollen, round ball the size of 4 chicken gizzards. I thought I had grown a testicle! My whole left side was gross and enflamed. It freaked my husband out. I couldn't move, and he had to help me use the bathroom and wash. At times I had a large plastic bowl as a bed pan because I couldn't walk. I used a hot water bottle on it, ice and I took so many over the counter pain relievers that I thought my kidneys would go into shock.


I thought of everything from detergent to soap, and diet. But last year the doctor said that I was allergic to benadine and the culprit for the cyst was e coli. She said that if it resurfaced that I could have it taken out surgically and to do it before I get pregnant. I only need one gland for lubrication. Well guess what? The cyst is back at age 31-- the left side as usual.

The second time I had it drained was in the er and I was put to sleep. The 4th time I almost kicked my doctor (not on purpose) because I have a fear of needles near my vagina.

So if there's someone who can tell me how to calm my nerves while on the table, i'm listening. Will they do local anesthesia if I go to the gyn's office? Tonight, taking 2 motrin and laying low has cut the discomfort tremendously. I couldn't stand and cook so i've eaten cereal until my husband was able to do it.

[spam]

I have a blocked Bartholin's gland as well. I went to my gyno and we first tried the word catheter and that didn't work. We then tried surgery where she made an opening and sewed back the edges to try to keep the gland open so liquid could pass through. This worked for about a month, and it has just filled back up again. I am now in the process of trying to figure out an alternative method. Because it's a blockage, I'm thinking maybe I should see an accupunture person. I'm also trying to change my diet to be a vegan hoping that may help, I've stopped drinking coffee, and I'm going to see a homeopathist. I just started investigating this alternative method so I post back if it works.

I had a bartholins cyst (left side) removed about three years ago and now I think I have another one but this time on the right side.
What are the chances of that?

For those of you who don't want to read the entire passage, here are some pointers from my experiences.
1.)Do your own research using a filter for educational and governmental sites!
2.)If you suspect you have a cyst, make sure the doctors office carries the word catheter. You're better off going to an OBGYN.
2.) Make sure that a culture is taken, that way you'll be given the proper treatment.
3.) Write down any questions you have, don't let the doctor leave the room until they are answered!

There is no guarantee the cyst/blockage won't come back, but these pointers will keep you from unnecessary run around, waste of money and unnecessary pain! I feel like doctors don't know enough, I wish there was more information on preventative measures! The lancing gets old.. my experience with the Bartholin's cysts have made me depressed, anxious, frustrated, and a bit traumatized. I've never experienced anything more painful, awkward, and embarrassing than this. I feel the only way out is to get the gland removed. I fear that it will happen in the other gland too, and am so sorry for anyone that's happened to!!! One problem at a time, for this one problem will consume you!

Oh boy, where to start... I'm 23 years old and have had reoccurring flare ups and infections for the past two years. I believe I am on my 8th time around as of a couple days ago. The first two times I had the abscess, I was treated by antibiotic. I had an infection while in Mexico, and it was a horrific experience. My cyst was the size of a golf ball, and the medical practice in Mexico is not up to par, I even went to an "Ameri-med" clinic!

I went to a doctor as soon as I arrived back to South Carolina. The doctor examined me, and put me on an antibiotic and, "hot soaks". Excuse my sarcasm, I guess I've just been dealing with this for so long that the hot soak method seems like a joke to me. I have found that they seem to help while the cyst is still small though. Doctors didn't diagnose me with anything but a bacterial infection until the third time I had the abscess about 3 months later. This is the first time they actually lanced the abscess, and it was an experience that I'll regrettably never forget!!! I have a high tolerance for pain, and they had me crawling up the table, (to say the least.) Looking back now, I believe the tremendous pain was due to the severity of infection. They wanted to insert a word catheter, but didn't have them in stock so they used sterile strip gauze to keep the infection draining. It came back maybe a month or two later, so I did some research and went directly to a specialist. Keep in mind that I did not have health insurance, and supported myself while taking classes to get into nursing! I told the first doc I spoke with at the OBGYN about my previous experience, and that I wanted to be treated somewhere that was fully educated on the situation and who had the supplies, (word cath.) to care for it correctly. That office disregarded my request for the word catheter. They lanced me 3 different times in that office, once within a week of another!

The incisions were made on the inner wall of my canal, into my left labia majora where the infection was. It was not possible to spend enough time in the bath tub or with hot compresses, the incision would close over night. I mentioned the word catheter once more, and even just the use of sterile gauze, something to keep the site open to drain, and again my request dismissed!!! How frustrating.. Again the site closed, and the cyst continued to fill. While all of this is going on, they had me on the wrong antibiotic. I had to take the initiative to ask for a culture, finally they changed the antibiotic to metronidazole, (Flagyl). I called the office as frustrated as I think I have ever been, and asked them about the word catheter. I asked if they had them in stock, and she said yes. I lost it. I started bawling my eyes out, asking her why, why hasn't anyone used this on me, after my repeated request!!!? The office did not lance me again, instead they sent me to a hospital / woman's clinic where I could get charity health insurance.

During my first visit at St. Joseph Mercy Woman's Clinic, they inserted a word catheter. I kept this in for a week, and went back to the doc. They wanted to remove it, and I explained to the doctor that in my research I learned it was suppose to stay in for 2-6 weeks. He insisted that a week was long enough. It's been 4 months, and it's back . I was told that I needed to have the gland removed, but it couldn't be done while there was infection. Not only did it have to be done while there was NO infection, but the gland had to be inflamed because it was too small to see. Anyone who's had this cyst knows how quickly the cyst fills and becomes infected, at least I think. When I confirmed the cyst was back, I went to the Emergency room because my OB office was closed. The doctor lanced it, but couldn't get anything out. He told me the infection was too deep and there was too much scar tissue. I'm on an antibiotic now, and bought myself a moist heating pad so I didn't have to be wrinkly from the tub or make tons of trips to the sink/microwave. I'm taking 2-3 showers a day to keep clean and for extra moist heat. I just want the gland removed, I don't care if I have to use KY jelly for the rest of my life... this cyst affects every aspect of my life when it comes around, and even when it doesn't. It affects my psychologically and emotionally. I am only 23, I should be in my prime!!!

Ms. Sunshine,

I just had my gland removed after 12 years of trouble. I suggest you wee a gynocologist/oncologist. They seem to have the most experience dealing with these things. Having this out is the best decision I have ever made. I am still recovering, but feel tons better than before surgery. Dr. said it would be 4 to 6 weeks before I should have sex. It is only 2 weeks and 4 days since the surgery and I will see the Dr on 8/21. Like you, I am more than happy to use the KY jelly just to not have to put up with this anymore. Best of luck to you.

This is the THIRD time this thing has abscessed in 2 1/2 months. I've decided to try to take this one on myself. The first two abscesses occurred May 26th and then again like June 2nd or so. I paid out about $400 out of pocket - that's WITH good insurance, mind you - to have it lanced twice at an urgent care clinic, where they also gave me THREE antibiotic shots and 2 broad spectrum antibiotic prescriptions to take concurrently. I followed up with a gynecologist, who wanted to wait 1 month to see if it would shrink more before taking the next step (which, at this point, I'm going to INSIST on removal of the gland, I don't care what he says). Well, I postponed my follow up, which I'm now regretting because this thing came back with a VENGEANCE. I noticed it this past weekend, about the size of an almond I guess, and has painfully grown every day since - tonight it's at the size of a small egg. I frankly don't have the money to go through the whole drainage/antibiotic shots and scripts thing this time around, as I had "life" happen and unexpected expenses have come up to where going to urgent care would mean not fixing the CV joint on my car and no transportation and eating ramen noodles every meal for the next month or longer. SO........I'm trying to get this thing to burst on it's own.

I've been doing hot sitz baths 2x daily since Sunday, adding epsom salts yesterday and starting with the hot/cold/hot/cold epsom-soaked compresses tonight. I'm taking 2 naproxen every two hours along with 2 tylenols every 4-6 hours (I checked with our center physician at my work, who said this was fine, but to not take more than the recommended dosages on either. She also said she'd write me an Rx for something stronger, but she no longer has a DEA number or something...she herself has never treated one, but said she's familiar with them and recommended the sitz baths/compresses. She said she couldn't predict how long it would take to start draining on it's own, but she made me promise if it got much bigger/any more painful that I would go have it lanced despite the financial burden).

My question specifically - how long can I expect to continue this "treatment" until this bursts??? Cuz honestly, if it's going to be more than 3 more days, I'm gonna suck it up and go get this thing lanced again. Also - how will I know when it's happening? I have felt some random but sharp stabby achy pains in the area as I was walking around WalMart tonight - is that a sign it's getting close??? I still can see no obvious "head", it's just all hard and big and starting to make it difficult to pee. I'm tempted to slice it open myself, to be quite honest. I understand how very dangerous it would be to do this, but I am curious - has anyone ever sliced or lanced their own cyst in desperation?

I just want to know when I can expect this to happen, and how will I know that it's coming or happening???

I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. Hang in there, ladies!!!

please don't lance yourself. you can develop scar tissue and have further complications.

I know this is hell. I've been suffering for years but you really should not dare attempt any procedure on your own. My dr. told me the reason they don't like to operate/remove the gland is because dr.'s call it 'the little bloodiest' surgery. The gland is connected to lots of blood vessels and it's a very bloody and potentially harmful surgery.

Anyway, I am with everybody. This is by far the most painful experiences of my life.

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