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had it up to here with recurrent labial cyst!!

16 replies

MrsH99 · 24/12/2019 19:42

Just wondering if anyone else has had any experience with recurrent sebaceous cyst on their labia and if anyone has had any luck at finally getting them to go away for good?

Today, I've just had my third one of these evil bastards lanced. That's three in three years I've had to have cut into and drained - one for every year the last three years. The previous two I had grew quite slowly but this one came on quickly, in a matter of weeks although I guess if it was small enough I wouldn't have noticed it until it started getting painful and uncomfortable in the last few weeks.

It's right inside my 'lip' if you get my meaning so apparently that means it's definitely not a bartholin's cyst as it's in the completely wrong place to be a bartholin's and I actually do believe them now when they say that (at first I wasn't so sure). Although they seem to be treating them the same way as a bartholin's as I have a Word cathered in-situ right now (which is awkward as hell and I think it's going to fall out).

I asked today if they were sure there wasn't anything sinister causing these cysts to recur and got a flat 'no definitely not anything sinister' so that's not really a concern (and I definitely don't want to think about it as with the last cyst I had I went through an awful phase where I was convinced I had vulval cancer which even just the thought of truly terrified me). What does concern me however is that apparently if it recurs again, for a fourth time, I will need to be put to sleep so they can make a bigger incision and do what basically sounds very similar, if not the same, to a marsupilisation of a bartholin's cyst (stitching a little pouch so it can continually drain - or something like that). However, that will leave a much bigger scar right inside my labia which horrifies me. My confidence is already rock bottom - DH used to like going down on me but since I had the first cyst I won't let him do that anymore because the scar from the previous two incisions is noticeable and I can't stand the thought of his tongue feeling how scarred it is down there. If that's how I feel about the admittedly small but still noticeable scar I already have, I can't imagine how bad I'll feel about a bigger long scar down there.

I know in the grand scheme of things it could really be a lot worse, it's not like a life-threatening condition, but at the same time it is really starting to destroy my confidence and my happiness having these cysts continually recur and then having to go through the pain of having them lanced. It's like a waiting game - they get lanced and then you wait with baited breath for the swelling to recur which inevitably it always does, then comes the pain and the discomfort from the swelling and then you have a whole new waiting game knowing you have the excruciating pain of having to submit myself to essentially have my vagina cut into.

If anyone else has had this problem and could maybe give me any advice or if they had any luck in finally getting rid of them (or maybe even just some perspective) I'd love to hear it so I don't feel quite so down.

OP posts:
TheMostHappy · 24/12/2019 19:46

I don't but it sounds horrific and I really feel for you. I hope someone else with some helpful advice / experience comes along shortly.

MrsH99 · 24/12/2019 19:49

Thank you Star

OP posts:
Pinnacular · 24/12/2019 20:09

I don't have the problem, but just wondered if you're using coconut oil there in any form? I mention it as coconut oil gives me big cysts wherever I use it on my body.

BarbaraFromOopNorth · 24/12/2019 20:18

I've had a Bartholin's cyst various times. Was in hospital with it at one point. Was pretty hideous.

The last time it came up the GP advised me to sit in a shallow bath of warm water with a few drops of eucalyptus oil. I did this a few days on the trot and it went back to normal.

Try eucalyptus oil. It's pretty bloody amazing for cuts, grazes and infected boils. Grin

VivaLeBeaver · 24/12/2019 20:23

Are they getting the cyst sac out?

My extensive experience of watching Dr Pimple Popper videos makes me think this is vital to prevent the sac filling up again?

MrsH99 · 24/12/2019 20:36

I don't use coconut oil. I have used various other things on it at times in the past though - epsom salt, witch hazel, calamine lotion - you name it, I've tried it although I stopped putting anything on it some time ago as I didn't think it was making a difference.

I might try the eucalyptus oil though that you suggested - I have done the baths in shallow water a few times in the past. I used to put a few drops of tea tree oil in as I'd heard that was good.

I'm not sure about the cyst sac. From what I do know of these cysts I know they need to get rid of the cyst wall or it will recur so I'm not sure if they're just not being drained properly. If it happens for a fourth time i'm going to write down a list of questions I want to ask before I go as everytime I've had it drained I forget all the questions I want to ask as I'm so overwhelmed by it all.

OP posts:
pinkstar01 · 24/12/2019 21:03

Do you let your pubic hair grow out? I used to get them until I got laser hair removal down there which thinned the existing hair by a ton and got rid of a lot of extra follicles and haven't had one since! Over 10 years now

MrsH99 · 24/12/2019 21:24

I shave it (not like right down til it's bare, just kind of like a trim haha) and have done for years now. Was it expensive to get laser hair removal down there? I hope this isn't a TMI question but does laser hair removal down there mean that you're like totally smooth down there? No pubic hair at all?

OP posts:
pinkstar01 · 24/12/2019 21:28

No definitely not smooth although if you have enough sessions you probably could get close! I had a lot of hair and shaving used to make things worse most of the time due to ingrown hairs, laser was the best option for me as the hair thinned out and now I just have softer fuzz that is much easier to manage. I had mine done 10 years ago and back then it was ££ but still doable so it should be a lot more affordable now?

Biancadelrioisback · 24/12/2019 21:32

Okay, so I get these all the time. I think. I've never been to a drs as they will appear quite quickly and go down after a week or two. Very uncomfortable but I probably get about 5 or 6 a year? Have had them for ages too. I never really gave them much thought and just thought it was normal...

Gazelda · 24/12/2019 21:57

I've had a bartholin cyst in the past, and now have another lump that keeps coming up. It lingers for a week or two then disappears. I presumed it was another bartholin, maybe I should get it checked out.

MrsH99 · 24/12/2019 22:13

The ones I have don't disappear no matter how long you leave them. The second one I had I left for about six months. If I leave them they just keep getting bigger and then eventually hurt so bad I can barely sit down. I wish the ones I get would disappear.

OP posts:
Le1890 · 25/12/2019 04:19

Sounds awful for you.

I’ve had recurrent bartholin gland cyst in the past. Draining it would only work for a bit. I have had the minor surgery, being put to sleep and marsupialization. In my case has been best thing we not had it back in 6 years.

Hope this helps

Babysharkdoodoodood · 25/12/2019 04:30

I used to get these a lot. Hydradenitis suppuravita I think it's called. I've been on low dose antibiotics for about 6 months now and haven't had a reoccurrence since.

MrsH99 · 25/12/2019 10:10

I think if it comes back again I will probably need to think about the marsupilisation although I'm not keen because the scar will be in a rather more obvious place with this not being a bartholin's.

@babyshark - I've never heard of that but am away to google it now lol. My GPs don't seem to be the slightest bit concerned or bothered even though I've told them how much these cysts bother me. I get the impression I'm just supposed to live in this merry-go-round of waiting for another one and then submitting myself to get it cut open again and not ask any questions about why it's happening or how it could be prevented.

OP posts:
Northernsoullover · 25/12/2019 10:14

I was going to say it sounds like HS. It might not be but at least now you can ask them to rule it out (or in)

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