Bartholins cyst

[NearlyBaked]

Posting here for the extensive knowledge of the sporner gang!

I have a Bartholins cyst and 2 rounds of antibiotics have done very little, so I’ve been referred for marsupialisation.

Would anyone care to share an honest review of their recovery experience with me?

Can I do anything with it in the meantime?
I am taking heavy duty painkillers and having my little baths, is there anything I can put on it to take the awful dry/stinging/stabbing feeling off a bit?

I had one removed years ago under sedation, but not Marsupialisation, I just had a couple of dissolvable stitches. and a painkilling suppository, I found the suppository the most uncomfortable aspect of the whole procedure. I now get boils and sores due to peri-menopause and find that if I have a boil then Dr Wollf's vagisan gives slight relief as it stops the chaffing as it's a bit like vaseline.

Hold on a sec. How do you know boils and sores are due to perimenopause? I need to know that too!

I had a small one, blasted with the shower as hot as I could handle.

Dabbed surgical spirit, very carefully, on it.

It kind of went purple and had a head on it.

Got DH to pierce and squeeze it.
Omfg it hurt like hell I may have screamed and exploded quite spectacularly.

More surgical spirit .

So far, so good.

If you don't want DIY surgery, try germolene cream, it has anaesthetic in it.

I had one, soaked in a hot epsom salts bath and next morning it burst in the shower, oh the relief... and the pus!

Marsupialisation? Is that where they turn you into a kangaroo?

Seems a big leap step to me, op.

How do you know boils and sores are due to perimenopause?

Good question - in my case, it led to a diagnosis of T2 diabetes. Apparently they are more common with that. But I am also peri, and they definitely seem to crop up when premenstrual, however randomly that now happens, so i reckon there is also a hormonal link.

Mine has been rumbling on for about a month and good lord this morning it has gone purple - does this mean it’s going to burst?! I don’t care how it ends at this point I just want it gone!

We need a photo to accurately advise you OP 🙂

Well because in my case I seem to have become drier than the Sahara desert and chafing and rubbing seems to occur from even the gentlest of walking leading to the area becoming inflamed or a large boil appearing, it's a joy, I I have found using Balance Activ Soothing cream seems to keep them at bay.

Grim

I've had a bunch of Bartholin's cysts and abscesses. 3x surgery with marsupilisation, 1x word catheter, 1x lanced under local until they finally removed the gland entirely. This doesn't include the ones I caught early enough and dealt with myself.

Recovery is fine. Wear loose clothing after, no jeans, nothing tight, no underwear if possible. Relief was pretty much immediate, so though sore for a day or two, nothing compared to the pain of the abscess.

In the meantime, sitz bath as hot as you can take it, sit on a hot water bottle, try not to poke it, painkillers if they help (didn't touch it for me, so I didn't bother taking any).

Good luck!

Hello welcome to Sporner Corner

Ah that was in response to the poster who called asking for a picture grim. Have you been here before?!

No pic I’m afraid, I’m sure it would violate a few internet policies due to location.

I know where I am, it was the users name and asking for a picture I found 'grim' as I presumed maybe wrongly that it was a male poster asking for a picture as Bartholin Cysts are only found in one particular place!

I had one years ago, similar to you loads of antibiotics, in the end I went to a and e and they admitted me. The relief of having it taken out was indescribable, they did the marsupialisation (did not know that was the word) best bit was when they pulled the packing out the day after like a magician pulling those rows of handkerchiefs out! I was off work for a little bit as I could not drive. Bit worried when I first went for a wee but was advised to pour water on myself to dilute the wee. Even now and it must be 20 years later I sometimes get a little twinge where it was when I get sexually aroused assume when the gland goes into operation but never develops into anything boil or cyst wise.

Oh Christ, I hadn’t cottoned on to that. Please, forgive me for being a bit abrasive. Can I blame the drugs?

IT BLOODY BURST! Oh happy day.

Now what? Is it over or do I still need to see a doctor?

Keep it clean and keep an eye on it. If it clears up, happy days indeed. If it refills/flares up, then GP.

Keep having hot salty baths, Epsom salts if possible, this will draw the infection out, do it morning & night if you can. Speak to your doctor because they may still want to refer you or give you antibiotics.

Was it glorious when it popped?

I was kinda hoping for a photo of the gunk 🙈

I had an abscess in my breast after DD was born and had it removed under GA. The wound was left open, not stitched as, apparently, that reduces the likelihood of it reforming and of infection.
Not quite the same thing, but similar.
It healed up ok but I have a scar on my left nipple (should you ever need to identify my body )

Glad it resolved. I had mine surgically removed after we went through a few rounds of filling and draining (by the doc). For me, the recovery pain from removal was worse than postpartum with episiotomy.

Many years ago I had one which grew and grew and was bloody painful. I was wriggling around as I was sitting and it burst one day. Fabulous/repulsive all at once. The relief was immense. Just made sure I kept it very clean. Had no antibiotics and no subsequent problems thank heavens

I've had two. Both marsupialised. Recovery was totally fine, I felt pretty much normal straight away.

Glad it's burst on its own, but do keep a close eye on it - the reason for marsupialisation is to prevent them just closing and refilling, which is a risk with both lancing and natural bursts. If you think it's refilling, get back on the list for surgery ASAP, as now it's been open the risk of infection is higher.