Bartholin's cyst now infected. Any experience of this?

[Gincompetent]

I am in so much pain, I can't sit easily, it's sore to walk and just generally sore all the time.

I've had the cyst for a few years but it's never given me any bother (had it checked at the time by gynae though, as it was the size of a large grape, and she said it was best to leave it as is if not troubling me).

However, it's grown rapidly over the past 2 days - to the size of an egg! - and become so painful, so I went to the GP this morning and she's given me antibiotics and said if it doesn't feel better by Friday morning I've to go back to be sent to hospital. I had a temperature at the GP and have been feeling a bit unwell for the last couple of days so I guess this is the reason.

Has anyone experienced this?

Please tell me it will be ok!!

Grim. Don't try and tough it out in hospital. Ask for all the painkillers.

It may seem daunting now but you really are in the best place. It's so painful and if it is the size of a golf ball as mine was  then the surgeon needs to work their magic. You will be feeling so much better b soon

Oh I hope you get treated very soon Gin, you must be in absolute agony, you poor soul!

As for your DH, he needs to be sent a Black Dot!

Celia the cyst is better than Dave.
My mate had a heamorroid we called Harriet - incase she needed to mention it in public!

You poor thing! I hope they get it out quickly and with as little discomfort as possible.

I have a bloody annoying one. It appears about once a year, grows over a few weeks and then just at the point I'm thinking "ooh, it's gonna burst!" It tucks itself away again.

Thanks @AdaColeman @FlibbertyGiblets @billybullshitterz1

Gubbing all the pain killers I can! Just heard the oncall doc is in theatre. Could be waiting (and pacing) a while. Wish I could lie down!!

Ooof, you poor thing, that sounds so painful 😢 Really hope it gets sorted soon 💐

I think mine was genuinely more painful that birthing... i was all set for theatre - a dr came and asked for a final examination before theatre and as he touched me it just exploded 🙈🙈 the relief was instant!!!! I still went to theatre tho to have it cleaned properly cus it was deep.. im not sure how it popped etc but it found its way out! Feel better soon OP

Thanks all

And  @Justanothernamechange2

I am really looking forward to this instant relief you all speak of. Ibuprofen and paracetamol aren't really cutting it any more!

Will report back. I'm in 2 minds about how I'd feel about a giant explosion when I'm awake! 🙈 This thing will have its own postcode soon!

@Justanothernamechange2 that was meant to have a 😱

My two were both about the size of a tangerine. I grow 'em big. I am not proud of this. Both were drained under GA (which was bliss, as I stopped being able to feel them when they put me under)

The cyst happens when a gland gets blocked and the fluid the gland produces that is meant to provide lubrication when required (ahem) can't get out. Some get infected, some don't. If surgery is needed, they actually marsupialize them them, which means once they're drained, they stitch them with a small open hole so that the gland can continue to drain.

Thanks @QuantumWeatherButterfly

I've had the cyst for years, just a wee grape sized thing but fairly noticeable as a lump under the skin.

I had no idea - until now - that they could get infected in this way though. It's so grim. To add insult to injury, Aunt Flo also decided to show her ugly face last night.

I was so annoyed about that but I guess in Gyn a bit of bleeding is the norm!

Poor you OP that sounds seriously painful & like the ABs aren't doing much.

Might be worth trying a (deep) hot bath with Epsom Salts in it. Epsom salts are made from magnesium sulphate which is know to draw out pus etc (another sporner here).

Failing that sounds like you need to get back to the Drs ASAP. 

Just saw a junior doc then a Reg. Reg recommended the surgery under GA as it's so big and deep.

She's away to put me on the list for this afternoon. The end is in sight!!!

Thanks all for your company over the last hour or 2, it helped!

Good luck op.

No body wants a “Dave” hanging on.

Hope it goes well.

Hopefully you’ll be feeling better by this evening op.

Good to hear that you have a treatment plan now, you will feel that you are making some progress.
Keep your pecker up, not too long now!

Pecker?! it’s a testicle not a penis!



'Pecker' that's just given me a laugh!
The Reg literally been called back to theatre and now it all seems uncertain. Dammit!

Best of luck Dave  hope you get the relief you need ASAP!

Did a laugh face but it didn't post! Boo

Really hope you're seen today! It is truly awful. Yes, I also had my first cyst for years until it abscessed suddenly for apparently no reason. The second one came up and went bad within about a month. Just unlucky, I suppose.

So..
Dave is with us for another night! The case the Reg got called away for was a complex one so theatre would be tied up all afternoon.

It's not an emergency (they've clearly never felt the fanny daggers!) so the Consultant then came to have a look (joy!) but also agreed that it was too big and deep for local, so I've to come back in the morning and I'm first on the theatre list

🤞🤞🤞

Hope you manage to get some rest tonight Dave x

Oh Jeez! At least you can go home, are you just going to sit in a hot bath from now until the morning?