Hey,
I'm sat in bed writing this after having surgery for an abscessed bartholin's cyst via marsupialisation under GA. I can only speak of my experience of this specific surgery as I believe this isn't the only surgery for a bartholin cyst. I also had an abscessed cyst hence my surgery.
I've had my cyst for a year and it never caused any problems until now.
Went to A&E on Mon with severe enlargement of the cyst and infection symptoms - fever and nausea. Sent home with antibiotics. That night became more poorly and in so much more pain down there, went to A&E Tues and admitted to gyno ward for emergency surgery the next day under GA (Wednesday).
They explained the procedure to me but google explains it better. Woke up after GA feeling numbed and great, some soreness down there. Still saw a lump and swelling down there so I was frightened but they do pack the area during surgery, which they explained this is what this was as I believe the abscess drains gradually. Went home approx 8 hours later once they knew I could urinate and eatthey sent me home with 7 day antibiotics and codeine for pain.
Thursday-Friday were OK, lots of pain down there, very much bed bound in the sense I felt very washed out and too sore to walk or sit on a chair. Only laying in bed watching netflix and taking the odd warm sitz bath to keep the area clean, as soap can't get into the wound.
Saturday-Sunday (today) hell with the wound. Every time I urinate it seeps into the open wound and causes it to burn like hell. Making my urine less acidic by staying hydrated has helped a little bit with this. I am still bed bound because walking puts too much strain on that area. The pain is more like a numb soreness? Like a 4/10 on the pain scale. Still can't wear underwear or sit on a chair for a long period of time. No fatigue though.
The lump has shrunk substantially and is barely there anymore which is good so I suppose that means the surgery was a success despite this discomfort.
Hope you're OK whatever you end up doing.