Recurring Bartholin Cyst, Don't Know Where to Go From Here
Posted , 2 users are following.
I don't know if anyone will really see this or if anything will come of it, but to be completely honest I'm just desperate.
I'm a 24 year old female and I've been dealing with a recurring Bartholin cyst on my left Bartholin gland for about a year and a half now. I've had it drained countless times, taken antibiotics after every time it's been drained, and recently had two marsupializations and nothing has kept the cyst from coming back and getting more and more aggressive each time. The last time I had a cyst drained and a marsupialization done, they sent cultures from the cyst off to be tested. My doctor said that the cyst involves the bacteria "neisseria flavescens," which I know nothing about and am finding hard to research so I'm just including it honestly hoping maybe someone else can give me more information. Her solution is to keep me on the antibiotic I've been repeatedly prescribed throughout this whole process (Bactrim) to hope that it takes care of it. However, it hasn't taken care of it the countless other times I've taken it so I am doubtful it will work this time.
I am in the Dallas area and am hoping to find a new doctor to get a second opinion from and help me with this issue. Unless there's a different antibiotic that I can try or a different minor procedure that might work better, I'm getting the sinking feeling that removing the gland is my only choice. However, I've read multiple accounts of this being an extremely painful experience with a long recovery time and I want to get more opinions and exhaust all options before resorting to it.
If anyone else has had this issue or has known someone with this issue and knows of a doctor or specialist they can recommend, please please let me know.
0 likes, 3 replies
emma8753 raimedale
Posted
Hi,
First of all, I am sorry that you too have to through this. I know it is hard. I am 29 and suffering from this problem myself for about 2 years now and it has affected every aspect of my life. So far I've had two Word catheters on my right side. I also had two abscesses while I still had those catheters inserted, which is crazy. Sadly, I also have cysts on my left side. I had 3 so far but each time they are worse.
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Anyways, I took the 2nd catheter out in the end of August 2022 and just in the beginning of January I had an abscess again. This was my 6th abscess on the right side from January 2022. I live in Sweden and this time I did not go to emergency to have it opened and drained because I found a clinic in Spain that does a CO2 laser procedure for these cysts/abscesses. I had my flight tickets purchased and an emergency appointment ready with the doctor. Unfortunately, the abscess opened on the evening. I was supposed to go to Spain the next day. Sadly, they can only do the laser when you actually have a cyst or an abscess. I was also told that the bigger it is, the better for the doctor because then she/he can better see the walls of the cyst. Anyways, I want to try this procedure before I do marsupialization. Maybe it will be a solution for me. Even if I won't have another abscess for a year or so after the laser, I will be glad that I've tried it. But I need to get to Spain first which frightens me, considering that I will have to endure a 4 hour flight with an abscess.... So I am anxiously waiting for my 7th or so abscess...
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I know that there are doctors in the US that do this treatment. If I am not mistaken one doctor is located in Florida and his name is David Ghozland. Another's name is Kevin Stepp and I think he is in NY. I don't know much about the medical system in the US and consequently the costs of such a procedure. Maybe you can find it out. I just wanted to share that there are doctors in your country who do such a procedure which hopefully you could try before deciding to remove the gland.
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I do wish I could help you more than this... I am hopeless myself as I realise that this will be a health issue probably for a lifetime since there's no effective way to treat this problem. We can only do our best to stay strong and keep on fighting ❤️
raimedale emma8753
Posted
Hi!
Thanks for responding, and I'm so sorry you're going through this as well. And on both sides, I can imagine that's just absolutely horrible.
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I've heard a bit about the CO2 procedures Dr. Ghozland does but haven't done in depth research. I didn't realize that you have to have an active abscess in order for them to do the procedure. It makes sense, but it definitely makes it more difficult for people who don't have access to that procedure in their area of residence. I think that's what makes a gland removal unfortunately a more likely choice, since that could be a for sure thing. But I truly am hoping that by some miracle I don't have to resort to that.
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It's both comforting and saddening to know that there are so many others who have dealt with this and are continually dealing with this. I hope and pray you're able to make progress somehow and gain some relief soon, thanks so much for your kind words.
emma8753 raimedale
Posted
Thank you too for your kind words. I do hope that you can find a way out of this somehow. I wouldn't wish this on any woman. And yes, I got a bit unfortunate to have this issue on both glands. The cyst on the left side isn't too bad yet. I pray that it always remains like this... It is the abscess on the right side that I need to find some fix for.
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Regarding the CO2 laser, you need to have a cyst or an abscess because what they do is that they vaporise the walls of that cyst. Otherwise, they would only see a gland which they leave unaffected during the procedure. There are videos on Youtube even on Dr. Ghozland's channel. I can't watch them because I am too sensitive to see such things.
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It is not a miracle procedure though because the Bartholin cyst can come back. However, I actually found a woman through Google reviews of the clinic in Spain who did this procedure and I even met with her because she was very kind to go with me to the first consultation with the doctor back in October to help me communicate since I don't speak Spanish. She hasn't had it for a year and a half after she did the laser. This gives me some hope and that's why I am determined to try it. It does not involve stitching because the cut with a laser is very small. Besides, it seems like the only procedure that gets a bit more closer to targeting the root of the problem.
I read that it can be done the 2nd time which gives even a greater guarantee that it will not reoccur.
I wish that this procedure was available in public hospitals as another option to try.