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Bartholin gland removal

Posted , 57 users are following.

rachel84988
rachel84988

Hi everyone.

Just wondering had anyone had their bartholin gland removed? I'm am currently on abscess number 16. 16th in 2years. My last 2 burst just over a week ago and it's now back again. I've bee. Referred to a&e by my doctor but I am in so much pain right now I can't even get up from bed to make it to the hospital. I had my shower getting ready to go but the pain was to much I couldn't even get dressed from the waist down. I know when it gets this painful it's nearly time to burst but I can't eve. Get up to pee and I'm about to burst here hahaha. So just wondering who has had the gland removed as its something I want to enquire about now. It's getting to much and completely interfering with my life. I've had enough sad

0 likes, 99 replies

99 Replies

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  • diane8721
    diane8721 rachel84988

    Posted

    I had a bartholin gland removed 2 weeks ago.  I went in for the surgery then while in recovery went back in for a second time because I was bleeding. Stayed in the hospital for a couple of days. I am taking sitz baths twice a day and basically resting.  I am still spotting and have some discharge so have to wear pads.  I am going back to the doctor tomorrow for a followup but wondered how long people dealt with spotting or discharge?  The pain is less and I can sit better but I feel like this recovery time is going to be longer than I had hoped. Still not much energy etc. Very discouraged.  Any thoughts???
    • aimee52276
      aimee52276 diane8721

      Posted

      Hi Diane8721,

      Bleeding/spotting/weeping of the wound can last until the wound is healed. It heals from the inside out, and can take about 4 to 6 weeks before it stops.

      Don't be discouraged, it is a long process, but worth it when all is said and done. Being able to sit at 2 weeks post op, is amazing. I think you're doing great! Just don't push it, get the rest that you need....and let it heal.

    • diane8721
      diane8721 aimee52276

      Posted

      Thanks so much for your words of encouragement.  It has been more than I expected but good to hear that others have been in the same situation. Just have to be patient now.  Again appreciate your quick reply.
  • laura58118
    laura58118 rachel84988

    Posted

    Marsupialization has a high success rate, but it does not work for everyone. I just posted my experience of the gland removal and I am 6 days post-op and so far it was worth it. I wrote my experience and I sincerely hope it can help some of you going through this too
    • aimee52276
      aimee52276 laura58118

      Posted

      Did you have marsupialization done or gland extraction?

      Thanks for sharing your story!

    • laura58118
      laura58118 aimee52276

      Posted

      Both, I had marsupialization done a year ago and had 3 cysts after that, more than I have ever had in one calendar year. This year, about 6 weeks ago I had a gland extraction and all is well. My stitches have not 100% dissolved so they are irritating me at times if I stand too long but other than that, no pain at all. My doctor told me they were going to dissolve she thought about a week and a half ago but that did not happen. Really don't want to get them removed, I'm a huge baby about all this and I don't want anymore pain.

  • kelley00859
    kelley00859 rachel84988

    Posted

    Did your labia heal back to normal? Were you worried that they wouldn't? My wound looks like the bottom half of my labia on the side where the cyst was was cut off! 

    • aimee52276
      aimee52276 kelley00859

      Posted

      In my experience it heals up pretty well. My right side is a bit larger now but that's because of 4 surgeries on that side. My left side...and more recent surgery is still healing but looks close to normal. The labia minora is more deformed from the incision etc but not too bad.

      I hope you're healing up well!

  • diane8721
    diane8721 rachel84988

    Posted

    It has been over 5 weeks now since my surgery.  I feel pretty good and back to most normal activities but still have some discharge and I am sore at times.  Still doing the sitz baths and they help.  The doctor said last week that I am healing well but definitely not 100% back to normal.  This surgery requires more time to heal than the doctors lead you to believe.  Be patient and it will improve.
  • laura75386
    laura75386 rachel84988

    Posted

    Hello everyone, it’s great to see this discussion. As many who have stated previously there is not a lot about what to expect post op.

    I have had a reoccurring left bartholin cyst occur (size of an egg) over past year. It’s been painless until recently, in the past I had it drained. Received antibiotics for the cyst but it continued to reoccur. I also pushed my OBGYN to remove the gland, she was only going to do a bartholin cyst marsupialization, but decided during surgery to do a full removal of my left gland. Granted my OBGYN informed me I would be back to work 3 days post op. So June 5, 2018 I had my left glad removed, under general anesthesia in an outpatient surgery center. It’s been a journey.  I also was never prescribed an antibiotic post op, only pain medicine I was prescribed was Tramadol 50 mg and Ibuprofen 600 mg.

    Tuesday- First day post op, bc it was done under general anesthesia the concern was having me urinate.  I was going to be sent to the ER bc of my lack of following their advice wink but luckily that evening I was able to use the restroom (pee only). Pain wasn’t an issue yet bc I still had the medications on board from the surgery.

    Wed-My pain wasn’t under control, so I rested as much as I could and iced it. I called her due to the lack of control. She increased my Tramadol (pain medicine) to 100 mg and Ibuprofen (Advil) to 800 mg. It helped some?

    Thursday- pain felt worse. I still haven’t had a bowel moment and was bleeding.  Let’s say that was not adequate relief.  Was going to the ER but MD had time go in to see her Friday morning. 

    Friday morning- saw OBGYN. She discontinued my Tramadol, Colace (stool softener) continued my ibuprofen  and gave me Dilaudid. She prescribed me an antibiotic bc I now have an infection. And she wants me off an additional two weeks.  Let’s say that night trying to get my GI system back in order was very painful, but the stool softener and what I did helped.

    We come to today, if you get a gland removed recovery time will very from person to person. Average time 2-4 weeks. Granted if you have some additional underlying disease that could affect your healing time (diabetes, immunodeficiency disorder etc.).

    My only advice for those who are contemplating this. If your cysts reoccur then explore all options with your MD. With what works best for you.

    From my own experience a few things I would of liked is:

    -A stool softener prescribed before surgery, typically general anesthesia can cause constipation for some

    -An antibiotic 

    -Stronger pain medication 

    -Better post op care instructions (I.e. sitzs baths, ice packs, purchase an inflatable donut, think about maybe buying witch hazel pads for some external relief and neosporin to start placing on wound site to help with healing- if it’s not open)

    -Better expectations of my time off and no driving. 

    I’m only a week post op, but reading everyone’s experiences has really helped me- granted everyone is different. But thank you all for sharing. I hope my experience would be helpful for some as you go through it.

    • laura75386
      laura75386

      Posted

      Woops I meant to on Friday she only discontinued my Tramadol. And prescribed me: Colace, Dilaudid, kept me on my ibuprofen and started me on an antibioticsmile
    • tiffany69540
      tiffany69540 laura75386

      Posted

      I really don’t know what to do, off and on for 12 years now I’ve had Bartholin cyst. The last 4 years have been the worst. I’ve had the  marsupialization Surgery done on both sides still didn’t work. 90% of the time it comes on the same side but it will go to the other side as well. It turned into so many a year, to months, now weeks. I’m just so over this I don’t know what to do. It’s very depressing.. the only thing I haven’t done is getting my glands removed. I had everything else.. catheter, drained, and marsupialization.  I’ve read a lot of stories on getting them removed. Seem like it’s painful after surgery but when you get them removed is it 100% chance it won’t come back. 
    • michelle0909
      michelle0909 laura75386

      Posted

      did you you have symptoms being infected? I am 1 week post-op and nervous mine is infected. it's still swollen and a bit hard to the touch. my doctor only suggested seeing me two weeks after operation. I called the nurse today and she said swelling is normal. but I have a bad feeling about this...

    • cait1993
      cait1993 michelle0909

      Posted

      its normal your going to be swollen and sore for weeks id recommend lots of hot water sitz baths.

      so long as your being hygienic things will be fine.

    • michelle0909
      michelle0909 cait1993

      Posted

      Thanks a lot for the response cait1993. I feel like my nerves are getting the best of me with this experience!

    • Amberr21
      Amberr21 cait1993

      Posted

      did you have your incision done on the outside of your skin, or the inside of your vagina?

    • carriekn
      carriekn Amberr21

      Posted

      my surgery was to take the whole gland removed on the inside of the vagina. Im about a month and half post op. still have pain and tingling sometimes. ams still no sex

    • Amberr21
      Amberr21 carriekn

      Posted

      still no sex?! wow. I would like to have the procedure done, however, ive been trying to determine which will make my life easier. having it done on the outside or in.

    • carriekn
      carriekn Amberr21

      Posted

      yes still no sex. my husband and i tried this weekend. and it was painful

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