Bartholin gland removal
Posted , 57 users are following.
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 
0 likes, 99 replies
sabrina34523 rachel84988
Posted
I'm going in for surgery in 4 days. My doctor told me the removal of the gland goes easier, the larger it is. But the cyst actually went down for me... its almost not even there. Do you think this will be an issue? I really want the surgery. I have had a cyst ongoing for 2 years and I've tried everything else. It just keeps coming back. I'm afraid since it drained on its own a few days ago that they won't be able to do it. Has anyone else had this happen to them?
kellie52307 sabrina34523
Posted
My dr wanted to remove my gland immediately, because I am 40, and the risk of cancer increases. I had only had one other cyst in the past. All pathology comeback negative. No cancerous or pre cancerous cells.
Mella86 kellie52307
Posted
How's your healing going? This is day 8 since surgery for me. Post on appointment today still in pain with nerves and incision burning. Stitches broke open yesterday and bleeding a big because a blood clot fell out...
michelle0909 Mella86
Posted
Did you have to get stitched again after your blood clot fell out?
DominiLucy rachel84988
Posted
I am so glad I found this!!!! Everything I kept reading about was just bout cyst removal and the regular old stuff that I never saw anything about people who had their gland removed.
?
I got my left gland removed on Tuesday... currently on Tylenol with codeine... doesn't do much for the pain. I am not used to being in so much stress or pain.. sometimes it feels like something is ripping (is that normal?!). Also, I have not had anyone discuss the horribleness of when using the bathroom, number 2, it is like a bloody mess in there! Like fresh wound all over again kind of bloody. Shesh.
I got so used to the cysts that I would go to the emergency room and joke about it while they would get removed. However, I got two within a couple of months and after not listening to my doctors decided to actually talk to a specialist to get it removed. I have been getting it, on and off for over 8 years. So it was time...
So I went through with it and I think I regret it. I have to be back at work very soon, I am a teacher and I was not told by the doctor that the recovery would be so painful. I have a hard time sitting and just getting used to the sitz baths... I could never just sit on hot water for extended periods of time. I am a busy body and this is really making me a little ... sad. I am just so used to just going... I have this weird numbing sensation at times (anyone?).
On another note, my doctor didn't use any stitches... after the procedure, he literally took out of my wound a whole lot of bloody cloth and that was it. Should I be worried?
Any Advice... I am running our of these crappy Tylenol.
laura75386 DominiLucy
Posted
A few things that would help me post op, I would freeze water bottles and lay one over the surgical site. Have it on a few min and off a few. As far as the bleeding when going to the restroom- that was one of the most painful experiences I’ve had. Eat a lot of fiber, drink prune juice if you have to, or take stool softeners if you need to. I actually got constipated twice bc of the lack of movement and the pain medications. So drink up your fluids and when ready walk when your able to do you can avoid getting constipated. The location of the scar and trying to go #2- the pressure of that on the site is painful, well it was for me.
What helped me eventually was ordering an inflatable donut from amazon to sit on. It gets better, but it takes awhile, and the tissue at the site is hard for a bit.
You’ll get through it, keep resting and this site is fantastic. I learned a lot here that my own MD never shared with me.
diane8721 DominiLucy
Posted
I wrote earlier about my experience. I too am so happy that I found this site because my doctor also played down what was going to happen so I wasn't prepared. I had the surgery mid April. I am told that it turned out to be complicated than expected because right after the surgery I began bleeding so was rushed in for some followup work. I spent a couple of days in the hospital. For the next couple of months I was sore, had the bleeding, discharge, etc. Took sitz baths when I could and just rested. Never could have gone back to work as predicted. Now almost 5 months post op I still don't feel "normal". I don't have severe pain and the discharge has stopped but still a soreness at times. I have gone back to the doctor twice and was checked for all kinds of things but I am told that everything "looks good". I ran in to someone who had the surgery several years ago and she said that she felt it took a year before she felt totally normal. I guess I will just have to wait it out. Again I get what everyone is saying. It is a much more "complicated" surgery I guess for some of us. Hang in there.
Mella86 DominiLucy
Posted
Witch hazel helped with burning. I used a ice pack from CVS it fits easier. I'm finally able to walk normal and jog a bit. It'll be a month post op in 1 more day and I go back to work Monday. I tried to go to work 2weeks ago and left halfway into my shift because the pain was too strong. I'm still tender and sore a bit and still can't shave because of the numbing nerve pain. Don't rush anything like I did just rest as much as possible also ibuprofen helped better than pain pills.
chels19 rachel84988
Posted
Hi Ladies,
I'm so glad I found this post, im 23 and have only ever had one bartholin cyst, however it was sooooo painful and put me in hospital for 3 days with crazy swelling. I had a drainage three weeks later(was pushed back due to prior commitments) with a word catheter put in. This was in for two week and was painful but bareable. The catheter was in for two week and healed fine, however since then the cyst has come back and has been consistently leaking a terrible smelling discharge and colour. My gyne has said my gland will have to be removed as my next option, so I am having the surgery in two weeks! I'm so glad I found this post as my Dr also very down played the surgery and said I would be back at work/university in a week! My main concern with this surgery is the possibility of nerve damage and scarring! but hoping for the best! I will be sure to follow the advice on here to help with the recovery!
looloo77658 chels19
Posted
Hi Chels,
I've been suffering with bartholins cysts for two years now and im 17. Can I ask where you are from.. because I can't find a great deal of information on removal and procedures to help me etc in England and im struggling. Do you have to pay for any of these surgeries? Obviously because im young im worrying about everything and im really embarrased to ask for help.
But, how did the surgery go?
chels19 looloo77658
Posted
Hi hun,
I live in Australia, so all my surgeries were covered by our health care system.
I'm not too sure how your health care system works, but my advice would be to first see your normal Dr (see a female one if that makes you feel more comfortable) and get their advice to see if you need to see a gynaecologist, as your normal Dr might be able to help you with antibiotics or in house procedures.
I totally understand how you feel, I found my Bartholin cyst at 20 and didn't do anything about it for years, because I was embarrassed and also because it wasn't causing me any pain. However the pain I felt when it did start to hurt I cant even explain it was so bad (that was when I was hospitalised for 3 days) so definitely get it checked out asap.
My surgery went much better then expected (compared to the reviews read). They removed my left bartholin gland which apparently was positioned quite deep (i'm not sure if this affected my recovery compared to other peoples). I was sore for about 3 days, but the pain was nothing to bad I just took parocetomal. I was uncomfortable sitting for about a week and then was totally fine. I'm nearly 4 weeks post-op and feel close to normal, the only thing thing that is uncomfortable is my stitches as they haven't dissolved yet so can be a bit sensitive. Overall though feeling very good!
Amberr21 chels19
Posted
Hello, quick question..
did they perform the surgery on the inside(labia majora) or outside (on your actual skin)?
samara64607 rachel84988
Posted
Yeap, I went through that many times as every three or four months would get painful painfully swollen, got burst out in a week normally. even went to the hospital put in a catheter, but still got swollen after. so tired of it. finally i tried using oil to put on, recently i use hohoba oil on the begginning stage of the swollen. i am very caucious at begginning of the swollen. I started to take care of it at the first day of irritation. and it did ease off, at same time one or two nights use lymphatic drainage technique which is a very gentle stretching to pump on the lymph node. oh my, this is so effective for me so far. may find it online about lymphatic drainage. it is so helpful on my part. I also do gentle pump the gland and around toward to the groin while I was sitting in a warm bath. so far so good helped.
TAKE CARE !
Margo15 rachel84988
Posted
I had both glands removed at the same time. It was easily the most painful experience of my life. I am happy to no longer have to deal with those horrible, painful glands but not sure i would go through the surgery again. Also I no longer have a sex life. I mainly do it out of obligation because there is no pleasure in it anymore. I lost the lubrication & most of the sensation. it has been over 3 years & I may have had 1 orgasm since.
natalya66287 Margo15
Posted
HI Margo, i had my surgery last september , only one gland was removed . i don't regret my decision to do it but scarring and lack of lubrication also made my sex life miserable. Sometimes i feel pain in that area. i also postmenoposal and all this changes dont help either. my gyno kinda brushes my complains off .