Can't poo after draining of Bartholin Cyst HELP!!

Posted , 6 users are following.

9 months ago i had my first Bartholin cyst, I'm 30. It grew as large as a golf ball and i was in a lot of pain so went to my GPs & they prescribed antibiotics. I spent a week in bed and within two weeks everything was okay only i still had a pea sized lump. The GP said this may happen and there was no pain, not even during sex so i just ignored it.

7 days ago i could feel a tingle in that area so immediately started applying a hot water bottle to that area, taking sitz baths and applying tea tree cream at night. The following morning it was hurting to walk so I phoned the GP who again prescribed antibiotics but this time it was done over the phone.

24hrs later i was literally on my hands snd knees in agony. By this point I hadn't slept for two days and the pain was starting to go up my groin area - not like before.

Someone called an ambulance for me when they came to my house and saw me in that state. At the hospital they said it had developed into an abscess and due to the hot water bottle use, I'd sent the puss into my blood stream.

Within a few hours they put me to sleep, drained it and packed it. I had to pull the packing out 4hrs after the surgery (very painful indeed) and the following morning they discharged me from the hospital.

I'm taking really strong painkillers and still continuing with the antibiotics as instructed by the hospital. I'm in discomfort but not really what I'd call pain.

Its been 3 days now since i left the hospital and I physically cannot poo. I'm taking bowel movement aids, drinking and eating all the right things but still nothing. I'm desperate to go now and wondered if anyone else has had this issue?

I was out of it on morphine in the hospital and not really sure exactly what the procedure i had entails. I'm confident the wound from the insertion is open but I'm not brave enough to look. They said it should heal in 7 to 10 days so i wanted to wait and look at it in about 2 weeks time. Sounds silly but if i see an open wound I'm pretty sure mentally i will freak out and possibly start to imagine pain that actually isn't even there.

Pee'ing is also a struggle, its as if i have to tell my body to let me go in order for me to start weeing.

Desperate to get this poo underway but with everything I'm taking i just seem to be causing myself more discomfort just in a different place.

My heart goes out to anyone who has had this. Excluding this i am and always have been 100% healthy. It doesn't seem fair and there isn't really a lot of info online about how to prevent them. Most sites say having protected sex will help or that they start from having had an std. i have never had an std, nor has my partner (at least while I've been with him)

It seems to me like they don't really know what causes them or how to prevent them. I got zero after care information apart from, keep the area clean and don't have sex until it heals. I don't blame the doctors who treated me, as i said above i was out of it so didn't ask the right questions.

Any suggestions on how I can poo would be greatly appreciated xx

1 like, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • Posted

    I have never had this problem with any of my 15 abscesses that I've had. Maybe do some research about constipation after surgery. Might have something to do with the pain killers or drugs to put you to sleep.

    • Posted

      Keep doing what you're doing. Drink water, eat fibre etc. Maybe you can't go because you were afraid to go after surgery? Happened me after me Marsupialization. Since it's so close to the wound I stopped myself from going. Maybe this has caused a blockage??

    • Posted

      Think you're spot on, mentally I'm stopping myself. I've drunk a carton of prune juice, had half a bottle of syrup of figs, taken mild laxatives and yet nothing but my belly is now in so much discomfort. I can't believe you've had 15 of these, you are one brave yet unlucky lady. I'm normally pretty good with pain but this was like no other I'd ever experienced. I'm just grateful I've got such a caring boyfriend as i was so afraid this would put him off me the first time I had it. Fingers crossed we never see these little buggers again x

    • Posted

      Yes 15 times since May 2015. I'm going through hell with these things. My last 1 burst just over a week ago. It didn't drain fully and now it's beginning to fill up again so I'm going into number 16 now sad

      Hope you get sorted. Just keep doing what you're doing. Go to your doc if you go too long without going xx

  • Posted

    I suggest you to read my full post for all the tips. You have to be drinking prune juice if that doesn't work take a mild laxative the prune juice will sort you out xxx

    • Posted

      To find full post look for : Bartholin Cyst Removal/Excision Positive Experience
  • Posted

    Hi there.

    I too had an horrendous experience when I had my cyst and gland removed in September, I'm just now beginning to reduce the medication I was prescribed due to having nerve damage after surgery.

    I wasn't able to go to the loo for a number 2 until 6 days after surgery and I wasn't able to do it myself. I too tried everything, in the end the doctor prescribed me movical (this is in the UK) and it worked a treat, was not nice getting started as I'd got a build up and the beginning acted liked a plug, once I was able to pass the hardest bit the rest just flew out and if anything it happened a little to well, tummy gurgle and rush to the loo, well the quickest I could as was painful to walk.

    I hope you get it sorted x

  • Posted

    Hi there curious to know how this situation worked out for you, I'm currently in the same boat after having my cyst drained on Saturday. Haven't pooped since then. I def need to but the pain is holding me back. I've taken some stool softeners and am drinking prune juice.

  • Posted

    Hi, I’ve just had my 6th one and have finally had the marsupialization and I’m having the same issue with pooing since. I feel constipated but any time I really try to go to the toilet I run out screaming as it feels like I’m stretching the wound. If anyone has any tips it would be much appreciated. I found a she wee really helped me to be able to pass urine. Also, every time I’ve had this before the doctors were unable to tell me the cause but one I saw this time told me it can quite often be caused from shaving down below - just thought this might help someone. 

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