Recurring bartholin cyst:( (photo inside)

here is the photo sorry

any advice?

reading your words felt like you had taken them right out of my head. Please be your own advocate and demand a bartholin gland excision, where they will attempt to remove the entire gland. I had the surgery last week after 10 years of constant cysts and failed marsupilizations. The doctor is confident he removed the entirety of the gland and the recovery feels no worse than a fluid filled cyst that needs to burst or be lanced. I wish I would have gone through with this a long time ago!

I agree with Morgan's suggestion to find a doctor that will remove the gland. I struggled with mine for over 10 years. finally got the finally got the marsupialisation done 3 years ago and it was back a year later. It's been 2 and 1/2 months since I had my gland removal surgery done. The healing process took a little longer than expected but I'm so glad I had it done so far. Good luck.

I am sorry you're going through this. Have you think about having your gland removed? I've heard this works marevelous to people who have had it. I am also thinking about having my gland removed. For now it is not bothering me very much, but it doesn't dissapear.

I completely empathise. I think non sufferers don't appreciate the psychological impact. I'm having counselling which I don't think I'd be having if I were cyst/abcess free . It seems relentless.

Are you currently under a consultant gyneacologist? If you are, make sure you get your next appointment brought forward. Tell them you are in pain and about your depression etc.

If you aren't make an appointment to see your GP (if your current one is unsympathetic ask to see someone else - I don't think there is a GP at my practice who hasn't seen my foof!!!) tell them exactly how it is making you feel with the aim that a) you will be referred to a consultant and b) get you some emotional support.

I feel like mine dominates my life but you are not your cyst/abcess ! Although it's hard to see you will get through it. I have not had a gland excision but it does seem to work well for people. Mine has 'tracked' into other tissues and never seems to heal but I don't think mine is linked to the Gland anymore so not sure if excision would help me.

Let me know if you get an appointment.

im so sorry you are going through this, I've had two happen to me a year apart and it was hell. The first time I got it I went to the ER and they just sliced it with a scalpel with no anesthesia and they pressed it like a pimple. I almost passed out from the pain. second time I had anesthesia thankfully, it's been at least 3 years since the last one and one thing I do different now is I always use a washcloth to wash and scrub lightly down there. Also i do that when I pee and poop or masturbate (lots of washcloths to buy) lol but always always wash and scrub after sex. I think I got them last time because i had unprotected sex and went to sleep with all the stuff inside me for a few hours. Also I never shaved again after my second time getting it, i know it's on the inside part but i think shaving made it more possible for it to come back, just my opinion. good luck! I will pray for you.

Forgive me for saying this, but I was actually pleased to read your account this morning because I have felt so alone with my b/cyst problems. I am 58yrs old and have only had two cysts, so relatively speaking, I guess I've been lucky. The first was about 10yrs ago. It w)as an internal cyst (not visible and hard to feel) and I had surgery to drain it and everything healed up within a month perfectly. That would be it I thought. Then about 18months ago I thought I noticed another... you know, that aching, throbbing pain to start with. Coincidentally Id been suffering with UTI's for a couple of years up to that point so thought the aching around that area was to do with that. I had an MRI scan done of the pelvic area to check out the bladder and kidneys, at which time a new b/cyst was seen... but not reported to me? I continued to notice the aching and then the sharp 'ouch' every time my husband and I had intercourse. I just knew another cyst was forming but couldn't see anything, could just feel it deep inside the vaginal wall. By April this year it was getting more and more uncomfortable to walk around, sit down, do anything really, so early May I saw my GP who immediately 'fast-tracked' me into the 2week Cancer Care Pathway, b'cos apparently its very unusual for a women of my age to have these cysts. I was operated on early June (deep marsupialisation) and was told that luckily there was no Cancer and things would heal (leaving an opening) within 6wks... but of course that didn't happen. I got an infection so antibiotics were prescribed. I believe that that infection never really went away and now I am suffering with the pain again, like I have another cyst. I had another course of anti'bs 3wks ago and another swab taken yesterday so fully expect to need more. I have also been referred back to the consultant/surgeon who operated on me in June... who knows when that will be and what will be done. I can tell you, I'm getting pretty worried about it. Thank goodness I have an understanding husband! and thank 'you' ladies for being there!

I am so sorry that you are going through this and I know exactly how you feel. I had the same thoughts and was also depressed after dealing with this awful condition for 11 years. I had several lancings, 5 marsupializations with about 3 doctors and after I figured out that sex aggravated this stupid gland I stopped being intimate with my boyfriend. I even broke up with him because I just wanted nothing to do with sex. I stopped working out as well just out of fear the cyst would return. None of my doctors wanted to perform an excision and I gave up on finding a solution. I tried a million things (silica, tea tree oil, sitz baths w/epsom salt, witch hazel, olive oil, serrapeptase, acupuncture, cutting out all dairy out, antibiotics... I could go on forever) and nothing worked for me. As long as I didn't have sex I was okay but I still had the cyst there. It just wasn't infected. I did nothing for two years and finally about 7 months ago I decided to start researching gyn surgeons and learned that the best surgeons to perform these excisions are gynecologic oncologists. I found a doctor and explained my long history with this recurring cyst and she agreed to remove the gland. I had my surgery about three weeks ago Oct 7th and I was down for about a week and returned to work the following Monday. I still get a little shooting pain but I am so glad I went through with it. And the pain doesn't get any worse than an infected abscess. Please don't give up. You will find a solution. Research gyn oncologist surgeons and when you go through with the excision, ice will be your best friend. I had 5 ice packs on rotation and I think it's key. You are not alone in this and I wish you all the best of luck in finding a doctor. I don't know you but I'm sending you prayers so that you push through this.