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Word catheter for Bartholin cyst - supposed to take it out after only 24 hours?

Posted , 11 users are following.

SherriJ
SherriJ

Hi,

I've been reading everyone's experiences and am now concerned about what my doctor told me.  I have a Bartholin cyst (about the size of a large grape) that didn't bother me for years - I had it checked out by my gyno in Canada, but he said it was too small to do anything about, and as long as it didn't bother me it's fine just to leave it be. But then over the last couple months it started to become very painful during sex, so I went to another gyno (this time in Germany since I had moved there), and he suggested right away to do the small operation with a Word catheter.  I was scared to have that done, but finally made the appointment and had it done yesterday morning.  Thing is, the doctor told me to take the catheter out myself the following morning (today).  But everything I have read online says that the longer it is left in, the better the chance that the cyst won't come back.  24 hours doesn't seem like enough time for the gland to be open enough to drain properly.  Could he have given me the wrong information?

I am also having a lot of pain and have difficulty sitting in a chair.  He said I could go back to work the next day if I wanted to, but I definitely wouldn't be able to walk with this!  Thanks for your comments.

0 likes, 25 replies

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  • jo07238
    jo07238 SherriJ

    Posted

    Hi Sherri.

    I recently had what turned out to be a skenes duct cyst removed and can tell you the pain on sitting will continue for a while no matter what they tell you. Invest in an inflatable donut cushion to use at home as it will help. I was off work for a week but really shoul have had longer- my employers were bugging me so I had to go back. I put my donut cushion inside a plain cushion cover and used it at work to avoid embarassment as i work in an office. You had a general anaesthetic you wouldn't be back at work the next day whatever you had done! I'm still having problems five weeks after-these things take a lot longer to heal than they think.

    Take it easy and the longer you can have off work the better. When you are able I do think walking helps as sitting puts pressure on the wound. Hope you feel better soon and let us know how you get on.

    • SherriJ
      SherriJ jo07238

      Posted

      Thanks for your comment!  I can rearrange my schedule to have a few more days off work if need be.  My main concern is whether I should take the catheter out today or not.  My doctor told me to take it out in the shower, but everything online says to leave it in for at least 4 weeks.  Also he said to just pull it out, but I know it's an inflated balloon inside the gland, so couldn't that tear the wound?  I read that to remove it, it's best to cut and deflate the catheter first, but I'm not sure where to cut.
    • jo07238
      jo07238 SherriJ

      Posted

      To be honest telling you to take it out yourself sounds odd. I didn't have one fitted with mine only during the cystoscopy. Have they sent you home with a number for the hospital to call if there are any problems? I would call and ask as I myself would be nervous of doing the wrong thing. Hope you find out and manage to feel more at ease x
    • SherriJ
      SherriJ jo07238

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply! Actually I must have misunderstood the doctor (easy to do, considering I live in Germany and my German and his English aren't the best), and he had actually just put in a gauze drain, not a catheter. That was the reason I was supposed to take it out myself after only one day.  Still a bit traumatic to do it myself, but am feeling much better now that it's out (though I still have trouble sitting and walking and definitely would not have been able to go back to work the next day!)
  • Jessie237
    Jessie237 SherriJ

    Posted

    Hi Sherri,

    I went through the same thing like you. I had a bartholin cyst that started to grow. It grew so big that it was hard to do anything. I couldnt sit or walk. I went to the emergency room 3 times. The last time I went, I finally feel like the doctor knows what he's talking about. He drained my cyst and put in a catheter to continue to keep my area open and properly drain. All the pain and pressure was gone and I was finally happy. He told me to leave it in for 4-5 weeks. BUT now I have a catheter that sticks out 1 inch between my legs and I hate it. I couldnt wear underweear but I had on a lot of legging and dresses. My man was supportive and didnt complain once. You will soon realize that this is for the best because you dont want it to ever happen again. During those 5 weeks, i HIGHLY recommanded that you do hot Sitz bath with epson salt 2 times a day to keep the area clean. Even after you take out the catheter, I say continue to do the sitz bath for another week.

    Its been a year since i had my cyst and i feel great. Good Luck dear. 

     

    • SherriJ
      SherriJ Jessie237

      Posted

      Hi Jessie,

      Thanks for your reply.  I think my situation is a bit less severe than yours sounds.  My cyst was painful but only during intimacy - thankfully it didn't interfere with the rest of my life.  And it turns out the doctor only lanced it and put in a gauze drain - I misunderstood and thought he had put in a catheter.  So I just had to take the drain out the next day.  It's still sore and difficult to sit or walk much, but it's much better now.  I hope this procedure will be as effective as the catheter and that the cyst doesn't come back.  If it does, I will try the Sitz bath, though.  I've heard regular salt is effective.  I had tried it years ago and it did nothing.

  • cindy1013
    cindy1013 SherriJ

    Posted

    Hi Sherrij..

    Sorry to hear your suffering.. i had went though this same thing. But i had a word catheter put in 2x the first one was put in totally wrong i was in so much pain i had to get it removed. the second was put in correct. The only problem is that around 6 days later i lost it..lol.. it is common for it to fall out,only problem i never knew where i lost it.. for the record it is suppose to stay in for 4 weeks at the least.. since mine fell out i was doing HOTTT baths and hair cloths, it helped so much...as of now i havnt had any problems it has been a little over a month.. I have been able to have sex again...yeahhh... but the other night i had sex and wasnt quite ready( lubbed) and as a result im doing hott baths again. I felt like it was a little swollen, so far hotttt baths are working.. so now I know make sure you are very well lived B4.. I don't think I would have had this problem if I was lubed up... I have faith.. so should you... And please I hope you still have the catheter in place, if so keep it there, it will help you in the long run, and DON'T TAKE IT OUT ON YOUR OWN....GOOD LUCK . 

    • SherriJ
      SherriJ cindy1013

      Posted

      Hi Cindy,

      Thanks for your comment. Actually I had misunderstood the doctor (his English and my German aren't so good), and he had only put in a gauze drain, not a catheter.  So that's why I was instructed to take it out the next day by myself.  I'm very glad I did - it was giving me a lot of pain.  Now it's much better but still painful to sit upright in a regular chair and walk very much - hope that goes away soon!

    • cindy1013
      cindy1013 SherriJ

      Posted

      It will go away in time.. just do your Hotttt baths.. they do work, as often as you can... Good luck..
    • honey1390
      honey1390 cindy1013

      Posted

      Hi Cindy1013

      During this years Your bartholin cyst come back after catheter word ?????

      I have a word catheter in my bartholin cyst , but I think doctor put it in wrong place !!it is located along the major lobia but a little inside ,toward the Hyman ring , I heard it should placed close to the Hyman ring to work !! I want to know it work ? And I wouldn't be able to walk & sit with this!I want to remove it after one week ! Remove it or not??

    • cindy1013
      cindy1013 honey1390

      Posted

      so sorry to hear of your discomfort..

      It has been a little over 3 years and I am still Bartholin cyst free...

      Try hot soaks in a tub also hot rags placed directly on the Bartholin gland..

      This does truly work if you do it more than two times a day. I used to do it 3 to 4 times a day. While in the tub I would massage the area this helps to loosen the fluids inside the cyst.. I know it can be painful I dealt with it for a few months it hurts when you walk and sit.. but believe me hot soaks in the tub are the best for this.. after my word catheter came out I kept sitting in the tub I believe my natural duck ended up reopening on its own considering how much hot water I was sitting in on the regular basis.. I really do hope this works for you I read so many different kind of chemicals for you to use for this and I was a little scared so I did it with water and that's a hundred percent natural.. good luck and make sure you soak

    • cindy1013
      cindy1013

      Posted

      One more thing hot water does wonders for cleaning out your tub your kitchen sink anything with a tube.. well in a strange way this is your tube that you need to be cleaned out it will unclog but only persistence will work
    • elizabeth34539
      elizabeth34539 honey1390

      Posted

      hello I see that you posted this in the last month and was wondering how long your Word catheter ended up staying in? Was it the entire week or longer and did it cause you alot og discomfort? I had one placed tonight and it wasn't too bothersome initially, but after sitting at my computer for 2 hours its painful and stings. I really want it out. Unfortunately thougn tjis is not my first encounter with these awful cysts/abcesses. Just in the past i would end up going to an er if it became really painful and large and they would just I&D the abscess and drain it then pack it. So this ER physician decided on a word catheter due to me getting one about every 2 to 4 months for last 3 years (however abt half of them I was able to treat at home sitz baths and hot compress). This one in particular was the most painful one and largest one i had ever had. It's still draining a little. Anyway I am really hoping you see my reply to and update back on your experience with the word catheter, length of placement and healing time and if it came out on its own or if a physician or nurse removed it for you. Hopefully neither of us ever gets one again!

    • brittney20130
      brittney20130 elizabeth34539

      Posted

      Elizabeth34539. I hope you see this. Does the packing hurt to take out? I’ve suffered with these for 8 years and a couple years ago i had one on my left side marsupulized and it hasn’t come back. Although 3 months after that i had one pop up on my right side. I’ve had it for a couple years and it’s never caused issues until recently. I’m 17 weeks pregnant so being out under was not an option and i had it drained and a word catheter put in yesterday as well as packed. (First time I’ve had this) I’m suppose to go into my ob tomorrow and i think he will be taking the packing out. I’m so scared it’s going to hurt. Would love some insight on it. smile 
  • KnowledgeGirl
    KnowledgeGirl SherriJ

    Posted

    DO NOT TAKE THE CATHETER OUT! It need to stay in for 4-6 weeks at LEAST. the more the better.

    It's like a pierced ear for an earing, you need to keep the new hole that was created from unclogging.

    ward cathether saved me 5 years from the bartholin, it was the only thing that helped me.

    Not all doctors are specialists, and your dr. sounds like he doesn't know anything.

    Ward cathether HURTS and i remember it burnt to pee, sit, whatever.

    Mine poped out by itself after 6 weeks, yours might just do the same, if not only THEN try to remove it yourself and if you can't, go to a dr.

    I'd find a more knowledgable dr....and in any case, do NOT remove.

    • Beautynthebeast
      Beautynthebeast KnowledgeGirl

      Posted

      How did you work with the catheter? I can't hardly sit or walk. Mine has been in since Monday.

    • KnowledgeGirl
      KnowledgeGirl Beautynthebeast

      Posted

      I work from home so i don't have that problem.

      In the first  week you probably can't work because the pain from the incision is horrible + the burning pee.

      In the second week the pain went down but it was still horrible to pee and sit, but while sitting and NOT MOVING, it was ok...

      If your work is all about walking/standing and sitting more than once, changing positions all the time, i'd advice sick days for at least 3 weeks... 

    • Beautynthebeast
      Beautynthebeast KnowledgeGirl

      Posted

      yikes. But with the pain I feel, that seems logical.

      May i ask what you do from home? I've been looking for something where I could work from home

    • KnowledgeGirl
      KnowledgeGirl Beautynthebeast

      Posted

      It will be ok, let yourself heal.

      I deal with stocks and real estate i own but there are many many jobs you can do from home such as:

      giving private lessons to students/kids in whatever or even helping them do homework, cook and sell your food by delivery from home, work for an IT company from home, some kind of therapist like a massager or homeopath...etc. You can try to google on those job search engines in your area jobs from home or find an HR that would help you find something like that or even ask the government's HR to do so.

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