Bartholin's Gland HELP ME PLEASE

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-10-2003
Bartholin's Gland HELP ME PLEASE
9
Fri, 10-10-2003 - 9:40am
I am 21 and have been having problems with my bartholin's gland for almost 4 years now. The last time I was treated for it was in 2000. Since then, it has flared up, and it must be abcessed b/c it is so painful I can barely walk, bend over, tie my shoes, sit, and many other things. I went to the doc tuesday and for ampicillan. 4 per day for 10 days. I have taken it for 3 and a half days and I am having NO results. Pain is no better, size of the darn thing is still about the size of a golf ball and about as hard as a rock. Hot compresses or sitz baths are excruciatingly painful as the heat causing more swelling. Ice has helped, but that's kinda hard to do at work. Someone please help me. Why don't doctors take things like this more seriously? I am dying. What can I possibly do? I just talked to doc and she said she would try to get me to an OBGYN to get it marsupialized or to put a catheter in. I am so confused? Is this common?drag0nfly82@hotmail.com


Edited 10/10/2003 11:05:09 AM ET by drag0nfly82
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2003
Fri, 10-10-2003 - 11:25am

I was just reading an article about this.

 


 


Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-10-2003
Fri, 10-10-2003 - 12:57pm
Hey thanks for the link. That is exactly what is going on with me. I have an appt monday to get something done to it, but I dont know which procedure they are going to do. At this point I don't even care. If it wasn't so stupid, I would just do it myself. Doc just called in an rX of darvocet :) that should help until monday...she must know how bad it hurts to call in something so strong. So few people know about it that I think I'm going to start a msg board just about it. b/c its really hard to deal with and find info about.

thanks again

Cristine
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2003
Fri, 10-10-2003 - 3:55pm

Have you broguht up the idea with ivillage?

 


 


Photobucket

Avatar for spunkiegal00
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 10-11-2003 - 7:45am
I'm glad that you posted because now I think I know what's wrong with me! I posted earlier about my problem but associated it with irritation or an allergic reaction. I was not familiar with Bartholin's Gland and how it can get blocked/infected. From previous post "I have swelling to the right of the vaginal opening. It's very sore and just unpleasant feeling-and feels kind of like a hard ball but it's not all that round..."

And since I posted, it's only gotten larger and it really, really hurts--I have an appointment on Monday morning with the gynocologist. I can't believe the difference from one side to the next. I just hope it doesn't get much bigger before then, I can't imagine how it would hurt if it did. I'm not sure that this is my problem but from what I've read online, it sure sounds like it.

Just wanted to let you know that you aren't alone. I guess we will both be suffering this weekend. :(

Take care,

S

Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-08-2003
Sat, 10-11-2003 - 11:11am
Hey there, just wanted to respond to your problem. I KNOW YOUR PAIN!!! I have had mine lanced and catherized twice. The last time I had it done was about 4 years ago, and I haven't had a problem since. Mine got to the point where when it gets to a certain size, it pops itself!!! What is happening is the gland is getting plugged and when they catherize it, they are trying to get the gland to open up and stay opened!!! I won't lie to you, when they lance it, it's not comfortable, but the relief once it is open, is well worth it!!! Let me know if you have any questions!! Good Luck to you!
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-10-2003
Wed, 10-15-2003 - 4:02pm
Oh My Gosh! They did mine Monday morning. My appt was at 1:45, but I couldn't wait, so I did the walk in thing and they took me right away. It was the most god awful experience! When the Dr looked at it, she wasn't even sure it was a Bartholin's b/c the swelling had gotten soo bad. And she said mine was weird :(. The left labia was swollen up to the size of my thumb and the abcess was enormous. So I hate needles and of course, they had to stick me probably 7 times on the outside and as she was squeezing and pushing she found another sack on the inside of her incision and had to do more novocaine IN the cut. Well as she was doing it, she was talking to me and there were 2 nurses holding the labia and stuff away from whatever she was doing and they were all real nice, but I cried the whole time, and as she was finishing and putting the catheter in, she said she got about 1/4 of a cup of fluid and icky stuff out of it. Now, let me tell you about this damn catheter. It looks like a long teeny condom, and it's rubber and the tip blows up. So They stick it in the incision and blow up the tip of the catheter and BAM!!-back to the same lump I began with! But it's smaller and I can touch it, and feel it under the skin and it doesn't hurt AS much, at least I can sit better and walking is fine. Don't forget about that nice little rubber condom like thing with the bubble. One end is open, and that end is bent up into the vagina for some stupid reason. Pantyliners would be sufficient for the drainage. It is light to dark yellow( well at least mine is b/c it was so bad) but I'm sure there can be more or less depending on YOUR body and situation. The incision is only about 1/4 of an inch, and when I pee, it burns at the opening or the cut, but it goes away in a couple seconds. Front what I can see with my handy dandy little mirror, the drainage is coming out around where the catheter enters the skin, not actually in the open end in the vagina.

Upon leaving the doctor's office, I asked if I needed an antibiotic, and she said no. I'm not too sure of this, but I'm taking her word for it b/c she was a very knowledgeable, competent doctor( from what I observed). I have to go back on Friday, I'm not sure if the catheter is coming out and a different one is going in or what. I'm glad it's over though. BTW- don't let anyone tell you it doesn't hurt...it does! I left work early one day and missed the next. I cried for almost an hour after wards too...and I'm not usually a crier...If anyone ever reads this and has any questions I am more than happy to try to answer them.

drag0nfly82@hotmail.com

Cristine
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2003
Wed, 10-15-2003 - 5:23pm

Oh, girl!

 


 


Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-10-2003
Fri, 10-17-2003 - 8:14am
Thanks so much for your support. I go back this morning and I am scared to death. I don't think anything could be any worse than monday, so I'll write back when I get back. I think they are taking the rubber catheter out and putting something else in. later taters

Cristine
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-10-2003
Fri, 10-17-2003 - 3:36pm
Well, after going back to the GYN this morning, I found out some interesting info. But first, they said it is healing very well, and I may be able to have the catheter for another week instead of 5 weeks! Also, the end of the catheter that is in the skin is filled with 3cc of saline and today they took .75cc out to shrink the "balloon" end of it as it heals. The incision is sore today, but getting better. The thing inside of my skin isn't really a catheter, it's more just there to keep the incision open to allow drainage and internal healing. NOTHING goes in or comes out of the "catheter". And my last tidbit of info is that the GYN isn't sure if it was a bartholin's gland b/c of where it was. She said Bartholin's are much deeper inside the vagina and mine was more labial. So...her and I came to the conclusion that the gland is not the only thing that can get infected, it was possibly just a pore that got clogged OR it was a bartholin's abscess in a very strange place.

I dont mean to blab so much, I just wish I could have found some info like this before I had to go through my ordeal. Just want to tell people what I wanted to know.

Cristine