**Not for the squeamish**
I had never heard of this until this week, and I cannot believe I'm about to publicly share what I went through, but hopefully if anyone else has the misfortune of experiencing this, it will help to know what happens. The bartholin glands are 2 small gland on either side of your vagina. If one gets blocked, it swells up, usually painless unless it's very large or abcesses. Well, on Sunday I was sore, but chalked it up to being a little too "frisky" over the weekend. Monday I noticed swelling on the left side, it felt like a swollen lymph node, but at the opening of my vagina. I researched it, figured out what it was, and the recommended home treatment is sitz baths and and anti-inflammatory. I finally called my GYN yesterday, and she confirmed that it sounded like a bartholin cyst, and to continue with the baths unless I had a fever, chills, or it became so large that I couldn't stand it. I woke up this morning, after being up most of the night in pain, taking baths every hour, and it was huge. I went in immediately, they actually had to lance it. I have multiple piercings and tattoos, but nothing compares to having lidocaine injected into your labia. To those of you who had a natural birth, or an episiotomy, I salute you, because WOW! Anyway, they drain it, and insert a little catheter that is supposed to stay in for a month. However, as I was cleaning up to get dressed the catheter came out, so I called for the doc. He said it's not uncommon for it to fall out, and we could either re-insert it, or allow it to heal without the catheter, but it could reoccur. I decided to take my chances, he said as long as I'm vigilant about continuing baths and making sure any remainding fluid drains I should be ok. So, that just amounted to the worst morning of my life, but I'm feeling a million times better (except itching from the pain meds they gave me). Apparently, there is nothing you can do to prevent these (although staying hydrated is important) they CAN be caused by STDs, or improper wiping, but for most women who experience them, it's just bad luck. *sigh* I really would not wish this whole experience on my worst enemy!!!!

By Trina~moderator on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 03:21 pm:

(((((Crystal))))) I have never heard of this, but am cringing and crossing my legs after reading your post. Yikes! I hope your recovery goes well and you never have to go through that experience again.

By Kym on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 03:47 pm:

Crystal many hugs from a gal who had 4 natural births, but the outcome is worth the pain, in your case can't say the same is true My hubby's partners now wife got one after they started having sex, her ob said it was from having "marathon sex" after a period of no sex, so maybe your "frisky" weekend did have something to do with it. Hers by the way ruptured on the way to have it lanced so she did not have to go through the needle, but she said it was the biggest release of her lifeLOL

By Tripletmom on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 04:06 pm:

((((Crystal))))Glad you're feeling better.

By Karen~moderator on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 04:26 pm:

Crystal, Jules had these, she had them lanced more than once, and I know from her experience just how painful that is.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Feel better soon!!!

By Crystal915 on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 04:27 pm:

Thanks everyone.

By Angellew on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 04:39 pm:

{{{{{{{Crystal}}}}}} That sounds horrible! I hope you feel better soon! And thanks for the info. I have never heard of this, but, more info is better than no info!

By Sandysmom on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 04:44 pm:

((((((Crystal)))))))how awful that must have been. I hope you feel better.

By Tink on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 06:34 pm:

{{{Crys}}} I really, really, REALLY hope that this clears up on its own now. Take care of yourself!

By Dawnk777 on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 07:03 pm:

Ouch. Doesn't sound like I'll be lining up for one of these. I had heard of them before.

By Sunny on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 07:19 pm:

I experienced one last year. I actually put up with it for weeks before finally getting in to see the doctor. The worst part was the anesthesia. First it felt like I was on fire, then it felt like they had put ice on me! Not a fun experience at all. I went food shopping after the procedure, and, well, let's just say that was an interesting experience too.

Did they give you antibiotics? I didn't realize how awful I was feeling until I had been taking the antibiotics for a couple of days and got my energy back. Take care of yourself and I hope you heal quickly.

By Annie2 on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 07:31 pm:

I had a problem with them at the end of my last pregnancy. After I delivered, they did go away on their own. Thank goodness, after reading your post, Crystal. Hope you feel better.

By Nicki on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 09:13 pm:

Goodness, Crystal. What an awful experience. I'm glad you are feeling better!

By Bellajoe on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 09:25 pm:

OUCH! That does not sound fun. Thanks for the heads up! I hope you heal quickly and never go thru this again.

By Crystal915 on Saturday, May 20, 2006 - 02:51 pm:

Thanks everyone!! I am still not feeling up to par, but definitely better than I was! I really was surprised, this is apparently not a common thing, and I was lucky to have a wonderful doc and NP to help me. I hope none of you every experience it, but if you do, don't make my mistake, go in sooner!!

By Beth on Saturday, May 20, 2006 - 06:27 pm:

Glad you are on the mend. It sounds horrible. ((HUGS))

By Anonymous on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 11:10 am:

When I was a working nurse, I took care of a patient who let hers go so long they had to do surgery. These are nothing to fool with. As it may sound bad, you got off easy compared to the one whohad to be operated on. So everyone take heed of what Crystal says - check it out.
I'm glad Crystal you are feeling better, get rest, your body has been through a lot. Do make sure you get on antibotics to make sure there is no system infection. Take care and our prayers are with you.

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 11:39 am:

This is an improper use of anonymous. Please see the Posting Guidelines about the use of anonymous.

By Crystal915 on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 10:11 pm:

Anon, I am on anitbiotics, and trying to rest. Thanks!

By Sandysmom on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 08:26 pm:

So.....um...how you feeling????

By Crystal915 on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 10:53 pm:

Thanks for asking Sandy... I was completely healed by last Wednesday or so, I'm feeling a million times better.

By Cocoabutter on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 11:12 pm:

Eww. Okay, another post not for the squeamish...

I am unable to use tampons, for some reason. I was afraid of them in high school b/c of the news about Toxic Shock Syndrome. I had used them for about 6 months when I started to get the shakes and a fever. Then I switched to maxi pads.

I HATE pads, because in the summer, it is so hard not to be sweaty and stinky. Sometimes, always in the summer, I have gotten what I thought were pimples on my labia. Now I am wondering if they were the bartholin glands, and if the swelling was caused by the exposure to the pads and the moisture that would build up down there. It always goes away in a day or 2 after I quit flowing.

By Crystal915 on Thursday, June 1, 2006 - 02:00 am:

Lisa,
They very well could be, but they could also be pimples. I HATE pads, I got horrible rashes from them when I was post-partum and had no choice but to use them. There is a diagram located on this page they aren't actually on the labia, but next to the very bottom of the vaginal opening. Either way, talk to your doc! Have you considered Instead Cups? They can be messy, but are a good alternative to pads and tampons, and can be used to swim during your cycle.

By Shalom2t on Sunday, June 4, 2006 - 11:43 pm:

Just a quick note: most women use tampons too large in size. Try going down in size and changing more often. Also a cousin can only use Kotex brand and no others - it could be a reaction. Toxic shock was mostly due to the "new" Tampon at the time can't remember the name - but it was made from stuff that looked like someone tore up an old pink foam hair roller. The stuff absorbed like crazy and held a lot! Women wouldn't change as much and that was what made toxic shock happen in the large numbers. My doctor believes in changing every hour. Not doing so can cause infections too or pimples.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, June 5, 2006 - 01:02 am:

Rely, was the name of the brand they stopped making. I loved them, too. I think that all came down, when I was in college in the late 70's to early 80's.

Changing a tampon every hour? I don't have time in my life for that!

By Pamt on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 05:55 pm:

Just to chime in on the Toxic Shock Syndrome issue...You can get TSS even if you didn't use Rely Tampons. I got TSS my senior year in college while using a Tampax tampon. I would absolutely NOT recommend changing tampons every hour because if they are too "dry" it can cause problems--that was my issue. I was near the end of my period and had a lighter flow. I removed the tampon before it was well-saturated (at night---I was always meticulous about changing tampons every few hours and using pads at night). The tampon was fairly dry in the string part that is embedded in the tampon cut me internally when I pulled it out. I felt it--like a paper cut--but thought nothing about it. The next day, while on a roadtrip from Birmingham, AL to Gatlinburg, TM with my college roommate I started having chills and sweats. I ate lunch, thinking I was hungry, and we pressed on. By the time we got to Gatlinburg I was so weak I couldn't walk and started suspecting TSS. I called my parents, they told me to go to the ER, and I ended up in the hospital in very serious condition and was on IV antibiotics as an inpatient for 2 days. The officials at Tampax told me to NEVER use tampons again, because my risk is much greater of recurring TSS. I can also not use contraceptive sponges, diaphrams, Instead cups, or basically have anything "up there" except my DH (*blush*). Just wanted to clarify that TSS has nothing to do necessarily with the type or size of tampon...and it does still happen.