Two weeks ago, I discovered a lump down below on the left side. I went to the doctor four days later who told me it was a bartholin's cyst and to keep an eye on it and to come back if it gets bigger/painful. At this time it was not painful and probably about 2cm in size.
I went to the doctor the following week (twelve days after discovering the lump) as the cyst had become more painful and a lot bigger. The doctor informed me that it had developed into an abscess and started me on a course of Flucloxacillin (antibiotics).
Two days later, i went back to the doctor as i was in a lot of pain. It had felt like the abscess was the size of a golf ball. I was unable to sit down, walk properly and only able to lay on my right side. The doctor sent me to the hospital as it had grown to approximately 4cm and she felt like it needed draining.
The same day, I went to the hospital and was examined by a male doctor. He said it was approx 1cm in size and i was in the grey area of having it drained due to the size. I requested a second opinion from another doctor as I explained it felt much bigger than that and with every movement that I made, i felt like it was going to burst. A female doctor examined the abscess and said I definitely needed it drained and it that it was approximately 5cm in size! (much bigger than 1cm!!!!) The female doctor asked if i could return back to the hospital at 9am to have the operation.
I returned to the hospital the next day and was put on a ward. I was first in line that day for the operation so as long as an emergency did not come in through A&E, it could have been done pretty quickly and i would have been allowed home the same day.
The staff on the ward were excellent at explaining everything and vert caring. I went down for the marsupialization at about 12:20pm and was back by about 1:15pm. The operation itself took 15-20 minutes but because i was under general anaesthetic, it took a while for me to come around after the surgery.
I was given oramorph (liquid morphine) and ibruprofen when i was back on the ward. The pain was minimal and i felt such a relief of not having the abscess in that awful place.
I was allowed home at about 6:15pm the same day and was given lots of medication to send me on my way:
- 5 day course of Co-amoxiclav (antibiotics)
- Ondanestron (anti-sickness tablet, as nausea is a common side effect from the antibiotic)
- Paracetamol for pain
- Ibruprofen for pain
- Oramorph (only to be taken if pain is severe)
- Omeprazole (a gastro resistant drug due to the amount of painkillers I was taking)
It has been one day since the surgery and i am in a small amount of pain, although nothing compared to the pain i was in with the bartholin's abscess.
Happy to answer any questions if you have any :-)