I woke up in pain yesterday morning. Somewhere in every woman’s sensitive area. I just ignored it thinking it would go away within the day. I actually thought it was something like a “kulani” or “hemorrhoid (buwa in Tagalog if I am not mistaken)”. Night came by, the pain is still there but it was already late to see my OB so I said I’ll go and visit her the next day, that’s today. At the back of my mind, I was hoping that when I woke up this morning, the pain had gone away.

I woke up this morning, still in pain. Unfortunately, my OB’s Monday clinic sched starts at 1pm. Sent her a message and she said if I couldn’t take the pain anymore, go and see her in the hospital’s ER where I gave birth. I decided to wait for 1pm, again, hoping the pain would leave me before the clock strikes at 1pm.

At quarter to 1pm, I headed on to her clinic. I told and shown her what I have “there” and been feeling. Had it internally examined and she immediately said what she’s suspected. Bartholin Cyst.

A Bartholin’s cyst, also called a Bartholin’s duct cyst, is a small growth just inside the opening of a woman’s vagina. Cysts are small fluid-filled sacs that are usually harmless. The condition tends to affect sexually active women, who are between 20-30 years of age.

But in my case, it is painful. And definitely not due to sexual intercourse because my husband is not around. When I asked her how I got this, she said it could be the sanitary napkin I have been using. Nakukulob daw. She then advised me to stop using maternity pads, instead use panty liners. Anyway, the bleeding isn’t much anymore.

A Bartholin’s cyst can remain small and painless, and may not cause any symptoms. However, it is possible for the cyst to become infected, which can cause an abscess (a painful collection of pus) in the Bartholin’s gland. If the cyst becomes large, or painful, a number of treatments are available to drain and remove the cyst. Most treatments involve having a minor surgical procedure carried out under local anaesthetic (painkilling mediation) that takes around 20 minutes to complete. Following surgery to drain and remove a cyst, it will take around two weeks for you to fully recover. Depending on which procedure is used, the cyst or abscess can reoccur in up to 38% of people.

At this moment, I am on antibiotics. My OB said the cyst should go away by Wednesday. If not, I have no choice but to go through another surgery.

I wanted to cry when she said that. I am not even fully recovered from the CSec operation I had gone through 3 weeks ago and here I am prone to another surgery. Yes, it is a minor one but sure thing it’ll make me idle for sometime. Two weeks to recover isn’t a joke for a breastfeeding and stay at home mom to a newborn and a preschooler like me. I just hope the cyst dissolves before Wednesday. Hubby is expected to arrive on the same day and I don’t wanna miss the chance picking him up from the airport.

As I write this post, I try to forget and ignore the pain and sitting uncomfortably. Go figure! I even had a second thought sharing this sensitive condition I am in right now but I thought I’d share it for others’ awareness.

Related posts:

1. Off To See My OB!
2. I Say No to Bottle Feeding!
3. Erchelle : Birthing Story Part 1

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