I'm in my early forties and have had 4 bartholin cysts in the last 2 years. It started out as a few years beforehand getting cysts on the top of my thigh/trunk region. (horrible, as it's just where the leg of your underwear is.
I am so glad to find this site, as I thought I was the only one, and it's really not anything you can talk to people about. I'm also so sorry for all of you - this pain really is worse than any other I've ever felt. Worse yet, my husband takes it personally and thinks I'm feigning the severity of the pain.
About a year and a half ago, my doctor referred me to an ob/gyn for this problem. He took a quick look (didn't speak to me, was too busy on the phone during the appointment(!) ) and scheduled me for surgery. Not knowing there were any other means of treatment, I went in to the hospital, they put me under general anesthesia, and did what the paperwork says was an "excision". This cost my insurance $8,000.
Even though it took 6 weeks (yes, six) to heal, and there was horrible scarring from the stitches (one of which fell out the first day, but the doctor didn't want to fix), I thought it was over for good. Till 6 months ago when they started coming back. I've had three since, and am beginning a new one just today. They usually swell to golf-ball size within 4 days, so I must call the doctor (new one) tomorrow. Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. The gland was supposed to be removed. Isn't that what an excision is? Turns out the doctor has since moved to another state, no forwarding address. And I'm in pain.
The antibiotics don't work - they just put it off for the duration of the pills. But, taking a pill every 6 hours for 2 weeks (which also removes the ability for my birth control pills to work) is not my cup of tea.
I've had them lanced, excised, done sitz baths, epsom salts, and nearly everything else under the sun. I'm lost. They keep coming back and I'm so tired of being in pain, while my husband has virtually given up on me.