Bartholin cyst infected or fistula?

Many woman present with a bartholine cyst but ends up a becoming a fistula. Please keep an eye on it and keep your doctor notified. If you go to the ER they won't have a clue that you are developing an something that can be very serious. This happened to me and my doctor refused to see the connection. It took a good doctor who really listened and understood the connection to give me the care I needed.

Thanks NJK, I called my surgeon today because the bump that I had and was so sore doesn't hurt today and I think maybe it drained? To where I'm not sure:/ is this dangerous or if I can live with it just leave it alone?

My RV fistula presented this way. I was sure it was a bartholin gland cyst as did my gyno. You would know for sure if it drained - it would be a big, gross mess. I would DEFINITELY go get this checked out by your surgeon.

I have a perianal fistula and seton drain.

My fistula was dx by pelvic MRI. I'd ask for one if I was you.

My "perianal bump" would cycle, drain, calm down, fill as the skin healed, burst, repeat. I never had TONS of drainage, but enough to blot off on a wash cloth. I'd think it was getting better, then it would start again. It was super annoying, and painful. Not everyone ends up with a fistula after an abscess, but at least 1/2 do. I did.

Warm to hottish sitz baths helped and were soothing, but nothing calmed it til I got the drain. Not sure what my long term plan is here, but I'm happy to have the drain so the outside hole doesn't keep healing over and lets it settle.

Thanks for the replies, I guess my biggest question is is it bad for my health and or/pouch if the abcess or fistula is just left alone? I don't have that many problems with it hurting and I don't want to open up a whole new can of worms!! My surgeon did say he would do an exam under anesthesia to see what it was but I would hate to wake up with a drain or something without knowing first!:/

Mine was originally dx as a Bartholin cyst by my general doc, she sent me to a gyno, who wasn't convienced it was a bartholin cyst. She did surgery to remove it, then while I was still under my kidney doc came in and put a stent in my kidney...(double whammy that day). Anyway, it healed and came back within a few months. My gyno called a colon surgeon friend of hers just to ask if it could be related to my UC. Without even seeing me he said "Nope...she has Crohn's...and thats a recto-vaginal fistula". They made me an appointment with him and he confirmed what he thought. He put in a seton drain, which I had for about a year. They finally took out the seton, I still have a hole there, but not enough draining to do another seton. It doesn't get infected anymore and gives me no pain.

Best of luck with whatever your decision is...

JPoucher,

I have four setons from four different fistulas. My first one started out exactly as you describe. But my horrible GI in Florida thought it was just a bump.

Fast forward six months and I was in the hospital for two weeks because the infection from my fistula couldn't drain, so it went into my system. I had gone septic and was sick as a dog.

They put in my first seton and said if it had been caught earlier, it could have been drained and I could have avoided the infection.

I'm not trying to scare you, but my surgeon said that any time you have these imflamed "bumps" on your bum and/or vaginal area and you have UC or Crohn's, you should get into a GI surgeon as fast as you can.

I will have these four setons in indefinitely. I'm on both Humira and Methotrexate and they are still draining.

jpoucher4life, I have to agree with those above who recommend getting this checked out sooner rather than later. It may be possible to leave things alone, but that's really a decision for your surgeon to make after doing an EUA. As tammykathleen noted, you can become septic with these things if left untreated. I believe I was "simmering" septic - if there is such a thing - for years before my fistula was found and treated with a seton/antibiotics.

The surgeon will inform you prior to the surgery what the possible outcome is - you do have to sign off on the possibility of a seton placement if he finds a fistula.

Cataja, thanks for your post - it was very informative/helpful!

Thanks everyone! This site is so great since no one knows what we're talking about when we tell them! I will be schedule an appointment tomorrow with my surgeon Great info from everyone!!

So thanks for everyone telling me to go in. I went in yesterday for an EUA, and my Dr. found a fistula . He put a mushroom drain in for 10-14 days and he's *hoping* that will close the fistula. He did say that was wishful thinking! He also said that had I left it alone it would probably have fistulized to the vagina so I'm so thankful I went in when I did!! Has anyone had a fistula close after a mushroom drain? He also said he was leaning towards a crohns diagnosis since this fistula was so far from my surgery! A little overwhelming for one day so he said we could talk about maintaince medicine later!

That same thing happened to me! I called clev clinic when this bump appeared 3 weeks after my takedown. And the nurse who's name I won't mention, told me they don't deal with that area and said to go to my gyno or the er well I had to go to the er bc it was Friday afternoon. They said it was a cyst gave me an antibiotic and tramadol. Followed up with the gyno had 2 weeks of appta come to my last one and said cc wants to make sure it isn't a fistula she goes funny you say that I was about to tell you to call clev it's a fistula. Long story next day had an eua put the mushroom drain in then 2 cutting seton and today it is STIll giving me hell. It's one painful thing.

And I've had this since September and its still open. An extra hole down there vi hope yours isn't as painful as mine. It's like sitting on razor blades! It's really weird how your story is soo similar to what happened to me

Danielle, our stories are very similar!! Is your Dr. thinking crohns or not because it was pretty close to your surgery date?

They think it is acting like crohns but isn't: they are treatin me liked have it. It hasn't gone away. I'm on cipro, tinidazole, and humira. Also with
Euas but I haven't had one since April. It's crazy how similar they are