Hi all,

I am 27 years old and I just got my first Bartholin cyst. I had noticed a tiny (smaller than a bb) ball-shaped lump on my outer right labia about a month ago and didn't think much of it, but almost a week ago, the labia became swollen. I thought it was an ingrown hair and tried to put pressure on it in an attempt to find the hair, but could see nothing. I left it alone and after 2 days it grew to about half the size of a grape.

I started researching online and found a slew of depressing info about Bartholin's gland cysts and abscesses, complete with horror stories. I started taking sitz baths with Epsom Salt and keeping a warm compress on the area in the morning and at night. While doing so, I kept researching and luckily came across this forum.

Yesterday, I used what I had on hand and brewed some strong green tea with lotus, mixed it with witch hazel and calamine lotion, dipped cottons balls in the mixture and put them on the cyst for about an hour. I then took a sitz bath then packed the area with Epsom Salt paste and kept a warm compress on it for 2 -3 hrs. I repeated the process all day.

Last night it looked like a pimple coming to a head. Silly me tried to pop it. This resulted in waking up with 2 blood blisters on top of the cyst. I sent my boyfriend out for tea tree oil and I am now attempting Phoebe's remedy along with neosporin on the blood blisters.

If this thing doesn't burst soon I may lose my mind. It hurts to stand or walk. I've been confined to the couch for 2days now. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I am trying to avoid going to the doctor, as it will cost me at least $200 and the only thing they'll probably do is give me Antibiotics in case it is infected.

The tea tree oil concoction feels soothing, which is great for the pain, but I am just ready tor this thing to drain.

Any supportive words would help here, ladies. I just want to cry :(