saddle "issue"

[Di bear]

Cysts are "normal" abnormalities. Does that make sense? They happen and they're usually nothing. If it doesn't bother the patient, then nothing needs to be done, however, this is causing you discomfort, and your OB/Gyn should drain it for that reason.

A cyst is a fluid filled sac (your bladder is a cyst, and your gallbladder is a "cyst," so if you have your gallbadder removed, it is a "cholecystectomy"). Cysts are generally no big deal. Some occur normally, like during your menstrual cycle (you grow a cyst, it pops and releases an egg; follicles are small, or functional, "cysts"). An abscess is not a cyst, but an infection.

With that said, I'll tell you what I've told some of my patients: it's kind of like my acne problem. It happens, is undesirable, and is not always comfortable, but it doesn't mean anything.

Good luck!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If i were riding on a hard lump the size of two jelly beans, I'd want my gynocologist to drain it too! Ask them to see if it is safe to drain it.

[KnottedYet]

Can you borrow a Fizi'k or Brooks from someone, to see if being on a firmer saddle that keeps your sit bones weightbearing and your soft tissues hovering above the nose works for you?

I've never had a Bartholin's cyst, so I don't know nothin'. But I know I lent out my Fizi'k, and I sort of miss it....

[dreadpirate]

Fiz'ik you say. Hrm. I'll see about borrowing one. Thanks for that.

The Jett is pretty supportive of my sit bones, when I am sitting up. I noticed the first time I sat on it that it is exactly where my sit bones are.

My coach also suggested a gel pad - which is an interesting suggestion. I'll feel like a total grandma, but if it works in the interim, I'd rather ride than not ride.

I notice that the spin bike saddles are less of a problem, for whatever reason. I also note that after Tuesday's spin class, the lump is decreasing in size. Better it takes care of itself than I have to do something about it, right?

[ehirsch83]

Ahh Gel Pads! Louis Garneau makes a gel pad chamois that is heaven! I have LG bibs that have the gel chamois and I hate wearing anything else(but I often have to, since I normally ride in my kit).

Try a Fi'zik, I have the Vitesse HP and I really like it, I used to ride with a Fi'zik men's aliante sport(until it got stolen). I am a huge fan of Fi'ziks. But... I do still get cysts in the nether regions! I get mine when I am riding in the drops a lot(same as you getting them from being in aero), but when I bought my new saddle(the vitesse) I also tried a Specialized Jett, and I could not stand how the saddle felt. I took it out for a short hour spin and ended up trading saddles with my ex and riding the rest of the way back in his.
The Vitesse I tried on the trainer(we stuck it on the new bike while I was doing my fitting) and I fell in love with it.

So definitaly give it a try, and don't be afraid to try the men's saddles also! I feel that I am just as happy with the women's as I was with the mans.

[sundial]

A cyclist friend who rides on the aerobars for long distances swears by the Koobi saddle. Maybe this is another option?

[dreadpirate]

good options - I'll take those into account.

In the interim, I've found a gel saddle cover that I've put over it (by Royal Gel)

It's a cheap option to a full-on new saddle, which I'll look into later

I can't believe that they make a gel cover that fits a racing saddle - very slim, fits exactly on the Jett - but they do.

It does make the saddle look like a total grandma saddle, but it's helping. The lump is not getting bigger. Used to be after a long ride I'd get home and the thing would have grown - not so much with the gel cover.

does anybody like the anatomica?

[dreadpirate]

I did the Colorado Relay last weekend, injured my ITBand. The week before that, I laid off my training so that I could try and kill an impending headcold. So I've done less cycling than usual in two weeks.

Here is the report: after two weeks of little or no riding, or just riding the spin bike = LUMP GONE except for the nerve that started it all.

How very interesting.