saddle "issue"

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I'm on the fence about having it out. It would have to happen after my last race of the season (late October). So I have some time to think about it. Surgery seems a bit extreme. I'll probably try other saddles in the interim and see if it changes things. I think that silly lump is there to stay, however, I am willing to be proven wrong.

Think about what you would do if that lump was on your arm, or on your forehead. Would you just leave it there, or would you get it removed?

[Zen]

excellent point, Lisa.

Surgery's not so bad. My biggest worry during surgery is the anesthesiologist.

[amy]

I would say modern medicine, even when practiced by a "lady" with "lady parts" is sorely lacking when it comes to actually knowing what to do with the "lady parts". After doing 5 years of doctoral work looking at women's experiences with pelvic pain, I couldn't take it anymore. Be careful and make sure any decision you make feels right for you. As far as surgery being an extreme measure... some would argue that riding on two jelly beans for hundreds of miles and choosing not to do anything until AFTER race season would be an extreme stance on life. ((Ride on girl, ride on!))

You might consider a second opinion if you can manage it. Just because she was a "lady parts" doctor, does not mean she has all the answers all the time.

Good luck!

[KnottedYet]

Ooooh, Amy, can you PM me your dissertation info?

We just started a pelvic program, and I'd love to read your findings!

(please?)

[dreadpirate]

OK, so I just found a link to a usenet forum with dude cyclists (not as useful to me as chick cyclists, but still...) in which, this guy talks about something called "Cyclists Nodule"

http://www.cyclingforums.com/archive...p/t-13233.html

I am stunned. He's describing almost exactly the same thing as me - he even calls it a testicle (I was only half joking when I called it an undescended testicle).

Also, I did not know that guys had perineums. I thought that was an exclusively chick term.

Thought I'd share.

On an update note, it's getting smaller - I think just the gel saddle cover is enough for it to dissipate. While I'm indecisive, it may just go away on its own!

[emily_in_nc]

Just got back from my yearly physical with my GP, who is a triathlete so very understanding about athletic issues. I too have a sebaceous cyst (aka big honking saddle sore that won't ever go away). She said that the only way it will go away is to have it excised, which she recommended I have a dermatologist do (not a plastic surgeon). Fun fun....

I will probably wait until the off season since it would take several off-bike weeks to heal, and I'm not willing to give up fall riding, so maybe in early January would be the time to have it done if it's still there. In the meantime, going back to a wider saddle (Terry Butterfly) has helped relieve some of the pressure on it since it distributes my weight over a larger area. I still have a harder, narrower saddle on my mtb, though, and the cyst is a bit tender/irritated now after a longish mtb ride on Wed. night

I feel your pain!

Emily