Help. What could this be? Sensitive question.

[KSH]

Well, my Gyno thinks it's a cyst. But she's not really sure. And she said the only thing that could be done for it would be to lance it... aka: no riding for 2 weeks.

I probably need to get to a dermatologist now. Although, the situation is sounding kind of hopeless. Unless I'm willing to stop riding for 2 weeks (assuming it's not more).

I would hate to NOT be able to ride (and possibly swim- I bet I couldn't swim either)... as I'm 2 months into 8 months of my Ironman training. I also hate the idea of having this pain every time I get on the bike.

It's so odd... because on Sunday it was raised, swollen and painful. Today it's flat, not swollen or painful. It just seems to get irritated when I ride. Blah.

[Grog]

I would hate to NOT be able to ride (and possibly swim- I bet I couldn't swim either)... as I'm 2 months into 8 months of my Ironman training. I also hate the idea of having this pain every time I get on the bike.

Now is probably better than later...

But it sucks.

[KSH]

Now is probably better than later...

But it sucks.

But since it goes away a day after cycling... maybe it will go away on it's own? Of course, when I cycle it pops back up. Ugh.

I'm going to try some remedies to see if I can fix it myself.

[aicabsolut]

If it shrinks that much after a day, the derm probably won't lance it, but would do a cortisone injection if anything. They most likely wouldn't just lance it anyway if it's a bad one or very deep, but maybe send you to have it surgically removed (meaning 4-5 weeks off the bike at least).

I've tried using a cortisone cream, and that really helps get rid of the inflammation. I put on neosporin to help any open or oozing areas (sometimes mine comes to the surface and ruptures on its own). I also use neosporin with my chamois cream for a ride. It seems to help keep the thing from being reinfected.

All it takes to get one is to have some irritation enough that bacteria gets under the skin. Add in a little pinch from the saddle or shorts and it can get out of control. So an ingrown hair could get the ball rolling on a saddle sore or just getting a little raw from friction and moisture.

Seriously, find a good dermatologist if you're that worried about it. It may just clear up on its own or at least stay manageable until it decides to go away.

[ttaylor508]

Are you using aero bars on your bike or do you ride in your drops alot? If so, it might be the position that is causing a pinching type of irritation. Maybe try riding upright and stay out of the drops and see if that helps. Like I said, mine went away on its own and I kept riding, although I think I adjusted my positioning to a more upright position simply because it was more comfortable while the little bugger was still there. It took several weeks to completely go away, but knock on wood, it hasn't come back.

[emily_in_nc]

KSH, I'd urge you to find a (different!) dermatologist and see about getting a cortisone shot like I had. If the bump keeps sinking back down between rides, it is probably not a cyst, as a cyst wall would be there all the time if it were. The dermatologist thought mine was just bad inflammation that was not healing on its own. The cortisone shot stung a little, but it helped immediately, and I am quite sure I could have ridden pain-free the very next day. It's definitely worth a try as your sore sounds an awful lot like mine, and since you're training for an IM and can't afford the downtime of a lancing or surgical removal. My gyn looked at it when it was more actively swollen and thought it could be a cyst requiring removal as well, but after a couple of months on the bike, it didn't retain its cyst-like qualities, just continued to be inflamed, irritated, and discolored.

BTW, I tried to heal mine myself for months -- nothing I tried worked. I got LOTS of blood out of it with a sterilized needle numerous times, which would flatten it out temporarily, but it would just come back right after my next ride.

GOOD LUCK!

Emily

[KSH]

Thanks so much Emily!

I hope to get to a dermatalogist in the next month. It's such a trouble trying to get to one.

You drew blood out of yours. *Shudders* I'll pass on that.

Thanks again ladies for all your insightful input and comments. I really do appreciate each of you taking the time to help me out.