- Date:
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Friday, October 27, 2000
Story
OCTOBER 27, 2000 I AM FINALLY GOING IN TO HAVE
MY CYST REMOVED ON NOVEMBER 6TH, 2000 AFTER ENDURING PAIN FOR
THE PAST 22 YEARS. I, LIKE MANY OF YOU, HAVE HAD IT LANCED
NUMEROUS TIMES FOUGHT INFECTIONS WITH ANTIBIOTICS, AND HAVE
BASICALLY BEEN THROUGH MORE PAIN AND HELL THEN I CARE TO TELL
YOU. ALTHOUGH ANYONE SUFFERING FROM THIS ALREADY KNOWS. ONE
THING I FOUND THAT HELPED (PRIOR TO SURGERY) WAS A PRODUCT ON
THE MARKET CALLED IODEX. IT CAN BE PURCHASED THROUGH MAIL ORDER
HEALTH PRODUCTS OR YOUR LOCAL PHARMACIST CAN ORDER IT (WHICH IS
WHAT I DO). THIS PRODUCT IS A GOD SEND. IT IS IODINE IN A PASTE
FORM THAT ONCE APPLIED LIBERALLY SEVERAL TIMES A DAY (WITH
HEATING PAD IF YOU LIKE) WILL GET THE INFECTION TO DRAIN FASTER
THAN ANY PRODUCT I HAVE EVER USED. AFTER 22 YEARS OF THIS
INFLICTION I HAVE USED THEM ALL. THIS PRODUCT HAS SAVED ME MUCH
PAIN AND SUFFERING AND NOW MY PHARMACIST KEEPS IT ON THE
SHELVES. IF YOU HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING IT E-MAIL ME AT
SNM41200@AOL AND I CAN GLADLY SEND YOU INFORMATION ON WHERE TO
ORDER. IT IS REASONABLY PRICED AND WORKS FASTER THEN ANYTHING MY
DOCTOR EVER PRESCRIBED. IT IS NICE TO KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY
PERSON THAT HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS AWFUL AFFLICTION. ALTHOUGH
IT IS NOT A CLUB ANYONE WOULD WANT TO BE A MEMBER OF. MY SURGEON
IS ALSO OPTING TO LEAVE THE WOUND OPEN TO HEAL AND I WILL REPORT
THE RESULTS HERE AFTER IT'S SUCESSFUL REMOVAL.
- Date:
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Saturday, October 14, 2000
Story
Hi! In February 2000, I had my annual physical
with my PCP. I asked her about my bump on my tailbone. She
assured me it was nothing to worry about. Two weeks later, I had
returned to her again cause it was bothering me. My Doctor told
me I had a large zit there with a head on it. I said "Wow"!! I
could not beleive it! She assured me again that it was nothing
to worry about. So i went home and had my boyfriend pop it for
me. Well it kept filling up and needed to be popped over and
over again. My boyfriend was getting grossed out at all of this.
I went to see my doctor again.
This time my doctor told me I had a pilonidal
cyst and she referred me to a general surgeon. I did not have
much knowledge about this, so I just went ahead with it and
trused my doctor and this general surgeon. I had surgury on May
17, 2000. The surgeon did not leave it open. She stiched it up
completely. i was sore for 2-3 weeks. I returned to work after a
week and just took it easy. Well, it was doing pretty good for
the first month. Then it started to bother me again. The
insicion was starting to puss and open up on its own. I returned
to the hopsital and saw my surgon's nurse. She told me that that
was normal. Well this kept happening and was getting pretty
painful. It would flare up and then burst. Blood and puss would
be all over my underware. After seeing the nurse 3 times with
the same situation, I insisted on seeing my General Surgon.
Well this time, my General Surgon and her nurse
took one look at it and said "well it looks like we need to
operate on you again." Yikes! She told me that I either have
another cyst, or that it has formed an abcess. No wonder its
hurting so bad!
Just before this appointment, the nurse who was
taking my vital signs recommened me to go see a colorectal
surgeon. It was like this nurse was telling me to stay away from
this general surgeon.
So after talking to my family, and people at
work I decided to get a second opinion. I work in a Health
Department with 2 nurses who are more than helpful! Thank god
for them!
I saw this colorectal surgeon. He was awesome!
He explained that he would perform surgury on me and leave the
incision open to let it heal correctly. He was dead set against
closing it up just as my general surgon had done the first time.
I have decided to go with this colorectal surgon and am hoping
that this will take care of it for once and all! I am scheduled
for my second surgury on Oct. 26, 2000.
For those of you out there with this aweful
thing... go to a colorectal surgon. Make sure they leave it
open. I have heard nothing good about when they close it up.
Good luck and I will keep you posted after I have my second
surgury in 1 1/2 weeks!
- Date:
-
Wednesday, October 11, 2000
Story
A few weeks after finding this site and having
my second surgery, I am finally able to sit long enough to type
this story.
Months ago while riding in some very
uncomfortable Army hummer, I developed what I thought was a
bruise on my tailbone. I began finding excuses not to sit or
when I did, sit in such a way that I wouldn't be putting to much
weight on my tailbone. It got to the point that this supposed
bruise felt like a hundred knives. I unwittingly reached my hand
back there I and felt what seemed to me to be a bump the size of
a basket ball. I was already at the emergency room before I had
time to calm down.
After being sliced and diced in the ER several
times over the next couple of weeks, I was picking my anestesia
for surgery. Some perfer a general, but I went for the spinal. I
was so doped up before the needles went in to my back that it
didn't even phase me. I was able to talk to the Doc's although I
don't remember too much of it. The dose was quite high, it beeng
my first time and all. By the time I was in recovery I felt
fine. There is the part about not being able to feel ANYTHING
down there. On a happy note, my cyst was gone. And for the next
month my wife, the wonderful person she is, would change my
dressing twice a day.
Now that the cyst was gone it was back to the
cutting board to get rid of the tracts. I went with the spinal
(in a much lower dose). I even got to have a great conversation
with the doctors, got to see what they took from me, and
remember everything. I only spent a few hours in recovery, and I
got to help a rookie spinal patient back in to bed after trying
to go for a walk.
That was October 2nd. I try to make lite of this
for all of us. I do not however wish this on anyone, and I feel
for all of you that suffer with me.
- Date:
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Sunday, October 08, 2000
Story
It was on February 14th, 2000 when I had my
first surgery (pilonidal Cyst Removal) I felt a lot pain and the
pcp sent me to the surgeon after surgery the surgeon close the
all excision that was the big mistake instead of living it open.
I got a lot abcess and infection . I changed the surgeon again
the same story I had another surgery on Ausgust 23,2000 the
surgeron leave part of the incision open to heal inside out. It
was 5 cm deep. and the incision 14 inch long. This has been the
most terrible story in my life, I have bben out of work for more
than 6 months. Please anyone that have the same problem be
careful with your doctor this something simple but with a lot of
complications you have to take care of yourself and do not sit
or do any kind of heavy job for at least two months. i hope
anyone can see this story because I feel so depressed and I
don't want someone us to pass through this. Wish luck to
everyone with this disease.
- Date:
-
Saturday, October 07, 2000
Story
It was about September 24, 2000 that I first
noticed the discomfort. It began with difficulty sitting for
long periods of time. And within a day or two it increased to
severe discomfort when sitting for any amount of time. For years
I occasionally noticed a small amount of swelling in the area of
my tailbone, but attributed it to a possible bumping of the
area. I think I may have even thought of the possiblity of
pilonidal disease (my sister had it years ago) but dismissed it,
not wanting it to be so.
I scheduled an appointment with my family
physician and was seen on Wednesday September 28. My doctor,
upon a quick examination sent me home with a prescription of an
anti-inflammatory and instructions to apply heat. He thought it
was nothing more than coccygenia and told me to come back if it
worsened, but he thought it would be fine. By Friday I had
difficulty driving, the pain was intensified by the posture
needed to drive. But I didn't want to appear to be over anxious
and managed to make it through the weekend. By Sunday evening
ever move I made was excrutiating. I could not find a
comfortable position to sleep and called my Dr's office first
thing in the morning.
When he referred me to a surgeon he said it was
pilonidal disease and he could not determine whether I would
need to have it surgically removed or just drained. The surgeon
took one quick look at the swollen area and quickly recommended
that she open it and clean it out. Within half an hour I was on
my way home with an incision about 2 inches long. She choose to
leave it heal openly, and thank goodness I had the forsight to
have my sister bring me. She showed my sister how to pack the
wound so that it would heal from the inside out. Her theory on
this is that is causes scar tissue and if packed widely the
amount of soft tissue is diminished as to avoid further
developements.
The pain is now reduced, and I can manage to sit
for short periods of time without much trouble. Changing the
dressings is becoming less painful also. She had recommended
that I take a long hot shower to loosen it, remove it and allow
water to wash over it, and then repack it. For 3 days I was
unable to remove the packing myself, today for the first time I
did. It is very awkward and humiliating to have to have someone
help with this process, but I have a wonderful support network
with my family. And they have made me feel very fortunate to
have them. If you have to go through any of the procedures
mentioned at this site, please make sure you have someone that
you can count on for your maintenence.
The pain is now less than it was before the
procedure was performed. And that is a sign of success to me!
Good luck to all who have to endure this little
known disease. The biggest hurdle is probably explaining it to
everyone around you! :-)
- Date:
-
Monday, September 25, 2000
Story
My ordeal with Pilonidal Cysts began on Saturday
September 2, 2000. It was then that I began to feel
"uncomfortable" while sitting. In 3 days the pain became so
severe that I literally couldn't bear to sit down. I went to my
family doctor who informed me that I had a Pilonidal Abcess and
sent me right to a surgeon. The surgeon lanced the area and
found 3 pus pockets. He had to make a T shaped incision approx 1
inch long and approx 1-1 1/2 inches deep. He sent me home with
antibiotics, pain medicine, and instructions to change the
packing once a day. I did not feel comfortable changing the
packing myself or having my family do it for me, but I was lucky
enough to have a friend who is a nurse who came everyday to
change the packing and dressings for me. I found that the
packing, Iodoform, caused a burning sensation for approx 1-2
hours after insertion. I managed this pain by taking pain
medicine approx 1 hour prior to changing the dressing. After
about 4 days I only needed the pain medicine for dressing
changes, the rest of the time I was just "uncomfortable." I am
currently nearly pain free, although I still have an open wound.
Some sitting positions are uncomfortable. It took about 2 weeks
for the inflammation and infection to decrease enough that the
Dr would set a date for surgery. I am scheduled for surgery on
Oct 2, 2000. I debated with my doctor the pros and cons of
surgery vs non-surgical treatment. I decided to have the surgery
because he said the recovery period for my current wound could
be the same as if I had the surgery, and the chances of
reoccurence without the surgery were greatly increased. This
along with the fact that my age is on my side now (I am 24). I
will heal much faster now than I would if I had the surgery
years down the road. My doctor is going to do a "deep & wide
excision" of the cyst. He is going to close the incision with
stitches. My doctor wouldn't speculate on my recovery time, he
says the area could take weeks or months to heal. Some
complications to the healing process would be infection or
re-opening of the incision, requiring more stitches. He
recommends closing the area as opposed to leaving it open
because of the size of the wound. Leaving it open to heal from
the inside out could take considerably longer. I am going to
increase my intake of Vitamins C & E, as well as Zinc because
all the info I have read online says that it should help the
healing process. I am glad that I found this website. It has
answered some questions that I had and raised new ones that I
would like to discuss with my doctor. I now know that the "cute
dimples" I had just above my butt aren't quite so cute - but
were just a hint of what was to come. I will be sure to post
again after the surgery to relay any information that I can.
- Date:
-
Monday, September 25, 2000
Story
It's not my self but my husband who has to deal
with this horrible problem, he will be going into surgery
Tomorrow for the 3rd time the surgery date being 9/25/00. First
time he discovered this he was in his mid to late teens. I had
to learn how to clean and care for the wound for him, Each time
they have had to remove more of his tailbone because of
infection. We beleive it to be at the Dr.'s fault, so this time
when it reoccured we sought other medical advice.The first Dr.
seemed right, he put him on anti-biotics to help clear away ant
infection, but the time came for the surgery and the Dr. had to
go out of town. So once again we set out and found another, and
as i said the surgery is tomorrow. Now a few yrs. back I found a
medical book that listed this condition,and we did the treatment
at home and kept it under control, for you see it kept re-occuringevery
2 yrs.,and he didn't want to have to go in for surgery, until
it, I admit, we slacked off,which is easy once you start feeling
better,so care for this will be an on going thing for the rest
of his life,we will constantly have to remove hair adns shave
the area, and keep a close eye on it. I am not a Dr. but I can
tell you of the treatments we used at home from the advice of
the book and earlier Dr.'s advice.A sitz bath or an in home spa
is good to soak in to clean the area, and if you can find steril
water to flush out the wound,and then a small amount of
peroxide,and then swab the area with an anti biotic cream, do
not go deep though,just around the outside,and then it can be
packed with sterile gauze, always clean the tub very well before
and after use I used the Red Lysol Bottle, or straight bleach,
not in the water but to clean the tub, but REMEMBER...I AM NOT A
DR. and the best advice would be to consult one,but if you have
heard similiar advice then I hope this helps you along more. But
I have found good advice here on this page, my husband has never
been much on taking vitamins and I think that has not helped in
his case of the re-occurences,and yes the more fiber and veggies
during those times are helpful because honestly it is painful
for them to have to go to the bathroom after that because of the
sitting,so make it easy on them or yourself!I am scared for my
husband,because this is the first time he is scared,so I am
praying and hoping,and I will get back in touch! I thank you for
sharing your experiences,there are more cases of this than we
realize and I hope more people can learn from you! Sarah M.
- Date:
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Thursday, September 14, 2000
Story
One week after my husband and I married, at age
19, I noticed pain at the end of my tail bone. In two days the
pain had become so unbearable, that I was unable to sit at all.
I promise you, nothing had ever hurt me that bad!! My new
husband drove me to the emergency room on a Sunday morning. The
Doctor took one look and said, this has to come out. I was
scheduled for surgery the next day. After the surgery, it took
about 6 weeks for recovery. Here we were, newlyweds, and
learning to sleep in the same bed! It seemed everytime my
husband would turn over, his knee would hit my incision.....it
was no honeymoon, I guarantee!!
The incision was about 7 inches long and closed
with staples. I never saw the thing that was causing me so much
pain, but my husband and parents did. They said it was about a
foot long clump of hair, encased in a pus filled
sac....something from outer space was their comment. My surgeon
told me that it had progressed so far and was so badly abcessed
that if it had burst, I would have probably died from the
infection.
This was 24 years ago, and I have been cyst free
since, although sometimes the scar will dry and split a little
and will bleed and get very sore.
I can tell you, that is no way to spend a
honeymoon!!!!
- Date:
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Sunday, June 18, 2000
Comments
The very first story here gets to be mine!!!
I don't remember how old I was when I first
noticed the small hole over my tailbone but I think it was in my
mid-teens. I never had any symptoms until I was about 23 and I
was doing sit-ups one day and felt a pain in my tailbone area.
Upon investigation, I could feel a hard lump beneath the skin. I
didn't bother me much so I thought no more about it, assuming I
had bruised my tailbone or something. Occasionally over the
years the lump would seem bigger and hurt a bit but never so
much that I sought treatment. Once, when I was about 28, I drove
from Florida to Cape Cod and experienced my first real nasty
drainage after 18 hours of driving. When I finally
realized where all that nasty smelling fluid was coming from, I
grew concerned, but did nothing since I had no medical
insurance.
I finally found out what I had from an article
in Prevention Magazine (Bless them!). About a year later I had
my first serious flare up (I was about 30) and was in so much
pain I ran to the doctor. He lanced the cyst right there in his
office and after the incision healed it seemed ok for about a
year. Then it started to flare up again and would drain from the
site of the incision. It didn't happen too often and I was
terrified of the major surgery to remove it so I just dealt with
it, hoping that it would go away after I turned 30 like so many
of the texts said it might. No such luck. In fact, it just kept
getting worse until I was flaring up every 3 weeks. I finally
bit the bullet and had the surgery at 37. Best thing I have ever
done for myself!!!
Sasha
