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Date: June 30, 2008
Story22 male Canada
I discovered my abcess about 6 months ago. Discovered the pits and bad smelling drainage. Not much pain then. ive been to 2 doctors and the first told me to keep it clean and sent my on my way. The second i had to beg for a referal to a specialist due to lack of knowlege on the topic. Im not sure what to do i have a small bump on the side and now have about 7 pits. im am starting to have some pain and more and more drainage especially after sitting for long periods. i would like to get this cured before i go back to college and start playing hockey. im not to sure what type or quality of treatment i will get for this condition due to my location. I hope its not to invasive due to my physical job. I will update on my treatment and recovery for fellow canadians with this condition and lack of options. Open to advise(treatment in Canada)
PS Thanks pilonidal.org
Date: June 24, 2008
StoryHi this is Fausto, And have been researching all over the internet for information on this pilonidal cyst, fortunately I found this great website for great information. My story began exactley one week ago, I had told my wife that I felt that I bruised my tailbone, playing sports or lifting weights. I am a pretty physically active and well nutritious individual. Well a few day later I noticed a red swelling area around my the upper part of my butt crack area. I researched on the internet to see what diagnosis I can figure out. Well thursday nite came around I was really sore on the tip of my tailbone, I could not sit, get up; I was in alot pain. I went to the ER, and assuming that I had pilonidal abscess, Well I was right. I got a shot, which was painful and lanced. After the lancing I was stuffed with a gauze like material that resembled a string. I was given antibiotics and pain med. A few days later I got the stuffing removed and the doctor said that I healed pretty well. WILL THIS THING REOCCUR???????????????????/ What could I do to prevent this?
Date: June 24, 2008
StoryI just wanted to write something here about my experience with this condition as a lot of these stories on here seem to involve surgery, long healing times e.t.c. and my experience was nothing like that;
I noticed the telltale lump below my coxyx (sp?) and within three days it had gone from a minor concern to agony along with a very bad headache. I phoned my doctors and made an appointment but that night the lump burst after a sinus had formed, not the most pleasant experience at 4am! But the pain went almost straight away. I cleaned up as much as possible, had a shower and waited around until I could go to the doc's. When I got there they had a quick look and said it appeared to have stopped draining and looked to be clean. I was advised to keep the area clean (especially after the going to the loo!) and shower twice a day cleaning with plain soap. The doctor suggested I avoid antibiotics for the time being and being as I don't like to take them anyway and have an excellent immune & healing system I was happy to follow the advice. Though they did tell me to come back if the lump returned or the sinus didn't heal or went bad. She also said that my headache was probably due to the infection and that it'd go within a day or two. Two days later I was back at work, and within a week the sinus had fully closed and healed with no scarring e.t.c. and no signs of a reoccurance.
When I first started reading about these I was very worried by the experiences some people have had. I don't know whether I was lucky or have my immune system to thank for my super quick recovery but either way I hope any new sufferers with this can take a bit of comfort from reading my account.
If you start with this condition I suggest getting to the doctors as soon as possible, I think its probably fair to say that the earlier its treated the easier it will be.
To all those have been through or are going through the surgery or long healing processes you have my greatest sympathy. I hope you all get better soon.
Date: June 24, 2008
StoryMy story is not a very pleasant one, but i suppose the down side of the issue is one you need to hear to make an educated decision about it. I was 16 when I first started having trouble with my cyst. I was very embarrassed to say the least, because my cyst was less painful than most, but bled a lot more. I lived with the problem, telling no one about it for about six months, until my mother figured it out on her own. I then went to see my family physician and he diagnosed it as a pilonidal cyst and referred me to a surgeon because it was fairly bad at this point. Within a month I had the primary closure treatment, because I was trying to get ready for the football season and did not want to miss too much practice. The medical staff was amazing for the entire procedure, I was in early in the morning, out by the afternoon, minimal pain.
Later it came to the time to get the sutures removed. This was an agonizingly painful event. apparently, the wound had healed slightly faster than expected and the skin was very tight on the sutures, and removing them was painful to the point of screaming. Well, a few weeks later I go in for a check up with the surgeon. Now I am starting to have a complication with my healing, granulation tissue was starting to form improperly. The only way to deal with this situation was to cauterize the wound with a chemical that destroys this kind of tissue. This was the worst pain I have ever felt in my entire life. If I had to compare this pain with something to give you an idea of what it felt like, I would say cut yourself with a knife, not a very large cut, just a small one on any part of your body. Now put the knife in an open flame and go stop the bleeding while the knife becomes glowing hot. Once the knife is to a searing temperature, pick it up with some protective hand grips, and poke yourself in the fresh wound with this burning hot knife. That is the pain I had to feel two to three times a week for two months. Now it is two years later, and my cyst is coming back. I am going to see the doctor again tomorrow. Wish me luck that this time wont be so bad...
Date: June 22, 2008
StoryIm 17 years old, male and from UK.
I first started with this about 2 months ago when i felt some discomfort at the top of my 'bum crack'! I asked my mum and she said ahhh most probably bruised your coxxyx (or however its spelt). So i gave it two days and the pain faded away, so i thought that would be the end of it.
But then around 5 days ago the pain was back, and this time i knew something was wrong...i couldn't sit down, it hurt to walk and was painful in bed. I left it a day to see if it would go again, but i woke up the next morning and it was worse. So reluctantly, i went to the GP and he diagnosed the pilonidal cyst and prescribed me with flucloxacillin. For whoever is embarassed about this, DON'T be! This is what the GP's are trained for...i was relucatant to go but I am now so glad i did. So i took the prescribed dose of fluclox. and slept on it. The morning after a small lump appeared and i knew this wasn't good! So i phoned my GP and he said simply 'Go to A&E'...so that I did! I was seen in around 30mins and they said to me it needs to be incised and drained, come back at 7.30am in the morning. I was sh**tin myself to say the least! I arrived at the hospital where they made me feel welcome and sent me onto the ward. I was told the doctor would see me at about 9am with the aenethatist guy. They came round, had a little look and explained what was going to be done and had to sign all the crap that had to be signed. They said I would be seen to mid-morning. Came to 11am and no sign of anyone, except for a nurse with some painkillers - which were helpful!
But anyway to cut a long story short i was seen to at 5.45pm by the surgeons as this was an 'acute emergency' it was put to the side whilst the 'life threatening' emergencies prioritised, obviously - but why there isn't a theatre for acute emergencies all day long baffles me! I was linked up to all the machines & given a general anasthetic, baring in mind i am petrified of needles it is okay trust me! And woke up around 20 mintues later with the operation complete in the rest room! I awoke to painkillers and people around me feeling quite high lol. The pain was there but my god nothing like i had before and was bareable! I was taken to the ward and released about 45mins later - it was well worth the 10 hour wait. I am now 2 days after the op and i can say the pain is minimal, even without the painkillers. The nurse comes daily and yes the dressing changes do hurt and sting but for 15minutes of pain per day or 24 hours of pain i know why i chose to be seen to.
I was operated on so quickly and for anyone reading this site like i did before the op - just get it done there is no better info that i could give. I hope my healing go's to plan without any infection and re-occurence. All the stories seem so negative but i can honestly say its the best choice i made - even though i have had to cancel my end of exams holiday abroad in 2 days time! Don't be scared, be brave! Good luck to anyone. oli800@hotmail.com
Date: June 19, 2008
StoryI was just starting my first year of college when in September of 2007, I started to notice a small slightly painful lump growing on my tailbone. I just passed it off as some sort of brusing from when I fell playing basketball. Soon I started to notice blood on the tissue after using the restroom. Again, I did not do anything about it. It soon became very painful yet I just tried my best to live my life as normal as possible. This was very hard as I had to sit in classes with a lot of pain and I also refereed intramural sports. The chaffing was unbelievably painful and still I did not do anything.
It continued on like this until Christmas break when I finally went to see the doctor. He said it was a pilonidal abcess and that it would need to be taken care of right away. So he lanced it right then and I assumed that would be the end of it.
For the next couple of weeks everything was great. The swelling had receded to almost nothing and I was sure that that would be the end of it. However, by February, it was back and seemed to be worse than before. It was impossible to sit in a desk at school and grades suffered because of it. I refused to take medical
absence so I just fought through the pain and tried to live my life as if nothing was wrong. I kept the horrible amounts of pain to myself and did not say anything to anybody about it. I was still able to play tennis and basketball and do almost any other activity. I paid a heavy price for playing through the pain. I would come back to my dorm room and after showering would have to basically lay on my side or stomach to avoid making it even more painful.
Finally summer was here and I could not wait to be outside actively participating in tennis and basketball everyday. Unfortunately for me I had this abcess to deal with. I went to the doctors the first day I got home and was told that I would have to have surgery that would take eight weeks to heal and that it would need to be packed once or twice a day until it was healed. I broke down and could not believe it. There goes the summer I was hoping for was gone. This also meant that I would not be able to go to two weddings I wanted to because I was relying on my dad to pack my wound. I decided to go ahead and get the surgery over with.
The surgery went as good as it could and now it was time to begin my healing process. It was actually less painful after the surgery than before so at least that was a welcome relief. It was very painful to only be able to watch my friends play the sports and do the activities I enjoy so much. I am now one month exactly into the healing process and the wound is almost closed up which was much better than I had expected. Hopefully, I will be completely healed within a couple of weeks in order to actually enjoy my summer.
Date: June 15, 2008
StoryHi, this is Kimberly from Texas again. I posted my story on May 27, 2008. I actually just have a question. I recently had an accident where I was thrown from a horse, and broke my tailbone. Can trauma like that to the tailbone cause these monsters to return? And if so, is there anything I can do to help prevent it? Thanks. kimberlee_light@yahoo.com
Date: June 14, 2008
StoryOur son had his first cyst surgery in June, 2002 - it was horrible - healing just would not happen and we dealt with it until July 2007 when he had to have another surgery - drainage tubes, not sitting for 6 weeks - all this and gave up his first year at college. Significant issues flared up with this surgery within 4 months and it was then my son found this web site and Drs. Bascom. They are incredibly gifted surgeons. Tony had surgery April 15, 2008 and healed quickly and painfree with their procedure. For the first time in years he has his life back - he is even swimming now! I am so thankful for this website and the gifted hands of the incredible Doctors Bascom.
Barbara Ausick
Date: June 11, 2008
StoryOk, so I'm 18, a girl, and slightly less than thrilled to have discovered that I am afflicted by less than delicate condition. I'm one of those poor suckers who never heard the word "pilonidal" until she hobbled into the ER and had to wait for service standing up because sitting in a chair was just out of the question.
Backtracking about a week ... I noticed one day that my tailbone hurt. I thought it was kind of odd because I didn't remember bashing it on anything, but whatever. Next day I notice it again, mention it to my mother, she says it's probably just a bruise and should go away. Few more days go by and it persists, to the general amusement of my siblings, who laugh at my "butt problem" whenever I wince climbing into the car or whatever. Mother keeps insisting it's nothing, it'll go away, stop whining. Nobody seems to be properly
sympathetic (yet.) When I notice discoloration and a slight bump, I start to get a little more concerned, but can't quite bring myself to show off my rear end and ask for a second opinion. Then it gets real bad real fast. The area in question swells like a balloon, the pressure is excruciating, it's all red and disgusting looking; I can't sit down, can hardly walk. The only thing that I can physically do without experiencing pain is lie on my stomach. So I do, all day long. I think I've been bitten by some poisonous insect, and so I ice the sucker like it's my job (too bad I didn't know pilonidal abscesses need to be treated w/HOT compresses).
That night I am woken up by the pain. It's so bad I can't get to sleep. I try one side, then the other, then my stomach; nothing. I finally put the mother of all ice packs on it, completely numb the area, and drift off. Waking up the following morning, the first thing I notice is slight relief. It still hurts, but not quite so much as last night. I walk into the bathroom, feeling pretty pleased until I look at it in the mirror. It had begun to discharge at an alarming rate. Probably the grossest thing I'd ever seen. I'll spare you all the sordid details; suffice it to say that I was horrified. So to make a long story short (oops too late) I wound up lying on my stomach in the ER later that morning as I was incised, drained, and otherwise traumatized. I go home, look up "pilonidal" on the web, find this site and realize this is actually a chronic condition. My joy knows no bounds.
Date: June 10, 2008
Storyi will try to make my story short and sweet so that there isnt to much goin on with it. i first noticed my cyst when i was going numba 2. afta i wiped there was a bit of blood on it. after looking in the mirror i noticed i had a hole in my butt besides my main one. very small though. like the size of a tip of a pencil. i went to the er to be diagnosed with my pylonidal issue. after the doctor told me he was going to take a chunk out of my butt i wasnt excited to move forward with it. i waited 3 years with the issue. never any pain whatsoever. maybe some discomfort at most if i sat to long but never pain. the only reason i ever decided to get the thing fixed was because of the drainage issue. talk about chafing city... working out alot and puss draining down your butt crack are a lethal combo. got kind of tired of walking funny.
anyways i scheduled the apointment to get fixed with a local doctor in eugene oregon. i live there. by doing so i lucked out. when i went to make the apointment i found out that the doc was not practicing anymore. so i brought out the GOOGLE and found pilonidal.org. then i found out that there is a very well known doc in this area. dr. tom bascom. boy am i glad i found him. here is the short and sweet part. he checked out my hole. which was about the size of a pencil eraser at that time. said he was going to do pitt picking. doesnt sound the greatest but sure was better than removing flesh. so i scheduled the appointment and went. procedure went great. little uncomfortable having your cheaks taped down to a table but it was funny at the same time. he took about 30 mins with a couple shots around the area. he told me to go home and rest. well he gave me vicodin so that wasnt happening. that stuff perks me up. so i went out to dinner with my wife an hour after the procedure. then went home and watched tv. next day i got up and played 18 holes of golf. one of my best games too. it has been about 6 months since procedure and im doing great. i would recommend the route i took. no matter where you live. for once there needs to be positive feedback on this sight. i probly left out alot but i can be emailed at traces0420@msn.com if anybody has any questions. thanks
hang in there... these things can be a pain in the ass
Date: June 10, 2008
StoryHello everyone, My name is Paul,of 43 years, and I too, share the same ugly,unsightly and painful problem that you all have gone through. Mine had developed in my late teen years, but did not show any visual signs until 1986, during my basic training in the Coast Guard. My swab mates and I were doing physical training, when my lower spine started to become painful, shortly after the pain started, my waistline and legs felt numb in feeling. When I was taken too sick bay, I was told of the monster.
The Physician was able to drain and pluck some of debris out, but I was released from the service before it was properly treated by a surgeon. For a few years after that, the monster stayed hidden. Every so often after that, I would experience small discharges of puss, with minor discomfort and able to tolerate it.
Here in the past couple of years, I have had only minor flare ups. But most recently, My wife and I were on vacation and I had that familiar feeling again, only this time, the monster decided to really show
it's ugly mass, When I sat down in my chair, I was able to do so carefully, but when I started to get up and walk, I felt the moisture and new that it had erupted. I was able to squeeze some of the debris out myself, and it feels tolerable again, but will have another physician look at it for the possibility of removal. I didn,t know anything about this group until I recently researched Webmd.com for the problem that we all share. It is comforting to know that there are others that have the same problem that I have, but am sincerely sorry that we all have to go through this. If you would like to ask any questions or send me an e-mail, I can be reached at pbnthm@gmail.com Please use (story board) in the subject box, so i wont automatically delete your e-mail. Thanks everyone for letting me share. Paul
Date: June 08, 2008
Story5 surgeries, a fistula (from the Pilonidal being allowed to worsen), MRSA (Superbug Staph) and a ruined career. PLEASE make sure you find someone who knows what they're doing, regardless of cost. It's your life that matters.
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I have been a member here since finding out that my husband has Chronic Pilonidal Disease (2 yrs). This site has been so wonderful at providing information and allowing for people to share
their stories. I'll share ours now. My husband was diagnosed 2 yrs ago. I immediately went online, found this website and a lot of information to take to the surgeon. The first surgery was a wide excision. We had asked the Surgeon to please leave it open so it could heal from the inside out. He stitched it up anyway and said he left a drain and that he knew what he was doing. We went for a dressing change at our family doctor who was extremely annoyed that it was stitched and promptly removed them (this was about a week later) but it was too late, the skin had already healed over at the top of the wound. Needless to say, it recurred.
We then went to another surgeon who completed the 2nd surgery and said he had left it open like we asked, and that he believed that is the only way to do it. We again went to the family clinic for dressing changes and to our confusion, found only a very narrow opening, but very deep. We assumed he knew what he was doing. Several months later it still had not healed. We went back to the surgeon who apologized and stated he may not have gotten it all and would like him to come back for another procedure (this was in Nov. 2007).
My husband had his 3rd surgery on Jan. 15 2008. 3 weeks later we went back to the Surgeon for a follow-up and were in shock when he told us it was not healing and that he was afraid of that from the beginning as he knows the long narrow tracks typically do not heal. I was outraged and asked if he knew this, why did he do it... not once, but TWICE! He stated he was trying to save my husband some downtime from work. We both told him from the beginning we did not care about the downtime, we just wanted him taken care of. He stated the only way to do it (and do it right) was to do another wide excision and let it heal from the inside out. Over the course of all the surgeries we had tried to find a Surgeon who was familiar with the Cleft Lift, but could not. We live in Alberta Canada... try finding anyone who knows what they're doing, let alone willing to listen to anything you have to say.
So this Surgeon scheduled him for surgery for the 4th time on March 27, 2008. We went in, he had the surgery and went for a bandage change the next day. Surprise! The SAME long, narrow track as the 2 previous completed by this surgeon. The doctors and nurses at our clinic were dumbfounded (as was my husband and I). I immediately called the Surgeons office to find out why he had done this and was told he was out of town for the next 2 weeks. I was livid and told them I wanted to talk to him. They again stated he was unavailable. We went to see him for the followup when he got back into town and asked him why he had done the same surgery he had already told us would not heal. His response: "I chickened out". He chickened out?!? We asked him what he meant and he said he was not comfortable doing what he said he would do as he did not want to damage his rectum. He then pointed to it and said to me "Look, see right here? I guess I could have made it wider... we can still give that a try"!!!
Well... I'm sure you can assume what our response was (which by the way we have on voice recorder but cannot do anything with as it is too difficult to prove malpractice). He then stated he would make an appointment with a Colon and Rectal Surgeon. We got the call for the appointment... scheduled for November!!! 8 months away
In the meantime he had decided to do a dye scan (which should have been done before the first surgery to locate the tracks, but was never done!) and found that not only was the pilonidal not healing, but found another track and a fistula. I decided right then that we could not wait that long, that we would refinance our home, take the equity out and travel to the states to have him taken care of properly if that's what it takes.
We were lucky and happened upon a Surgeon who was familiar with the Cleft Lift and Dr.
Bascom in B.C. We had to travel to another Province and spent over $7,000 on travel expenses but he finally got his Cleft Lift (May 22, 2008). I wish this was the happy ending it should have been, but he ended up with an infection a couple of days after surgery. They had given him antibiotics prior to surgery and sent him home with 2 prescriptions which he finished. A week and a half after surgery we went to the family clinic to follow up on the infection (as instructed by the Surgeon) only to find out it had gotten worse, much worse. They did a swab and put him on another antibiotic. He went yesterday to have them check it and was told he has an MRSA (superbug) Staph infection.
A ruined career, 5 surgeries, a fistula and a horrid infection... I really hope that none of you ever have to endure this. I hope that I will be able to come back here soon and report that the infection is gone and all is well. We wish you all the best of luck and hope you don't go through even half of what my husband has. Cyn
Date: June 04, 2008
StoryMy name is Aaron from Grand Rapids.
I am 30 years old, and my adventure with the butt-bandit began when I was sixteen.
The summary of the story is I had a complete bottom up surgery when I was 16. It recurred again and I had the same surgery when I was 28. I am now 30 and going in for the third surgery on monday. Although it is of little consolation when you're going through it...there are much worse things to be afflicted with. Although I'm unlucky enough to have it, I'm lucky to not have something else.
The long story is:
1994
I had a large lump on my tailbone and a bit of drainage and pain when I was 16. Went to my family practioner who sent me to an old-school surgeon who lanced open the lump to a bounty of hair, blood, and pus. I was then scheduled for the big-ol bottom up surgery. This guy told me some nonsense about I had a twin when I was in-utero that prevented the skin in my midline from healing completely. Neat story, doesn't sound true. I had the surgery. When I was waking up from sedation, they asked me if I was hungry. Eager to get on with my life at this point, I accepted a roast beef sandwich probably a half hour after waking up. This turned me quite nauseous. Well, the genius anesthesiologist (whose step daughter I was dating) decided that a blood thinner would do the trick, forgetting about the gaping open wound he saw me receive. My nausea subsided and I returned home. After several hours, my mother noticed I was still bleeding very heavily. We went to the surgeons office where I sat in a chair for about a half an hour. The kindly old gentleman preceded to cauterize my entire wound shut with silver nitrate to stop the bleeding. Fun!!!
It healed okay. It was a very formative experience for a 16 year olds. You realize when your friends don't visit you while you're laid up for 3 weeks over Christmas break, they aren't such good friends. My life undoubtedly changed for the better at that point....at least when the healing was done.
2007
In October I had started noticing a funny feeling back there, and a foul smell. I ignored it. Come Thanksgiving I couldn't ignore it. It was bleeding and it hurt and was discharging. On the night after Thanksgiving I went to the ER. They gave me an IV antibiotic and told me to come back the next day. They referred me to a surgeon. I had the bottom up surgery again, but this time it was a bit smaller. My pregnant wife (who I love very much and was an awesome nurse) had to change my bandages. Everything went well, but the surface wouldn't quite
heal. It would heal and open up in pinholes. I thought it had stopped....
2008
About a month ago I noticed the smell and a bit of drainage. I went to my family doctor who prescribed antibiotics. I hoped it was a flare-up.....but guess who's back?!?!? So this time I went to a specialist. I have surgery on monday. He's optimistic that it is small this time and near the surface....but this thing is full of surprises. I've been taking hot baths every night, I got a loofa and some baby wash soap, and I use a heating pad with a wet cloth. Doing these things have really helped keep the pain and buildup down. I strongly recommend them while you're dealing with this. It's kept it draining which is important. As Shrek says..."better out than in".
So, here we go again. Hopefully this will take care of it (but I'm not optimistic at this point). Good luck to all of you with it!
Date: June 03, 2008
StoryHi Kyle here from Canada, I am 21 years old, Had my Pilodinal Abcyst since i was 16, and stupidly never went to see a doctor about it, one day i damaged it around 18 years old, and the cyst itself opened and drained every single day.
I put up with the pain, and the bloody boxers for about 3 years. Recently 2 week's ago went for the surgury, open wound healing method. And i can proudly say the Doc said i was the worst he has ever seen in his entire career, and im not surprised becuase i left it for so long, after the surgury i saw the chunks that were removed, one was huge, which im guessing was the main cause of my pain and i had three other cysts that were smaller.
Anyway i am hitting 3 week's after my surgury and i have healed up quiet well, i still a have a small cut going horizontally across the top of my crack, and a very small wound left, im actually shocked at how fast i am healing, i only hope that it hasn't closed up to soon and left a pocket, but my mother said that wasn't the case, she didnt let the side's heal untill the tissue from the ground up was re-grown.
Anyway i go for my three week check up on Friday, in four days and i hope it all checks out well, this is somthing i wish didn't exsist and no one had to live with or experience. for the most part the pain wasn't the issue for me, it was self esteem, i just lost all of it lol. I hated my body because of it, which was weird i'm a pretty fit guy and never felt like that before. Anyway its gone and healing now i just hope it doesn't come back! lol, i hope it doesn't anyway, this site is great and i will defenitly be following the after care methods to keep this thing from ever returning.
Good luck to everyone who is in the same boat as me, glad to know i'm not alone. :D
Date: June 02, 2008
StoryHello Everyone. I am a 23 year old male from Canada and I had my first pilonidal abscess last year while I was traveling in India. Let me start by saying that this is not the most hospitable country for one to have a health problem. The pain started in the region between my tail bone and my anus. Within a few days the pain got unbearable and even brought me to tears one night, so I finally decided to go to the hospital, which was a 3km walk (no taxis in the Himalayan mountains). The doctor didn't want to lance it because she had no experience in this area, however I looked her in the eyes and said "cut this ****ing thing out of me". She obliged and although the lancing was painful, the immediate relief that followed was amazing. I had to get the wound pack for one week at the clinic right next to my hotel (thank god for that), then after that my lovely fiance cleaned the wound for another couple of weeks. It healed really nice and I was able to do physical activity for a week.
The Beast Returns...
So, it had been one year since my last flare up and I was really happy. However, on last friday I began to feel that familiar pain. I thought, hey maybe it will go away... However by the end of Saturday night I was in excruciating pain and decided I would have to go to the hospital the following day. I went to the hospital and the doctor told me that it was not 'ready yet for lancing'. I'm thinking to myself, not ready, i'll show you not ready. So he prescribed some anti-biotics and T3's and told me if it doesn't get better to come back in a week and we'll see. I don't know how much longer I can last through this pain, but I guess time will tell.
I had a question... My Pilonidal Sinus has never come to a head and seeped, is this normal? Everybody's stories on here all mention the sinus seeping pus and/or blood. Please email me if you have any information for me @ mcgillivrayseanj@hotmail.com and title the email as Pilonidal Disease.
Date: June 02, 2008
StoryHi
Just to update my daughters brief story on the 20th of April (which i didnt know she posted)
She had the original flare up when she was ten. Then as she said when she was 11 last August she had the next flare up which could not be settled with anti biotics. She was rushed in the same day as the infection was about the size of half a lime stuck on her bottom and they were worried about it. She was operated on (but we as yet do not know exactly what they did, lost notes) ie whether they just cleared out the infection of whether they removed the problem itself. What ever they did she was left with the open wound and had it packed with a strange wet gel packing ever day at the hospital for a month and gas and air as it is quite painful. It healed well until April of this year i noticed at the top of the scar a puple bister with a hole in and what looked like inner tissue hanging out. I though she had just split it so i went back to the doctors who gave us antibiotics to clear any infection. It has not changed to this date and is still a red blister at the top of the original scar.
Over the last couple of months It has been looked at by a Gp who thought it was a little cist and or granulation of the skin a ER doctor who said no to that but not much else and just cut a bit of the fat that was hanging out of it (ouch).
Im not sure either of them truly new what it was. So today we visited a pediatric surgeon (another opinion) who believes that the op last year was only to clear the infection and that they actually did nothing to sort the problem out. He showed me what he thought it was and as he moved further down from the blister which is at the top of the scar he showed me a dimple (which i had seen but Gp told me it was just the shape of her bottom). He believes that this is the entrance to the problem and that it is branching out and the blister thing at the top is the infection which due to it having a whole in it this is allowing it to drain and not become massive like before. He has suggested now that my daughter have surgery to cut out a large area including alot of fat to take away as much of the branching etc as possible to hopefully get rid of the problem once and for all. He also does not want to do the open healing as before but stich it up after. He believes it heals quicker and is better for a girl her age (12). Some of the things he has said have been different to what i have read on this site and so its very difficult to know what to do for the best for her especially as she had been through it already.
I will mention to the surgeon the of mid line thoughts from this site but it is very difficult to sit there with the "expert" and tell them their job! Help!!
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Date: May 28, 2008
StoryHi John from Belfast, Ireland.
I have had the small lump with the hole in the centre from i was 17. It swells up every now and again but i usually give it a squeeze and out comes the fimiliar smelly gunk but last week i got another cyst just above the original. As ever, painful as hell although it gave me a banging headache and my temp was through the roof, but there was no popping this one by myself so i shot down to A&E. I was sent to a ward who suggested i had the buger removed along with the orignal cyst. As i didnt fancy a long stint out of work(due mostly to no holiday pay)so i asked for a lancing. The doc lanced my cyst after an almost imbareable shot of local. Got home yesterday but i gotta go back to the hospital tomorrow as what ever the cyst has done my blood test has shown up real bad so i gotta go back for the IV antiboitics.
Talk about a pain in the arse,no pun intended.
{paragrph break here}
Great site by the way very informative, glad to hear i am not alone with this nighmare of a condition.
Date: May 27, 2008
StoryDecember 4, 2007 my husband had a pilonidal cyst removed. Fortunately for him, I am an avid researcher and therefore knew what to expect. This web site is a God-send. It provides valuable, realistic information about what to expect. Even though he didn't want to hear it, it did come true! His cyst was about the size of a silver dollar in diameter and was 6 inches in depth. The doctor was amazed at how deep he had to go.
Today is May 27, 2008, I no longer have to pack his wound, but still have to bandage him every morning and night. In other words, it is still draining! Yes, it has been almost 6 months. And, yes, he has been to the surgeon every month. He says it "looks wonderful" and is "healing beautifully." Let me just give you a few pointers on what we found works best in the after-care.
First - purchase Always panty liners - extra long, without wings. MUCH MORE COST EFFECTIVE THAN MEDICAL BANDAGES, more absorbent and easier to use!!! You may want to go with overnight pads to start with, depending on how much drainage there is. I came up with our own name for them - I called them "Break pads" because they stopped the skid marks. It seemed to make him feel more manly that wearing feminine napkins. These keep it from being necessary to bandage so much to avoid leaking through clothing.
For the first week, purchase bed pads. You can get these at any drug store. You won't need them probably longer than a week, but it will protect your sheets, your mattress and keep you sane!
CVS has the square wound pads - we have to use 6 x 6 - with self adhesive borders. PERFECT - and the best by far. We tried using gauze and all kinds of tape. His butt cheeks are still irrated from the tape, but the adhesive border is less abrasive - and doesn't pull as much when removing. The bandages are not cheap - $3.99 each, $2.99 for the smaller ones - but they didn't work, so don't even go there. If you have a CVS card and watch for sales, you can usually get a few extra each MONTH for free.
Now for the packing. You will need Q-tips, latex gloves, and absorbent gauze - not to be confused with the gauze used to cover wounds. The rolls are the most economical. It only takes about 4 inches, folded in half, and then gently poked in with the Q-tip. VERY IMPORTANT - as the wound stops draining so much - stop packing!! The drainage is where new skin is forming. Imagine packing a burn with dry gauze, then pulling it off each day. The wound can not heal, because you are in essence pulling off the skab each time you change the bandage. I bought a stream lined spray to use to clean out the wound. He would stand in the tub and I would rinse it clean. I used this same spray to moisten the gauze. So less packing, and not as deep each time, eventually using just the cover and the pad.
I fixed a medicine tray that sat just outside of the bathroom with my supplies, and hung a grocery or CVS sack on the bathroom door to put bandages in when I changed them. It doesn't seem necessary at first, but as days turn into weeks, into months - convenience becomes a life saver. Our "hiney time" as we have lovingly come to refer to it, is a science now, and will seem strange once gone.
Again, your shopping list needs to include:
Latex gloves, Q-tips and absorbent gauze
Spray cleaner (sorry - can't remember the name, I only used for a week)
Bed pads, Always extra-long panty liners (break pads)
CVS 6x6 bandages with self-adhesive borders
Put supplies in a self-contained basket and keep garbage bags handy. PACK A LOT OF PATIENCE!! Good luck!
Date: May 27, 2008
StoryMy name is Kimberly, and I am 24. I had my experience with what I believe to be Pilonidal Disease when I was 16. I was never told thats what it was called, but research on the symptoms I am pretty sure thats what it was. My tailbone started hurting the day of my cousins wedding, which I was a bridesmaid in. The pain was pretty mild at this point. After the wedding (which was on a Friday), I decided to go spend the weekend with a friend of mine. We rode horses all weekend long, and by Sunday I was hurting quite a bit more, but still not that bad. Sunday my mother called me and asked if I wanted to ride to Louisianna with my grandmother ( I live in Texas, it was a 9 hr. drive), her brother - n - law was haveing a 5 way bi-pass open heart surgery, and she didn't want to make the trip by herslef. So I did. The ride down there was my down fall, by the time we got there I was in so much pain I couldn't hardly move at all. I was to the point of tears.
My grandmother (whom I love more than life, but is not always the most compassionate person), told me to suck it up I had probably just bruised my tailbone. The whole time we were there I layed around the hostpital and rode backwards in the seat hugging the head rest. we went to Ihope for breakfast and I had to take a pillow inside to sit on, which turned out not helping at all and I stood and ate my breakfast. The ride home was aweful, but luckily I had talked my great aunt into giving up a couple of vicodine.
Now was time to go back to work and school. My family owns a small cafe in the town we live in, and every morning before school, I would get up at 4 a.m. to be there by 5 a.m. to help my aunt open up, and then I would go to school. I called my aunt at about 4:30 and told her I would not be able to make it because I couldn't hardly walk. At this point they all were still convinced that I was a big sissy with a bruised tailbone. It took some begging but I convinced my mom to let me stay home from school, but she wanted me to go to the doctor. I refused because I was embarrased about the location of the pain. She worked 8-5 and usually got home around 5:30 p.m. By the time she got home I was in so much pain I didn't care where it hurt I wanted it gone. So I then asked her to go ahead and take me to the doctor, but the office closed at 5. So she took me to a walk in clinic. I was the last patient they say that night..they closed at 6 p.m. I had showered before we left and put on some jeans. When the doctor looked at the problem he said he didn't know how I got the jeans on, but I wouldn't be wearing them home. He told me I had a cyst that was tunneling down my tailbone. He gave me some kind of wonderful medicine that doped me up really well, lanced it, and then drained it. Then he packed it with gauze, and told me I would need to make an appointment the following day with my usual doctor.
I can't tell you how many appoloies I got from my grandmother, and mother, and the rest of my family. My doctor removed the gauze, cleaned it, and re-packed it with gauze. At home I had to shower 3 times a day, apply some kind of cream, and rebandage (which my older sister helped me with). The only time the gauze was changed was when I was at the doctor, which was every other day for 2 weeks basically. It hasn't returned so far, and hopefully it never will. I have had 2 c-sections since then, and neither of them compared to that pain.
Date: May 26, 2008
StoryWell im 18 and from Australia. Im still in the process of my wound healing. I first discovered pain in my tail bone, everyone told me there was no point in going to the doctors for a sore tail bone coz there is nothing they could do about it so stupidly i didnt. a few weeks later i was in agony, the pain was excruciating. i couldnt walk, sit, drive or do anything, even if i was laying down the pain was unbarable. so i immediatly went to the hospital and it was a pilondial cyst. They gave me two options: 1) Have it drained, it would heal alot quicker but the chance of a recurrence was very high or 2) get the whole thing cut out but it would be an open wound and take about three weeks to heal. so i went with option two. I am now in my fifth week of the healing process and it is still far from healed. why the surgeon told me three weeks is beyond me. It has to be packed every day, which my sister does for me. Can anyone tell me roughly how long it will take to heal? when it was first cut out it was 4 centimentres deep, the day it is fully healed can not come quick enough, i really feel for all of you that have to go through!
Date: May 20, 2008
StoryI had a pilonidal cyst when I was 23, and went the surgery route. (I also have a step-brother who has had the same procedure). I was wrapping up school and did not have medical insurance at the time. I qualified (based on my income, and how much cash I had in the bank at the time) for an almost free procedure by discussing options with the surgical center that provided the service as well as the colon/rectal surgeon that I was referred to by my family doctor. Basically, the procedure sucks and leaves you in need of keeping off of your feet as much as possible for a couple of days (if possible).
I was prescribed some antibiotics, and given instructions on how to deal with the wound. The most critical thing is that if you have the surgery, they do not sew you back up. If they say that they want to do that, they're idiots and you need to get out of there ASAP as the wound needs to heal from the inside out. Basically, I got used to 2-3 showers per day which ended in removing the gauze that is packed into the wound and replacing it with fresh gauze. I basically allowed the old gauze to get fully soaked/loosened (as it tends to dry out over a few hours and get stuck...trust me, if you forget about that once or twice, you'll remember afterwards) and then replaced it with gauze either dampened by water...or if I was feeling extra specially brave, I threw in a little peroxide (though that's probably more pain and trouble than it's worth).
If you keep up this process, you'll find the wound heals well and mine closed up extremely well and given me no trouble in the past 2.5 years. If you're in good shape and plan to stay that way (i.e. run often or do other activities which keep you on your feet) don't expect it to heal anytime soon as this will disturb the wound and keep it tearing open. The best bet is to change the dressings frequently and eat healthy (i.e. wait until the thing is closed before you jump back into an active lifestyle), and potentially even visit your doctor to get their blessing prior to starting up extremely physical activities. This will also save you a large amount of trouble. Overall, it took somewhere between 3.5 and 5 months for it to fully close (which I consider quick given the general location of these things, and that it was roughly 3 inches in diameter and 2.5 or so inches deep to begin with). That being said, I now make sure to focus on the area every shower, stay healthier, stay on my feet as much as possible as work keeps me sitting for probably at least 70 hours each week, avoid wearing extremely tight clothing or at least clothing which will rub against the area and potentially cause irritation/any hair issues and fortunately it's not returned. Good luck to all the rest of you as this thing was definitely not a fun time for me.
Date: May 18, 2008
StoryDan from sydney again,
Im in my 5th week of open packing and still a few weeks to go. Sadly i already have a flare up of another sinus. The pain is minumal but the inconvinience of daily trips to the medical centre is become a drama. Lets find a positive and say that fortunatly im a shift worker and getting in for dressing changes is not a great problem. I bribe the nurses with chocolates and im not shy to admit that this gets me in ahead of others. hehe. Its part of my life but its not going to control me. My partener is worth his weight in gold and then some for his patience. Without him I doubt id be coping as well as I am. Thanks Fel.
Date: May 15, 2008
StoryI am a 46 year old female who developed a pilonidal cyst in my late teens. I remember having pain in the tail bone area
occasionally during my earlier teen years but never thought much about it.
When I was 19 the pain started again but did not go away, instead it became more and more painful until it was agony to sit or walk. I had no idea what the problem was and was too embarrassed at first to go to the doctor, it
didn't help that my family was not very understanding and just made jokes about it, also my mother was convinced that the pain was caused by my being overweight and forced my to go on walks with her which just made the pain worse.
After living with the increasing pain for several weeks I had to go to Northern California with my parents, this involved an 8 hour car trip, needless to say I was a mess by the time we got there. A day or two after we arrived I finally broke down and asked my mother to please find a doctor who could take a look at me and tell me what was wrong, I was at the point where the pain was not allowing me to anything except lay around. We were able to get an appointment with a surgeon later that day. When he heard my description of the problem he immediately knew what it was. He told me he would have to cut into the area to release the pus that was inside. The worst part was the injection to numb the area, I bit my hand to try to distract myself from the pain and ending up having teeth marks in my hand for a week after! The doctor told me that a half cup of pus was released from my cyst when he cut into it. After the cyst was opened and drained he packed it with gauze and told me I would have to come back for the next several days and have the packing removed.
I can't tell you what a relief it was to have the cyst drained, the pain was reduced almost immediately and in the next few days I started to feel like myself again. The doctor did tell me that I would have to have the cyst removed at some point after it had healed, I did intend to do that but because of not having medical insurance for several years I was not able to go ahead with surgery. The funny thing was though the cyst would drain occasionally in the years after this bad flareup, it gradually tapered off and for the past 15 years or so has not bothered me at all, sometimes I forget I even had one. I would tell anyone who is going through the same experience I had to not be embarrassed, the relief you will feel after having the cyst taken care of, whether you go ahead with surgery or just have it drained will be worth it.
Nancy
Date: May 07, 2008
StoryHey All! First off, let me say this site is amazing and so comforting to me (a 25 year old female who is typically less than comfortable talking about my bum and problems occuring with it... you know what I'm talking about!) Secondly, I applogize for how long this is going to be. I've never really been able to tell this whole story to anyone who would really understand...
I had my first PC flare up when I was 18; I was working at a summer camp when a friend of mine that I worked with had a family emergency so I drove her home... to Canada. 12 hours there and then back and I was feeling a little sore in the butt region but wrote it off to just sitting for so long. As fate would have it, when I got back to camp it was raining, and I slipped down a large hill, landing flat on my butt. The soreness increased and I was sure that I had broken my tail bone. After seeing the camp "doctor" (and I use the term loosely) he confirmed that it was probably just a chipped tail bone, gave me some crazy pain killers and sent me on my way.
A day or two later, I was in the dining hall and felt something... weird. Warm and liquidy and not at all expected. I ran to the bathroom to assess the situation. Nothing could have prepared me for what I found! I had ruptured and it was one of the scariest things I have ever known. Between the color of this stuff that was coming out of my body and the smell, that sulfur-ish nastiness, I was terrified. The pressure of the PC was insane (enough to almost hit the mirror on the back side of the sink I had to use to look) and all I could think of was to get it out!!! So squeeze away, I did. It hurt and it was awful, but it passed. I chalked it up to some freakish accident, broken tailbone, infection, whatever, and tried not to think about it too much.
Several years later, I was having a few glasses of wine with my mother and I told her about what had happened. She looked at me in a kind of funny way and said, without skipping a beat "That's a Pilonidal Cyst!". I was floored! "What the heck is that and how do you know that!?!" She explained that she, too, had had them when she was my age. Truth be told, I cried like a baby. I had thought that I was such a freak for so long... that this could be a real, medical condition was just something that did not process easily for me.
In the time between having my first flare up and learning what it was I had a a few episodes, but nothing major. Uncomfortable, yes, but not painful. They seemed to go away of their own accord.
Then 25 hit. I had a lovely job at a mortgage company which required sitting from 8-5 every day, pretty much all day. And I could feel the PC building. Eventually, getting in the car was so painful, I knew I had to see someone about it. My PCP was so overly booked, they told me it would be over a month to have an appointment with her, I told them that I could NOT wait that long and I would see anyone that could fit me in... quickly! And truth be told, after I told them the situation, they were great. They got me in right away with a guy who had seen a "good number" (relative to where I live) of these bad boys before and was willing to lance it in-office instead of sending me to the OR. Before we started the exam, he gave me the "worst care scenario" which was that in the most extreme case he had seen, it required daily packing for about two months.
Red Flag #1. Okay, well, let's see what we're working with. Strap me down to the table, a little local anesthetic, we're on our way! After about 15 minutes of "clearing the area" he announced that this was indeed, "the worst he had seen". And "Yep, that's a full-blown pilonidal c-y-s-t." So in my mind, I'm doing the math. What does that mean? 90 days of packing? More? Less? I left that day with no idea what to expect other than I was to be back in the office the next day, and every day after, until "Things had cleared up." Oh, and I was told the infection I had was quite possibly SARS.
Red flags #2 and 3. A week later or so of painful packing sessions, I had pretty much resolved myself to "this is how my life will be...
indefinitely." The Doc had so far been super flighty on any kind of time line, except that he would be going on vacation in a day or two, so someone else would be stepping in for him. Enter Med Student. A very sweet, but obviously inexperinced young woman who had no idea what was going on. When I told her I was there for a packing of a pilonidal cyst, she pretty much looked at me like I had three heads. I finally had to drop my pants because she not only didn't know what it was, she didn't know where it was. She proceeded to pack me with the wrong kind of gauze in the wrong width and to this day, it was probably the worst kind of pain I have ever known. And this is where I BEG you... if it feels wrong, it probably is. I knew it wasn't going to be pleasant. That's a given. But this was excruciating. I had not cried through this whole ordeal, until this day. And I SOBBED. Half an hour of pure hell. At some point I should have just said "STOP! This is not okay!!!!" But I grew up being told that Doctors know what they're doing and sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and bear it. THIS IS NOT THE CASE!!!!
Thankfully, the next day I was referred to the weekend clinic for the next few days. And the Doctor there was awesome. As he was pulling out the shotty gauze that was placed by Med-Student-Sadist-Lady, he was like "You had a rough day yesterday, didn't you?" "Yeah, no kidding.".
"Sweetie, this looks good. I'm not going to recommend any more packing for you." They put in a wick for one day, just to make sure nothing was still oozing. It wasn't. I was good to go!
As much as it sucks to have this happen, you do have choices and power over what happens to your body. If nothing else, I hope that there's one person out there that will read this and not have to feel as alienated or as powerless as I did. If you don't agree 100% with what your Doctor is telling you, see someone else! Yes, it will be a pain in your butt, but you already have that! And nothing could be worse than feeling like you're staring down the barrel of painful procedures for... ever. It's been a few months now and yes, I am in the midst of another episode. But, like everything in life, I'll deal with it as it comes. I'm a bit wiser now, and I won't take what one person tells me as gospel. It will be okay.
"In three words, I can sum up everything I know about life...
It goes on."
Date: May 07, 2008
StoryHi all. I am 36 yr old woman from Springfield Missouri. Over and over again I read on this website that the majority of PC sufferers are treated without much complication. However, being a little dramatic by nature, I was one who freaked out learning on this web site what complications could happen. Scary stuff it is!
Here is my story. When I was about 17 I first noticed that I had a swollen sore spot right in my crack. Mom took me to my pediatrician and he said to watch it but that it needed no treatment at that time. Through the years I had several “flare ups” maybe a couple times a year but no drainage, not too much pain and no visits to the doctor. When I was about 26 it started flaring up more often and draining occasionally. Luckily at that time I was waiting tables so I didn’t have to sit on it all day. When it hit the point that I couldn’t sit in the car to get to work, I saw my family doc who diagnosed PC and sent me to a surgeon. My PC was about the size of a quarter. I had closed surgery. I didn’t have any complications from the surgery and was back to waiting tables after about a week.
Twelve years later, I had my first recurrence. I knew right away what it was…my PC buddy was back! I noticed it on a Tuesday and by Thursday I couldn’t sit (and I now had a desk job). This time there were 3 bumps…one under my scar and 2 next to my scar. I went to my family doc and got antibiotics and pain killers. On Monday the one under my scar drained but the others wouldn’t because of the scar tissue. I went back to my family doc on Tuesday and he lanced it. OMG—childbirth is less painful than the local anesthetic shot in the crack!! I immediately broke into a sweat! But it was worth it…it drained and felt better. I was back to work on Friday. I missed a week of work and felt that recovering from my previous surgery was less painful than that flare up.
So, I got into my surgeon ASAP and again had the closed surgery. I was unable to work for 2 weeks after the surgery. I have had no complications from the surgery. It has been 6 weeks and my incision has healed nicely.
I thought that this might ease the minds of new PC sufferers. Learn everything you can so you are informed and ask a lot of questions. This website really helped me feel like I was not alone and could ask advice if needed it from people who knew. Good luck to everyone!
Date: May 04, 2008
StoryHi, I'm a 20 year old female from Missouri, I'll be 21 in June and I'm having my first surgery on Wednesday. My first cyst flared up when I was 16. I fell in gym class and thought it was just swollen from that, but when I couldn't sleep at night and began throwing up from the horrible, ridiculous pain, my mom rushed me to the ER. They didn't help me at all, except for a shot to stop the pain and some antibiotics. They had no idea what was wrong with me, and told me that the throwing up must mean I have the flu. I missed the rest of that week of school, and my mom had to drain the cyst for me when it finally burst on its own.
So, for four and half years I had no big flare-ups, but I couldn't sit certain ways, and a few times a month it would bleed from where the cyst was. Finally, one night I was doing sit ups on the hard tile floor in my dormroom (I know, not the smartest thing to do), and the next day I started to get that pain again. Sure enough, over the next fews days it was definitely coming back, and 7 days after the first signs, my fiance picked me up from campus (he was on Spring Break) and drove me to the ER. We went to a different ER than before, hoping they might actually be able to help me. The doctor hadn't even looked at my butt when he predicted it was a pilonidal cyst. And when we looked at it, he confirmed his prediction.
Two days later, after making it through all my classes and skipping a day of work at a daycare, I went to the campus health center and had it lanced. It was more pain than I can possible describe. I didn't scream, but I sure wasn't quiet. The nurse let me squeeze her hand and when I lift my head off the pillow, the tissue paper covering was soaked with tears. They had given me a painkiller earlier that day to take an hour before to help make me a little "out of it" so I wouldn't as much pain, but I still felt the worst pain I've ever felt in my entire life.
So, this Wednesday, after I finish my final exams tomorrow and Tuesday, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, I'm having this cyst removed. I'm hoping and praying that I don't have to have any more surgeries, and I'm hoping and praying that I heal quickly. My wedding is the first week of August, and I don't want my newlywed husband to have to help me repack my wound on our honeymoon. I'm nervous about the surgery, but I know that the surgeon and nurses and I are all in God's hands, and He'll watch over me.
As far as advice goes, I'd just have to say that no matter what happens, don't give up hope. God has already shown me that He is in control so many times through this ordeal. He helped everything work on with such perfect timing. Always go to God first, because He's the one with the real answers, nothing is a shock to Him.
Date: May 04, 2008
StoryI got this dreaded pilo when I was 16, our house doc treated the syst as he treated my finger nail abcesses (7 fingers at age 13) at his home surgery.All went well and learned about pain from an early age, as my finger nails were cut in halve towards the nailbed and pulled out one half at the time, without local.Zikes!
When getting to the conscription age of 18 I needed another surgery on the same wholy freckle which was done in the army. To my great surprise I was amongst thirty odd army personnel of all ages and ranks, it almost felt like a secret brotherhood amazing I was not alone after all with this nuisance on my butt.Three weeks of little tampons and I was ready to go on duty (artillery) Well...riding in army trucks and sitting on howitzers whilst firing didn't do my butt much good, so at the end of my tour (peacetime'66) I went to get a larger scar in the same hospital, after 14 days I was home sweet home.I migrated to Australia in '69 and my butt started again to flare up and leaking in the most inappropriate times whilst wearing light coloured pants most embarrassing when you knew it would be showing thru, that was (and still is) for me the hardest time as it cuts your potential and your approach to have fun in your life to zilch.I was destined to become a hermit even though I married an understanding lady who was often busting at the seams to go out and paint the town. It cost me my marriage as I was getting more and more introverted. As luck would have it, I teamed up with another understanding lady with which I created two children (finally I became a father)
And my cysts where taking a regular break, with every two or three months a blow-up.
I noticed that taking a hot bath with lectric soda would soften the bulb and caused it to clean out beautifully. Many years later (around 55yrs) I found coral calcium in my drinking water was helping my rheumatoid arthritis to clear up and so did my
pilo which over the years grew as a upside down V over my anus tunneling happy as if their was no tomorrow. Well.. that was exciting, so if my body was too acidic, which can cause all sorts of medical probs, than why wouldn't I continue with the calcium approach? So I did, until one year ago, and to finish this story, today as I am writing this I am leaking like never before, after I took a hot bath with Epsom salts and a handful of Lectric soda, what a relief! My house doc said to me long ago. "You can grow old with that thing!" I belief him.
Next I am going to try "the new silver solution" inside and out, I will let his forum know how that works.
Date: May 03, 2008
StoryHello everyone! My name is Steven and I live in Brisbane, Australia with my partner of 7.5 years, a most amazing man who supported me through every single day of my struggles to get a stubborn pilonidal sinus surgical wound to heal. My story comes to you with a joyous ending so please read on and never, ever give up.
I suffered with a pilonidal sinus since my teen years but did not have it diagnosed because of embarrassment until my early 30s. Once diagnosed I was put onto the waiting list for surgery and waited 18 months to be operated on. In that time I was not proactive in finding out information for myself nor did anyone in the medical profession discuss alternatives to surgery with me. At no time was I made aware of possible post-surgical complications and I was not told that I could end up with a gaping wound that would refuse to heal.
To cut a long and emotionally painful story short I ended up having three major operations and had a huge, open, weeping surgical wound that required daily dressing changes for 3 years and 8 months. In the time I struggled to get the wound to heal I tried everything I was advised to try - EVERYTHING. Daily dressing changes were agony thanks to my hairy buttocks, particularly when I tried the VAC dressing for several months, which required the entire area to be completely covered in a very sticky, waterproof dressing and a noisy vacuum pump to be attached which I had to lug around 24x7. The machine was embarrassing to live with due to the gurgling/farting noises it would make constantly and would awaken myself and my partner in the middle of the noise alarming and making all sorts of noises. The second-worst part about the VAC experience were the dressing changes which were excruciating and would take up to 45 minutes to complete. The worst part about it was that the pain, discomfort and embarrassment were in vein as it did not work for me. Apparently I was the patient that broke the 100% success rate of the machine in such cases. LOL! Oh well...
The 4 things that were instrumental in my healing were: 1) taking cellular nutrition products from Herbalife, 2)increasing my water intake to 3-5 litres per day (YES, 3-5 litres per day and yes I was weeing a lot but all that water was instrumental in my healing so start drinking plenty of water right now!), 3) having laser hair removal in the cleft of my buttocks, particularly around the open wound to remove irritation (if you are yet to have your first operation HAVE LASER HAIR REMOVAL BEFORE YOU GO UNDER THE KNIFE; IN THE CLEFT OF YOUR BUTTOCKS AND HAVE ALL THE HAIR FROM YOUR BUTTOCKS REMOVED, TOO!!!!!!!! I cannot stress this enough, it is just SO IMPORTANT - had I had this done before my first operation it would have saved me a lot of pain and discomfort) and 4) if you are overweight then lose those extra kg/lbs without delay. Being overweight also prevented my wound from healing but I have so far lost more than 20kg (just over 3 stone).
The 4 things above all combined to see me wound free today and so much happier with life once again. I feel normal again and did not think I ever would. To give you an idea of just how important the water intake and Herbalife were to my healing, my wound of 3 years and 8 months healed with two weeks of commencing that regimen.
Good luck to all of you and if you would like to contact me for support then please do so at retrogai@yahoo.com.au. Take care and don't give up, you will get there =:o)
Date: May 02, 2008
StoryHello everybody... I am the mexican guy that posted his story on April 8... I had the surgery with the cleft lift procedure.
3 weeks and 3 days after the surgery the doctor told me that I was allowed to do any kind of physical activity, today I went bike riding for 18 kms and everything was perfectly fine! If you need any kind of advice in MEXICO dont hesitate to contact me: juvejls@hotmail.com
regards! |
