my journey - fearful

Hello Sukey,

I am sorry to hear about your pain.

Cases on here might be a bit of a mis-leading as people might leave it a long time before finally unloading a long story in exasperation/worry as I did. I have been following for 6 months before I posted, and from what I gathered from the nurses and surgeons who treated me, though it's not unheard of my complications were not the normal case either. I'm sure a lot of people get it treated and cured in a straight forward way.

Don't be alarmed, it can be an uncomfortable problem but it is not life threatening and there are options and treatments.

It's nothing to be ashamed of, I kept to myself at first but when it became a bigger problem I have found close friends and family supportive. When you confide you often find they have problems of their own "down there" they have not shared previously.

Don't be reading all the stories on here and getting worked up! Like I said before people post on here when they are experiencing problem with surgeries and other complications. They are the unclucky 10%. 90% of people have no problems or any complications and go on living with their lives. This isn't a big problem its done under a minor procedure and think about it 90% means a much better chance off a full recovery! And you have only had this problem for a few months, just wait and see how you get on, go to ur GP see his/her opinion and go from there. And find a surgeon on this list near you who can do pit picking and cleft lifts and see their opinion. Please don't be scared and please don't cry, I totally understand how you feel I was exactly like this when I joined this site but seriously its not been a bad experience, its actually been okay, just resting and lazying around!

Please don't get freaked out its not as bad as it sounds! You'll be okay, trust me and we're always here for you *hugs*

Thanks Guys! I will make an appointment for next week. Off to pick up my daughter now, thanks for the help x

That's good hunny! See what the doc says! Don't worry it will all be ok trust me! Keep me updated on what happens!

Day 16 post op

Feeling a lot lot better!
Last night woke up on my back and I felt totally normal! Yay! Not don't that since op!
And the scar area was feeling a bit wierd and I know I really shouldn't have done this but I washed the area with dettol soap, I just felt like I needed to and after I dryed it off it felt a lot better, fresher and just more comfortable. The top of the scar is silver/white and healed really well, the bottom of the scar which isn't exposed to a lot of air is a bit red looking. I have a scab too, but I'm too scared to peel anything away. Area is a bit dried around the scar but that will get better with time

And today I truelly felt like I could go back to work and feel comfortable. And mentioning work.. Terrified of starting at this new place! But hey! New bottom, new start!

This is excellent news, I am so pleased for you. Don't go back to work too early, my advice would be to consider when you feel ready and then add a few more days, you can go back too soon but you can't go back too late

I feel ready to go back, but I'm a bit scared tbh, but I have to overcome my fears

Today is day 18 days post. I feel pretty good. I didn't relise I had swelling but some welling has come down at the top of the cleft which I thought was flat.. So now its not flat but not a cleft either.and I have a very tiny bump on the scar, not big bit like a pimple but its soft to touch, not worried about it, but ill keep a eye on it.
Also I'm finding I can't sit for more then 10 mins then I feel uncomfortble and change positions... I think itl take time to feel 100%.

No draining at the moment but I do know that it quite common for thw wound to open and let fluid out. Ill probs jinx myself saying this but the incision looks pretty well healed

Day 19
Made a big step today- I drove my car... I was planninh not to for another 2 weeks but I had to get to the docs and it was raining cats and dogs. Armed with my tush cush, I stood at the car door assesing if this is a good idea, and should or shouldn't I.... Got soaked in the process I totally drenched myself in the process.. Lol. I finally did sit and was pleasantly suprised to find I sat in the car like a normal person... No pain, no wierdness... Wow! Saying this I'm not pushing my luck I won't drive again for a few more weeks and will be selling this car as I believe the car is to blame for this pilo!

Annnnd the nurse was shocked! I mean really shocked! She couldn't belive I was 2 and half weeks post op, it all looks very good she said, all fab! And she said 'now I know don't I?' Yes you do, lol

Absolutely brilliant! Dare I say it I think you are home and dry now. Wound breakdown normally happens earlier in the healing and apart from stress causing dehiscence I can't see that there's much chance of getting complications now. Still take it steady though. I'm grinning, can you tell

So am I haha
3 weeks post op! Can't believe it!
Looks like a real scar, its white/silver at the top and slightly pink at the bottom. Can sit comfortablly, stand and so on, still not 100% pain free bottom of scar hurts when I press it, but no sign of anything sinister
Back to work I am tomorow, something that I am dreading but it must be done - gotta say my company has s*** sick pay! :/
I think the worse side effect is- I have piled on the pounds! Eek! Diet has commenced as of last monday so that shall be sorted in no time

Also I want to ask anyone reading this aty the bottom of the cleft where there is no air(don't have a scar/incision there) is a bit red looking maybe obviously because I get no air. The nurse said to use talcom powder but I'm not too keen on using anything of the sort - any ideas?

Good luck with your first day back!

Not too sure re: the redness below wound, I guess the point of talcum powder is to keep it properly dry, I read as well that it's not good to use on/near wounds though. After I read that as an alternative I use a clean roll of toilet paper to soak up and make sure the area is properly dried where the sun don't shine after a shower which works for me.

Thanks, think I may need it!

Its not damp so there's nothing to dry off... Just looks a bit raw, think ill just try and get more air to it, don't think lying down all the time helped, but maybe once I'm sitting and moving around more it might help

Have a fab first day back! Don't worry about the redness, mine was a bit pinky red in the midline between where the wound ended and my (ahem) and it went away, think it is just from being so sedentary!

Will be thinking about you today xx

Thanks Hound!
First day was okayish did a lot of moving around, don't think I even got a chance to sit, was just thrown the in at the deep end lol
I was okay at work felt normal- a bit tired mind. After getting home and sitting down I feel a bit sore, but not at the wound just in genral, legs and back but I think that's from going from bed rest to running and walking around 6 hours non stop... Incision does feel abit diffrent but I don't know, mite be because of all the movement

And just another thing I'm happy with today- normally after work I used to find a lot of fluff, hair and so on, today? Na dah - nothing. Goes to show the cleft lift does work!

I think it def makes the tissue settle differently when you go back to normal activity. You are probably shattered too, all the healing takes a lot out of you. You'll probably getting an early night!

Yes I will be doing lol, got work in the morning again!
And yeah I hope this is normal, incision feels harder then normal, but no swelling or redness, might be coz of the day iv had!
And I never get a chance to ask you this - how are you doing? Are 100% back to normal and how many months post op are you?

It's business as usual for me, the scar gets tender if I drive too much (darn bucket seats lol) and I still have a little lump where the internal knot was but other than that it's all good. I am 8 months out from surgery now. And I still check it every day several times looking for signs of recurrence. I wish I could stop that. Not sure I will every stop having anxiety but I'm living a happy pilo free life and am grateful every day

Ahh good stuff...I think itl take time to stop worrying about this, I can't imagine not checking it atlease everyday.
And I know what you mean about the car, mine is a right git, most of the problems have started with it, can't wait to get rid of it, just need some cash for a upgrade haha

4 weeks post op

I really expected it to burst open like the wound normally does but it hasn't... I think iv come thid far hopefully it won't.
The wound looks healed the bottom of the wound is a bit red, more so after work. I thiink the area sweats a bit and the friction is causing this. The top of the wound(the bit exposed to air) is perfectly healed, the incision is white and looks like a few months old

Over all so far so good just hope the redness gets better soon

Fantastic news fearful, its good to hear all is well.