I've been lurking these forums for years and I figure it's about time I open up... I developed a pilonidal cyst a little over four years ago, but due to not having insurance, the doctors I went to would not do anything about it. I finally was able to get on a county "medicare" type plan. Dec. 1 2010 I had a closed incision. After the stitches started to dissolve it started to open back up in multiple areas down my midline and he told me to just pack it with regular gauze and it would be fine. This went on for approximately 4 months and the situation was just getting worse, and he began to be very rude, saying "I should have never taken your case, I'm never taking one like this again." -Infact stating he didn't actually know what he was doing in the first place. He also told me to pack it with normal gauze and gave me antibiotics, everytime. (This doctors name is Dr. Garravillo in Davenport, FL. do NOT go to him) I had enough, then saw another surgeon who performed a similar surgery (April 2011) but placed drainage tubes in so the infection that had gotten so bad from the first surgery could drain. She had then set me up with a home health care nurse and a wound clinic. Since then I have had terrible open wounds down my midline that will not heal, almost two years after the surgeries. I really wish I never got the surgeries, the cyst itself was horrible to deal with but nothing like this. My insurance only covers inside my county so it's been difficult trying to find a specialist but I've been talking back and forth with Dr. Bascom and Michele and they really would like to help me and try to get me there for a cleft lift so I have new hope. (this has completely disabled me, i am not able to do much of anything the past few years. i just want it over with!!!)
Krysten, if you have a chance to get the cleft lift, I HIGHLY urge you to do so!!! My son had one four years ago and has been completely free with no signs of reoccurance and no disfigurement of his butt. He does everything normal people do, he hikes, he rides his bike.....AND he does something alot of people without pilos DON'T do....he does horseback riding. He does it because he likes it and because he had something to prove. he wanted to prove to himself and the pilo world whether cleft lift was a TRUE cure or just another false hope. His surgeon told him, none of my other cleft lift patients ride horses, I don't know how the cleft lift will hold up as i have no one else to compare it to since no one else i have treated does horseback riding. So.....he took his chances. Resumed horseback riding. About two and half months post cleft lift, he took a nasty fall at a canter. He landed right on his butt. All his weight, moving at such speed, came crashing down on his cleft lift wound. Talk about scary. But the wound held....and in the months following the fall, we watched for any signs of reoccurance from damage to the internal wound from the fall like swelling or bleeding under the skin surface..... nothing. There wasn't even any wound pain....his only pain was high up in his back from the fall.....normal pain that equestrians feel when they fall. His butt was fine. That was three and a half years ago....he is still pilo free.....still living a normal life.... My son set out to prove whether the cleft lift can TRULY give you your life back ..... or not. So far....four years and counting......it has. Even if you take it to the extreme and ride horses.....
jaredsmom, i've seen you around alot and have followed your story. it gives me alot of hope, my main fear is that whenever i do get "fixed" it will rip open again often, because i have spoken to people that has happened to and 10+ years later it still happens, and they had NO problems healing! i just want to be normal again and i am hoping the cleft lift will accomplish that and with your sons outcome it gives me hope that it will.
