Hello! First off, this site really helped me through this whole ordeal with PC’s. Thank you to whoever started it! I would like to write an encouraging post, as I think we are lacking in that area when it comes to living with a PC.
When I was 20, I got pain in my rear-end area and thought I must have hurt my tailbone. I ended up telling my Mom who is a nurse and she knew exactly what it was. I got antibiotics to help the pain but it immediately got worse. I got it lanced, drained, and had packing changes for about a week or 2 and was back to work and college in no time. 6 years later, THIS SUMMER, the nasty thing came back! I was busy at the time and did not have time to get it lanced so I got antibiotics again and it took it away(but did not CURE it. Antibiotics never cure a PC).
Then…only a month later it came back with VENGEANCE. The pain was unbearable. I got checked out by a surgeon and he said to have the big surgery. One week ago I had the bigger surgery and I have an open wound. I have packing changes every day and it’s healing nicely. Here are a few things I’d like to say about this disease:
1.) YOU ARE NOT A WIMP. It hurts SO bad when it’s infected. Be kind to yourself.
2.) GET THE SURGERY SOONER THAN LATER. I am in the healing process and at this very moment can’t sit on my bum yet but OH MY GOODNESS, I am SO glad I got the surgery. It is annoying to have to get packing changes and that hurts but it’s not unbearable like the pain of these PC’s. Get the surgery. You’ll be glad you did!
3.) Have the nurses use Zylocaine when packing. It numbs the area!!! The first two packing changes after the surgery were quite painful…I would break out in a sweat! But then they ordered the numbing gel and I barely feel a thing now.
4.) Try not to get embarrassed about all of this. I am hearing more and more how common this is – it’s just that no one talks about it! We all have our issues. Ours just involves our bums….Quite a pain in the butt.
5.) You’re not alone in all of this.
Best of luck!!!