In 2003-2004 I had my first run in with my pilonidal cyst. It got very large and had to be lanced. I was laid up for 5 days before I was up and moving again.
Fast forward several years and I’ve had minor issues but they were either treated with antibiotics or drained by themselves. This all changed Jan 2013. I formed a cyst in the middle of the month it started draining then stopped and by the end of the month I was in so much pain and physically sick I made a surgeons appointment to have it lanced again. Showed up expecting an outpatient procedure and was immediately told I would be spending the night in the hospital with abscess removal and pit removal in the morning.
The 20 hours leading up to emergency surgery were horrible. I wasn’t allowed food or drink (had to listen to everyone around me ordering lunch and dinner.) I was allowed mouth swabs (which only made the need for water worse), an IV bag filled will stuff to keep me hydrated, and morphine shots every 4 hours(helped with the pain I was in.) Also there were the constant checks by the nurses all night lets just say I got no sleep. About 10 am someone from surgery came and did all my pre surgical stuff shaving and questions and such and then I met my wonderful anesthesiologist. He gave me my options and talked me out of being completely knocked out because of the needs: breathing tube,ventilator, much more risk.
I was wheeled into the OR and was given the spinal block my anesthesiologist suggested with a little feel good drugs. I was awake for my entire surgery with a little feel good music from my anesthesiologist and was in and out in about 45min to and hour(lost track of time.) I am now laid up once again in my hospital bed waiting on discharge orders with an open wound and 8 weeks of healing ahead of me. Great Surgon poor bed side manner and my nursing staff was fantastic.
My only suggestion is find a Surgon you love good bed side manner and very skilled with a knife.