As this is my first post after finding this site tonight, I must communicate the comfort felt that others are coping too. About three years ago, after noticing a “knot” that would come and go close to my rectum, I was too embarrassed and afraid to seek treatment. Trying to convince myself that I had a hemorrhoid, I began self-treating; no doubt doing more harm than good. Last week of November, 2011-the pain was so severe that I went to a local E.R. Luckily, a surgeon expressed well to me the seriousness of this infection and performed a surgery to remove the infection the following morning. The wound seemed to heal although pain was still prevalent, and I found myself back in the surgeons office the first of Feb. 2012. He operated again, stating that he “had not completely removed the cyst the first time around.” Although I was impressed by his seemingly humble honesty, I also felt as if he wasn’t telling me the whole story. As I read through what everyone has shared on this site, I cannot help but wonder why in the world my surgeon did not tell me the chances of this coming back. Ill check in with Doc in 2 weeks for a scheduled follow-up, and as I still have an open wound that is hopefully healing; I will also take the advice I have read on this site RE: soaking and cleaning the wound quite well. The younger folks stories in this archive break my heart when they write of the embarrassment of this condition. As a 36 year old man, I get it but can only imagine how rough it would be for a younger person (man or woman) -Just hang in there and remember that this is something none of us CHOSE to have, or contracted because we are dirty, different, or abnormal. Let us keep up the communication, education and most of all our chins as most of us know; stress seems to make this condition flare. I will forward this site to my surgeon, or maybe bring it to him and review with him on i-pad during next visit as physicians could surely benefit from this site. Thank you all for sharing and allowing me to share.