I am so happy to have found this site! My name is Michelle and I am 29 years old. My first experience was when I was 19. I started having pain in the tailbone area and I couldn’t really sit. I went to my regular doctor at the time and she said it was “nothing”. The pain had actually went away a few days later so I thought it really was nothing… That spring my dad and I took a road trip to Canada and we live in Illinois. So imagine LOTS of driving which meant LOTS of sitting. A few days before we were supposed to leave I got a flare up and it was excruciating! The drive back was a nightmare, I had to lay in the back seat of the car because sitting was not even an option. We drove straight home to the local ER where they cut the area open and started draining. It was so painful and smelly. That’s what really remember. They put gauze in to drain and the next day I had to go to a surgeon. In the end, I had to have surgery and the cyst was the size of a golf ball. It was an open wound and took several months to completely heal. I had to have someone do dressing changes everyday (my wonderful mom) because I couldn’t… That healing process was not fun at all! So…this brings me now to my present day story…as I am lying here typing I am having a familiar pain again. Painful to sit and I have a feeling it’s a new cyst that will have to be removed… I honestly was never told afterwards my initial surgery how this could be avoided. Prolonged sitting? Thats me every day! All of the research said its a “hairy man” problem and my friends and I used to joke about it. Well, this website us a testament to the fact that its NOT just a “mans problem” and I am happy we are all here to support each other. No matter the gender, race or age. Lets just say having a pilonidal cyst sucks, we all know it. Recovery sucks. But in the end the relief is soooo worth it! I have come to terms with my scar from the first surgery and now I am thinking I will be adding to it…. We are not alone obviously and all I can say is don’t wait to go see someone! Take care of your pain right away because the recovery time will be less. Yes, I am scared to think I have to go through this again…now I have an 18 month old to take care of and a full time job I have to leave for the recovery time, but it is what it is. Good luck to everyone going through this and know that you will find relief soon 🙂