My story spans about 14 years. I first noticed what I thought was a pimple on my buttocks near the cleft. Which subsided after a couple months. For about 5 years or so, I got these flare-ups roughly once a year. And they would finally subside following a few days of severe draining. At one point I had asked my doctor at the time about it and was told it was just adult acne.
To be fair, I was in a state of remission at the the time of the appointment. Following the first 5 years I was largely in a state of remission, with only a few minor flare-ups – nothing serious or really painful. Earlier this year, it came back with a vengeance draining badly almost from the start of the flare-up. Again, I thought a pimple, just a bad one. After about 4 months, I sought a doctor. Thinking it was an embedded pimple, we tried antibiotics, which helped, but as soon as the antibiotics were finished, it came back. Finally, he decided to have a surgeon look at it for possible draining. I have to laugh, because he took one look and told that draining won’t help. It was then I found out that I had a Pilonidal Cyst and we scheduled surgery two weeks hence.
At this point I must say that the internet can be wonderful, but sometimes not. As soon as I got home, I searched the term and found nothing but horrific photos; did not find you site at this time. I called the doctor back terrified. He assured me that I will be fine and we proceeded. Surgery came and went without incident and I went home. Woke up that night with what seemed excessive bleeding, and following the attending nurses visit the next day, returned to the hospital. Sent home again with the wound repacked. I should say that I have an open wound, not a closed one.
At the following nurses visited I was recommended an every other day schedule. And so we proceeded. Every other day the packing was removed, the wound cleaned, and repacked. I also had called the doctor for a 10 day follow-up. The nurse measured the wound at 5cm by 6cm by 1cm deep. On day nine I attempted to go back to work. But I was so uncomfortable, that I returned home midday. Come day 10, and I was stinking. Good thing I had the follow-up appointment that day.
Oh my! Was the doctor angry. Apparently, I was to wash the wound at least once, preferably twice a day! The hospital instructions I had gotten were unclear about this only stating that I could shower, which I did being careful not to get the wound wet as one normally does following surgery. An Anitbiotic was prescribed and I began flushing the wound twice a day. It was at this point that I found this site, which helped immeasurably. It it is now 3 weeks later. The wound now measures 3 x 4 with virtually no depth.
I can now sit. Healing is progressing well.