I am 22 and I just had my first flare up 3 months ago; I had a mild lower back pain that I had thought was just from lifting weights.
The pain continued to get worse and worse and after about three weeks I began to grow a tail. I couldn’t sit down, I couldn’t bend over, I couldn’t do anything without feeling what was most likely the worst pain I have felt. I made an appointment at my doctors, not knowing what was wrong and did not get an appointment for 2 weeks. “Fortunately” in the meantime before I had appointment I was stabbed and needed a visit to the ER. ( I am not the type of person that is in this situation ever, wrong place wrong time) When I went to the ER, they stitched me up, but the pain on my but was what was on my mind, not my 16 stitch stab wound. They offered to lance it, but I was a little hesitant and declined (big mistake).
I went to my doctor 3 days later and discovered it may be pilonidal disease. He referred me to a specialist which two weeks later and a few more mild (much less painful that the first but still painful) flare ups I ended up today. He said he wants to wait for it to get bigger before we discuss surgery. I am just a little worried that I will be in excruciating pain again. Excluding the first flare up the pain has been manageable but I am weighing my options at the moment. It bleeds and pusses just about daily and does cause a lot of discomfort at times. But in the surgical sense, I do like to work out on a daily basis. Having to stay out of the gym for over a month is a big compromise for me that I do not know if I am willing to go ahead with.
I don’t know what I am going to do yet, unless I get another outbreak like my first in which case I will probably end up going to the ER. By the way the website is perfect and will aid me in my decision.