Hello, hello. I’m a 31 year old male who has been battling this disease since Jan 2007, no abscesses or surgeries to date. But after reading these stories for a few years now I felt it was time to contribute. I was diagnosed with a perirectal abscess back in mid-2006. I had it cut out and they left a large hole right next to my anus, maybe a centimeter away, so you can imagine the immediate need to shower after using the bathroom. Alas, it wasn’t a perirectal abscess, and truly I believe it was an ingrown hair exacerbated by a staff infection on my legs. Anyway, I spent months recovering from that by slouching in my chair. In January 2007 I noticed a hard lump at the top of my crack, and my pilonidal was born. Since then it swells up basically once ever 3 to 4 months, sometimes more often. I take a course of Keflex (generally not the whole bottle, doctor’s orders), use bumpstopper and iodex as ointment (they really do work), and apply heat several times a day during a flare up, particularly over night; skip work for a day and lay on my side or stomach the entire time. Sometimes it drains, other times it just goes away after a couple days of pressure and the constant fear that comes with it. I understand the sleeping giant theory but Dr. Bascom said I shouldn’t opt for surgery until after I have a full on abscess. Hair removal, showering every single day and often times twice (immediately after work outs), perfect posture (well as best I can) and a coccyx cushion at work – these have been my tools and so far so good. I tend to get these boils on my butt, and actually have two right now. They are off the midline, not connected to the pilonidal, come to a head and go away. Just big nasty pimples really. These conditions have to be related but I wish there was more information or studies. Nevertheless, until then we have each other and these stories. Best of luck to everyone reading this and I will provide regular updates as my battle continues. Thanks everyone for sharing – this site has been a crucial source of comfort to me over the past few years.