READ IF YOU’RE ON THE FENCE ABOUT GETTING EXCISION SURGERY: I had mine diagnosed back in 2002 when I was in college (had it lanced then, too). At the time, the specialist suggested I setup an appointment with a surgeon to get it checked out (potentially removed), but I got cold feet and thought I could just manage through it. I also read websites like this one that, for lack of a better phrase, scared the living crap out of me. Hundreds of stories, some just horrible-sounding. So, I made the decision to do nothing about it out of fear of the unknown. However, what I noticed though was even post-lancing, it wasnâ�?�?t the same. While not inflamed, it was incredible annoying to sit-down (long car trips, when I was at work, working out at the gym). I just managed around it and dealt with it for the last 10 years. I actually had people ask me why I was so jittery, impatient all of the time. Then about 5 months ago, I had to have it lanced again because it was getting inflamed. At least the second time around I knew what was going on. Once again, the doctor recommended that I have a surgeon check it out. So, I got up my confidence/bravery and saw a surgeon here in Chicago. She strongly recommended that I have it excised and proceeded to inform me that it was â�?�?painfulâ�? with a long recovery (she quoted it at about 4-6 weeks), but will be worth it all in the end. At this point in my life, Iâ�?�?m in my 30s, a few months from getting married, starting a family (etc.), and this timing couldnâ�?�?t have been worse. Still, as she noted to me, I may miss some big life moments if I donâ�?�?t care of it sooner versus later. And so, I did it… About 4 weeks ago, I had an open excision marsupialization done at Northwestern Medical (with Dr. Anne-Marie Boller who was fantastic). Surgery took about 45 minutes (I was zonked out cold) and was in the outpatient hospital room for about an hour or two, and then went home. I will say it really didnâ�?�?t seem that painful at all to me. Think the weirdest thing of all was just having to pack and repack gauze with an open excision. However, after about a few days, it was second-nature to do â�?�? I did it myself. The thing that sucked the most about the recovery was just laying low, not doing too much. Iâ�?�?m a pretty active person that goes stir crazy easily, so this was difficult for me. Other than that, Iâ�?�?m telling you all, my experience with this surgery was a cakewalk. Itâ�?�?s been already 4 weeks, about 95% healed, and I feel the difference â�?�? itâ�?�?s totally incredible. I canâ�?�?t comment on those who had closed excisions (I know the recurrence rate is higher, but it heals faster). I canâ�?�?t speak enough though about having an open wound procedure. Iâ�?�?m here taking the time to write this really for two reasons for any of you on the fence about surgery: (1) Itâ�?�?s not as bad as its made out to be on sites like these, and (2) if I had to do it all over again, I would have done it sooner instead of waiting 10 years. I read a lot of stories on here of people getting first diagnosed in high school &/or college (just like me), and in all honesty, get it done then before you become a full-blown adult and have a lot more responsibilities to worry about. It was hands-down the best decision Iâ�?�?ve ever made, just wished I did it sooner.