I had my pilinodial cyst surgery in Madrid, Spain in November 2013 and I would like to share my pilinodial cyst post-surgery recovery as well.
Ive felt a small bump near my tailbone since 2000, it kept growing and getting bigger, the cyst finally broke through my skin at the base of my natal cleft in Jan 2010. I have been bleeding and draining pus for almost 4 years. It finally bothered me so much I had to go through surgery to have it removed. I was given an epideral and had surgery to remove it. I had an open wound that was left to heal via second intention. The wound was 3 inches long and about 2 -3 inches deep. I also had 3 stitches to close the top part of the wound also which was another 3 inches long.
For the first 3 weeks, the wound had to be filled with a hydrogel called “Purilon gel” which provided autolytic debridement and keeps the inside of the womb moist. Debridement is the removal of dead, damaged or infected tissue to improve the healing potential of the remaining healthy tissue. Here is a defintion of Autolysis : Autolysis uses the body’s own enzymes and moisture to re-hydrate, soften and finally liquefy hard eschar and slough. Autolytic debridement is selective; only necrotic tissue is liquefied.
The gel had to be washed out everyday and replaced with new gel. The dressing and gauze that covered the wound was to be changed only once per day unless the dressing became wet from the drainage. Ater 3 weeks, my wife was able to stop filling the wound with the gel and only fill the wound with a dry piece of Biatine Alginate dressing. Biatine Alginate provided a fast gelling effect when in contact with wound exudate and maintained an optimal moist wound environment. So when my wife had to remove the dressing daily from my wound it was completely painless since the dressing “gelled” up and was completely moist.
My open wound finally closed 8 weeks to the day after my surgery and my stiches were removed after 7 weeks. I was able to go to work after 3 weeks. I actually felt no pain from the surgery since any pain was still less than the cyst. Even though I had no pain and felt great after surgery, I knew that I had an open wound and stitches so I took every movement very slow.