Hello everyone. I wanted to share my journey dealing with this hell of a disease.
November 2022: I woke up with a small but extremely painful lump near my tailbone. Within a couple of days, it burst and continued to drain for a day or two. After that, I was completely pain-free.
January 2023: I woke up one day with intense pain in the tailbone area, making it difficult to walk. I visited urgent care and received a diagnosis of pilonidal disease. It turned out I had several pores/pits. The doctor prescribed antibiotics and referred me to a surgeon.
February 2023: I met with the surgeon who could clearly see the pores/pits with slight drainage, but there was no significant lump at the time, and I was not experiencing pain. The surgeon shaved the area and asked me to return in two weeks.
March 2023: Just a few days before my follow-up appointment, I developed a new painful lump that drained on its own the next day. During my visit with the surgeon, he recommended closed wound excision surgery.
April 7th, 2023: I underwent surgery under general anesthesia. The wound was approximately 7 cm long and slightly off the midline. A JP drain was attached slightly above my tailbone. Dissolvable stitches were used, and the entire wound was covered with surgical glue for added protection. I experienced minimal pain, mostly pressure and soreness in the area. I was advised to avoid sitting and lying on my back for about six weeks.
April 12th, 2023: I met with the surgeon to have the drain removed. Everything looked great, and I was instructed to continue avoiding sitting to protect the soft tissue flap. The drain removal was not particularly painful but felt uncomfortable. I purchased a standing desk and resumed working from home the following day.
April 14th, 2023: I noticed a significant amount of bloody drainage, which worried me about the sutures. However, upon contacting my surgeon, I was reassured that it was just seroma fluid draining. It is better for the fluid to drain than to remain under the skin and potentially cause infection.
April 25th, 2023: Bloody fluid continued to drain near the bottom of the incision. During a follow-up visit with the surgeon, he assured me that everything looked great and the sutures were intact. The pain had been minimal, although walking or sitting for more than 15 minutes was still uncomfortable. The bottom of the incision occasionally became itchy.
May 6th, 2023: The draining from the bottom of the incision finally ceased. However, my JP drain site became swollen and tender for a day or two. Eventually, it started to drain clear or slightly pink fluids, which turned out to be additional seroma fluids leaving my body.
May 12th, 2023: I didn't notice significant improvement. Sitting or walking for more than 20-30 minutes was still uncomfortable, with feelings of pressure and soreness in the area.
May 14th, 2023: A substantial amount of fluid began to drain from the upper part of the incision. I had to change my gauze every hour due to the volume of drainage. Concerned, I contacted my doctor, who assured me it was just seroma fluid leakage.
May 15th, 2023: I woke up with less drainage, and sitting and walking became significantly easier. The swelling around the incision had also decreased considerably.
Today, May 19th (6 weeks after surgery): There is very minimal clear or slightly pink drainage from the upper part of the incision. Walking and sitting are much more comfortable, and the swelling has substantially reduced. Bottom of the incision is still itchy from time to time.
I hope this helps. I will continue to provide update in the future.
November 2022: I woke up with a small but extremely painful lump near my tailbone. Within a couple of days, it burst and continued to drain for a day or two. After that, I was completely pain-free.
January 2023: I woke up one day with intense pain in the tailbone area, making it difficult to walk. I visited urgent care and received a diagnosis of pilonidal disease. It turned out I had several pores/pits. The doctor prescribed antibiotics and referred me to a surgeon.
February 2023: I met with the surgeon who could clearly see the pores/pits with slight drainage, but there was no significant lump at the time, and I was not experiencing pain. The surgeon shaved the area and asked me to return in two weeks.
March 2023: Just a few days before my follow-up appointment, I developed a new painful lump that drained on its own the next day. During my visit with the surgeon, he recommended closed wound excision surgery.
April 7th, 2023: I underwent surgery under general anesthesia. The wound was approximately 7 cm long and slightly off the midline. A JP drain was attached slightly above my tailbone. Dissolvable stitches were used, and the entire wound was covered with surgical glue for added protection. I experienced minimal pain, mostly pressure and soreness in the area. I was advised to avoid sitting and lying on my back for about six weeks.
April 12th, 2023: I met with the surgeon to have the drain removed. Everything looked great, and I was instructed to continue avoiding sitting to protect the soft tissue flap. The drain removal was not particularly painful but felt uncomfortable. I purchased a standing desk and resumed working from home the following day.
April 14th, 2023: I noticed a significant amount of bloody drainage, which worried me about the sutures. However, upon contacting my surgeon, I was reassured that it was just seroma fluid draining. It is better for the fluid to drain than to remain under the skin and potentially cause infection.
April 25th, 2023: Bloody fluid continued to drain near the bottom of the incision. During a follow-up visit with the surgeon, he assured me that everything looked great and the sutures were intact. The pain had been minimal, although walking or sitting for more than 15 minutes was still uncomfortable. The bottom of the incision occasionally became itchy.
May 6th, 2023: The draining from the bottom of the incision finally ceased. However, my JP drain site became swollen and tender for a day or two. Eventually, it started to drain clear or slightly pink fluids, which turned out to be additional seroma fluids leaving my body.
May 12th, 2023: I didn't notice significant improvement. Sitting or walking for more than 20-30 minutes was still uncomfortable, with feelings of pressure and soreness in the area.
May 14th, 2023: A substantial amount of fluid began to drain from the upper part of the incision. I had to change my gauze every hour due to the volume of drainage. Concerned, I contacted my doctor, who assured me it was just seroma fluid leakage.
May 15th, 2023: I woke up with less drainage, and sitting and walking became significantly easier. The swelling around the incision had also decreased considerably.
Today, May 19th (6 weeks after surgery): There is very minimal clear or slightly pink drainage from the upper part of the incision. Walking and sitting are much more comfortable, and the swelling has substantially reduced. Bottom of the incision is still itchy from time to time.
I hope this helps. I will continue to provide update in the future.
