Pilonidal Cyst?

[PrincessPatty]

Anybody ever have one of these? Ever get one removed? If you did, tell me about your experiences!

I had one in 2003 it was probably the most pain I have ever been in-in my life, it came reoccuring so yeterday I got it removed.

I am in so much pain and I cant really move, so movies and the internet it is for me today.

 

[Stephanie218]

omg. my boyfriend has had absolutely the worst experience with this. apparently they're common in his family, so he found and got his removed in early august. he was flat on his stomach for at least a week...couldn't life weights for over a month, and couldn't bike to school all semester (we live off campus). nevermind the 6 hour flight back to school from CT.

it was almost healed in about october, and then he did something to open it again. he had to go to the wound center at school every day most of the semester, and to a wound specialist at the hospital once a week.

pretty much, it was the worst experience of his life...it supposadly healed over again in early dec., but he's being really careful so it doesn't open.

good luck with yours! they're horrible

 

[Candace]

My son had this removed in early August - the doc said this would allow him plenty of time to heal and start classes on August 29th. He stressed that he HAD to stay home doing nothing and soaking 4 times daily for 4 weeks. We got the stitches out 2 weeks after surgery, and the doc stressed the same recovery process again. Well, guess what? My son returned to his college 2 DAYS later, and you guessed it, the incision came open after about one week. To brief this up, he had to return home and missed the whole semester. It took another two months to completely close. Yuck! Do these return if you have it surgically removed? I mean the cyst, not just a boil lanced. The doctor said his was huge. I can't stand the thought that it might return!

 

[hiwaygal]

I've had one for nearly 20 years...have had multiple "surgeries" (in-patient and out-patient) and at this point in my life have just learned to deal with it, most of the pain now is tolerable.

I REALLY hope the surgeries work well for everyone else, unfortunately, they did not for me.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I had to look this up because I had never heard of it - boy, was I surprised!!!! - I have always had a dimple there!!!! (I have always been told this is from having my devil's tail removed at birth!!! ) Am I reading the info correctly - that means I have one, and just have been lucky all this time that it did not get infected!? (Or is it really a vestige of my tail?)



(Dearest tag fairy - please, please don't lift a quote from this post - I beg you!!!)

 

[Aimeedyan]

Oh yes, I have dealt with them as well. I won't tell you my horror story in it's entirety becuase other health issues came up as well that are not likely to come up in others.

I had several that bothered me on and off. I took massive amounts of antibiotics to clear them up each time. Slept on heating pads, took pain meds, laid on my belly for days, etc. I finally had time in my life to get the surgery. The most common and most lasting removal method is through leaving the wound open to heal from the inside out. The vast majority of those surgeries that aren't done this way result in reoccurance. My surgeon and 3 other docs I saw over the years all heavily recommended this method.

The surgery went fine, the healing process was hell on earth BUT mine was complicated. Many many people heal within 6 weeks and are on their way never to have another problem. You take it easy for 6 weeks, you pack the wound every day (find someone you love dearly for this job!) and it heals up without a problem.

Mine had issues and we ended up having to reopen it surgically 6 months later. It gets more complicated from there as I developed Crohns and a fistula grew into the wound. Once my Crohns was dx and treated, it healed. 1 year later.

A GREAT website that I spent a lot of time on (message boards, esp) is www.pilonidal.org - lots of great info. I can give tips to healing methods, products that worked, etc if you opt for the surgery.

As far as dealing with them infected, rest-antibiotics-etc are all I was able to do.

THey do run in my family =(

 

[Aimeedyan]

My son had this removed in early August - the doc said this would allow him plenty of time to heal and start classes on August 29th. He stressed that he HAD to stay home doing nothing and soaking 4 times daily for 4 weeks. We got the stitches out 2 weeks after surgery, and the doc stressed the same recovery process again. Well, guess what? My son returned to his college 2 DAYS later, and you guessed it, the incision came open after about one week. To brief this up, he had to return home and missed the whole semester. It took another two months to completely close. Yuck! Do these return if you have it surgically removed? I mean the cyst, not just a boil lanced. The doctor said his was huge. I can't stand the thought that it might return!

Yes, they can return (and often do) esp in surgeries that didn't heal from the inside out. I hope your son never has to worry about it again =( They are a nightmare!

 

[hiwaygal]

A GREAT website that I spent a lot of time on (message boards, esp) is www.pilonidal.org - lots of great info. I can give tips to healing methods, products that worked, etc if you opt for the surgery.

I just visited this website...and I was amazed! I'll definitely have to REALLY examine it again as I think there is some really good information there.

How long ago did you have your surgery? I've had both the closed and open surgeries, and too many painful lancings to even count (the most recent being 2 years ago).

 

[Aimeedyan]

I just visited this website...and I was amazed! I'll definitely have to REALLY examine it again as I think there is some really good information there.

How long ago did you have your surgery? I've had both the closed and open surgeries, and too many painful lancings to even count (the most recent being 2 years ago).

Yes, check out that site - when I was posting regularly, there were quite a few that were having issues and multiple surgeries. You might be able to hear of other alternatives or another surgeon you could visit. No one should have to deal with this!

My 1st surgery was in May 2003. By Sept, it still was open and infected plus I was getting other odd symptoms. Saw wound care doc, he immediately realized I had a bigger issue at hand (ended up being Crohns) and the wound had healed wrong and needed cleaned out. Surgeon went back in the end of that month to reopen it and start over again. I got the dx of Crohns and continued to wear pads and tape on my butt until July when it finally closed - a fistula was part of my issue. So, I had the open wound from May to July. It was lovely!

I have had no issues since it healed all the way - yeah! Quite a bit of scarring and I can't do situps and stuff since that skin isn't as strong but other than that, going well. *knocking on wood*

My dad had one removed when he was in the military and my brother has recently developed them. I had 4 removed =(

 

[mickeyboat]

OMG! You poor people. I cannot even imagine having something like you are describing. It's hard to believe it can't be treated better than this.

Denae

 

[ead79]

I had a pilonidal cyst that I finally had removed via surgery about 5 years ago. Let me just say that having the surgery was the best thing I EVER did when it comes to that cyst.

For years it kept getting infected/inflamed and had to be lanced after a round of antibiotics and a lot of pain. Finally, when the pain got so bad that tears streamed down my face, I decided it was time for the surgery. My surgeon was wonderful and had lots of experience with pilonidal cysts. The entire area around the cyst, including the area under the skin, had to be removed and allowed to heal from the inside out. While it’s a pain to have to dress the wound for several weeks, it’s much better than living with the pain and lancings. Plus, my surgeon was able to do it with an epidural so I didn’t have to go under (which I hate). Honestly, the recovery from the surgery was much easier than dealing with the cyst.

 

[minkydog]

A GREAT website that I spent a lot of time on (message boards, esp) is www.pilonidal.org - lots of great info. I can give tips to healing methods, products that worked, etc if you opt for the surgery.

I was gonna post this site. It's really great. My sister & father have had this, and now my DS10 has one. It has not been pretty , but at least he didn't have to have surgery(yet.) We're watching it for now. You have my sympathy because pilonidal cysts are the most painful things in the world. Take your drugs, lots of 'em, and stay on your stomach.

 

[PrincessPatty]

Thanks for all the replies, I fell asleep due to pain meds...

You have all hit on my fear of it re-opening again! I have been trying to lay around and not do too much. But what you are all saying is that it reopened AFTER the stiches were out! YIKES! Im so nervous about all of this and I just took on an internship (starting Jan16) working with autisitc children, I hope that my supervisor is understanding in that I wont be able to do a whole lot!

Is there anything to help the pain? I cant imagine sitting in a bathtub yet!

 

[LBAK]

I had mine done in 1994 after much pain. The surgery went well and the dr. told me he wasn't going to stitch it. He wanted it to heal from the inside out. Well after taking 3 sitz baths a day for months, it finally started to close up. That thing took 6 months to fully close but knock on wood it has not recurred. Good luck with your recovery!