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Conflicting Diagnosises

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Musings
Musings

Tuesday evening, I started having unexplained tailbone pain. I iced it, slept, and figured I'd feel better in the morning. Wednesday, I felt worse so went to a walk-in clinic where the doctor told me it was a very early stage pilonidal cyst and that I needed antibiotics. Due to a history of c.diff, I made an appointment with my dermatologist for another opinion.

Saw my dermatologist today and he doesn't think I have a cyst at all as he could see no pits, no swelling, no redness, and feel no lump/bump despite my level of pain and think's it nerve damage.

Now, I am off to see my PCP tomorrow to discuss further testing but totally at a loss. Would prefer it not be pilonidal but seems some people only have tailbone pain as a symptom for quite some time until it progresses and rather get surgery sooner than later if needed.

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2 Replies

  • Mugrad1991
    Mugrad1991 Musings

    Posted

    My 19 year old son just had pilonidal cyst removal (cleft lift procedure done). His started with tailbone pain (said it felt bruised all the time). He came home from college on Christmas break and showed me and it looked like an ingrown hair. We went to the doctor and they lanced it and drained it (pus came out) and the doctor said it was not pilonidal because there were no pits and no other symptoms. The problem was that the area that was drained never closed up really. It just looked like a little mole. By the time he came home for spring break, we took him back in because it hadn't healed. The doctor was then able to pull hair from it and the pits had developed at that point. He was out on antibiotics and clyndamyacin gel until he was finished with the semester to keep the cyst from getting worse. A week after he was home he had the surgery. It was a 6 week recovery and he has a scar now that is about 7 inches long. Make sure you go to a specialist if you get the surgery. Not everyone can do it correctly. I hope it's not a pilonidal. They are NOT fun and will not go away without surgery. Good luck

    • Musings
      Musings Mugrad1991

      Posted

      Thank you for the response - though sad your son had to go through this!

      The pain has basically subsided at this point and have no bump/swelling/redness so truly hoping it isn't a cyst but will continue to monitor.

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