Just been diagnosed...help!

Hey there,

Try not to get too down about the whole thing, it is depressing though, but you have more options. Firstly I would enquire about getting a second opinion from a surgeon who specialises in pilonidals. There is a relatively new procedure that is being performed known as the 'cleft lift', or as Bascom's procedure (after the surgeon that developed it) and there are surgeons in the UK that use this. I see you're in Hampshire, the UK expert in pilonidals, who pioneered use of the cleft lift in the UK, is Asha Senapati in Portsmouth. It may be worth asking for a referral to her on the NHS (you have a right to be referred to whoever you choose) and seek her opinion. I myself am going to a cleft lift surgeon near me (in Scotland) for this procedure, he's told me he's performed over 200 and no one has had any further trouble. Otherwise, there is a list of known pilonidal UK surgeons on the pilonidal.org website in the surgeon hall of fame. Hope this helps a bit, keep your chin up, there's a few people on that forum who've had the cleft lift and carried on horseriding!!

Mmmm I;mnpot sure I wuld be as releived as you sound about leaving thigs alone. When my son had his op in march he was told it was so close to the spine had he not acted on it he could have been paralysed within three days and dead in a week! Hate to be a scaremonger but you need to do your own research on this. The fact you have an abcess means there is already infection anyway. If it has been resolved with anti-biotics then great, but you may just be following the normal seesaw pattern of temporary relief form them.

I wish I had more optimistic advice, just acting on my lads expereince.

Get the op.....

Took them 6 years to work out what I had and by the time they were finished needed reconstructive surgery.....

My advise as above from experience is go for it but ask for laser haor removal from the area also (Lessens the attacks)