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PS - Left it for a long time... how bad have I made it

Posted , 3 users are following.

Guest
Guest

Hi there, glad I found this forum.

I've had a Pilonidal cyst/sinus (actually 3 sinuses) since I was 15 years old, initially I got a doctor to check it out but all he did was apply a dressing and prescribe antibiotics for a month.

The pain subsided and I forgot about it for the most part. Since then however 2-3 times a year it'll flare up, become very sore and eventually drain. The pain is bad but not what i'd call excruciating, it does make it near impossible to sit down though. Each successive flareup does seem to be worse, more blood (although nowhere near as much as the very first, that was bloody scary) and more horrible pus.

I've basically, and stupidly just put it out of mind as best I can, it flares up and clears up within a week usually. I don't see it going away so was thinking its probably time to see a doctor again, look into getting it surgically removed.

What worries me is that i've left it untreated for so long, presumably its just been getting worse and worse back there... i'm 22 now. I was always put off getting it dealt with because of the recovery stories i've read, it seems everyone needs at least 4 weeks if not 10+ to heal... that simply isn't something I can do, I study and can't miss that many weeks of classes. Even 2 weeks isn't possible, just how long after the surgery can you sit down and get stuff done again? I might have to sacrifice the better part of my summer holidays to get this fixed. I'm also embarrassingly scared of surgery, i've never had any real reason to be in a hospital in my life and the thought of someone putting me under and slicing a big hole in my rear end scares me a lot.

Any information much appreciated

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    get it sorted!

    I've had 2 ops and awaiting number 3 I have been off since Jan but I know it needs to be done the longer you leave it the worse it will get and may lead to other problems!

  • pedro
    pedro

    Posted

    Is there any evidence to support that prolonging surgery will inevitably lead to worsening & possibly other more serious problems? I'm in a very similar position to Fraser and have been putting things off for years now, going though similar 'flare-up' cycles sometimes seemingly disappearing altogether. While there is no doubt in my mind that I need to get this sorted, for the next 4 months at least this is just not an option for me so I am looking to go in for surgery around September time. I’m of the thought that if I have left it this long then surely another few months is not going to make that much difference... is it?
  • POORLY_BUM
    POORLY_BUM

    Posted

    I believe that so long as the abcess is draining itself it is ok to leave it, if however the infection is trapped inside then it can make little tracts inside your body to allow the infection to release. i.e from the abcess, through your sphcintre muscle and release the infection out through your anus. This is called Fistula in ano and can cause tricky surgery and is a long term thing. YOU DO NOT WANT THIS also I have been told you can get blood poisening which is fatal. I would keep an eye on yourself if you start to feel feverish at all or sickness or diareah get to a&e straight away!
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