Pilonidal Cyst Archives

My pilonidal cyst... I should just name it...

I'm now 18 and I've been fighting with my pilonidal cyst since my freshman year of highschool. Which is odd to most b/c I guess this thing used to be a male oriented disease. I am a girl. To date I've had 4 surgeries, and now the doctors tell me they want to try a Z Plasty (not sure on the spelling)? I've heard that it has high success rate, but is a bit more painful than the excision... I've also heard that you can't heal a cyst unless you get rid of all it's tunnels and what not. But this surgery sounds like they're just going to re-arrange the skin and cover it up. It's still under there.... That's not very reassuring at all! Another disturbing fact that I read on another post that the doctor's didn't mention is that my rear end, already scarred beyond repair, will be even more odd looking after this z thingy.

Truth be told I do not want another surgery at all! I'd be perfectly happy just giving the thing a name, and moving on. But they tell me if it goes un treated it could eventually tunnel somewhere unpleasant. Like the rectum and I'd be in DEEP stuff then. I'm just so (scuse the language) friggin' sick of this...

I'm not exactly sure what my question is here... maybe if the z plasty will be worth my time and money, and pain?

* tormented and tired*
michelle

Follow Ups:

• Re: My pilonidal cyst... I should just name it... sherry 17:03:38 2/16/03 (1)
  • Re: My pilonidal cyst... I should just name it... Walt Stoll 07:18:46 2/17/03 (0)
• Re: My pilonidal cyst... I should just name it... (Archive.) Walt Stoll 08:54:33 2/14/03 (0)

In Reply to: My pilonidal cyst... I should just name it... posted by Michelle Ward on February 13, 2003 at 20:54:58:

Hi, Michelle.

They will do a wider excision, trying to get the last vestiges of the nidi. The reason for the z-plasty is to be able to close the much wider wound with a graft.

SO, there is a chance that this will be the end of it.

However, I do not believe that this will get worse than it is right now if you do nothing more than name it and live with it.

Let us know what you decide and how you do.

Walt

In Reply to: My pilonidal cyst... I should just name it... posted by Michelle Ward on February 13, 2003 at 20:54:58:

I had a pilonidal cyst, after several drainages they finally removed it. They cut an incision very deep and took out the core and all then they could not sew it up it had to heal from within, meaning they had to pack it with guaze (spelling) and for about two to three weeks i was in the bed on my belly letting people switch out the cotton a couple of times a day. I was told you could see my bones it was so deep. It has been 3 years now and i am cyst free. sounds awful but the outcome was much much better when it was over and healed.

Follow Ups:

• Re: My pilonidal cyst... I should just name it... Walt Stoll 07:18:46 2/17/03 (0)

In Reply to: Re: My pilonidal cyst... I should just name it... posted by sherry on February 16, 2003 at 17:03:38:

Thanks, Sherry.

You were one of the lucky 50%'s.

Walt