So..What the hell is a pilonidal cyst?

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A pilonidal cyst (from Latin meaning 'hair nest') is a blanket term for any type of skin infection near the tailbone. These are normally quite painful, occur somewhat more often in men than in women, and normally happen in early adulthood. Although usually found near the tailbone, this painful condition can be found in several places, including the navel or the armpit. Development of the condition in a place other than the tailbone is exceedingly rare, however. It usually happens in young people, up to their thirties in age. Conditions in which it commonly occurs include obesity, body hair around the area in question, and a sedentary lifestyle. While a traumatic event is not believed to cause a pilonidal cyst, such an event has been known to inflame existing cysts."

It's so lovely let me tell you, and also warn you. I have apparently had this thing for YEARS. I was born with a "sacral dimple" which is exactly what it sounds like, a little dimple right at the top of my butt crack. No big deal right? A dimple is a dimple right? WRONG! My dimple is actually a pilonidal sinus cavity meaning it's basically an infected tunnel into my body.

NHS direct describes a pilonidal sinus as "a small hole or tunnel in the skin, usually at the very top of the cleft between the buttocks. Dents or pits in the skin can easily become filled with bits of skin and hair, and infected with bacteria. If the dent becomes blocked, it can get bigger, eventually forming a tunnel under the skin, filled with pus. This is known as a draining sinus or abscess."

So basically, what I thought was just a pimple that would come and go over the years was actually a cyst flaring up. This particular time it got so bad that it ruptured and became a pilonidal abscess. I finally got up the courage to see a doctor, who told me that if I had waited any longer I probably would have developed sepsis. The doctor was also shocked because I wasn't in any pain, whereas most people with this problem are in a lot of pain. They cleaned it up nice with peroxide, bactroban, and covered it with gauze. I was to be on augmentin for 10 days to clear the infection, with the dressing being changed twice every day.

I just saw my family doctor yesterday, who is referring me to a surgeon. I have to have this cyst and sinus cavity taken care of and healed before I can even think about having my lapband done. Yet another set back in my long list of setbacks. I emailed Sid Schwabb over at Surgeonsblog to see if he could blog about this for me, and he has some good knowledge of this subject as well. This is a part of his email to me:

"Once infected, a "cyst" is highly likely to reinfect; so whereas it's not mandatory to do anything about asymptomatic cysts/sinuses (meaning the initial dimple), after infection happens it's a good idea to take the plunge for curative surgery. Depending on what's done to accomplish it, there can be a pretty long healing process. A design flaw of the human body, I'd have to say. Big problems from a tiny hole!"

Couldn't have put it better myself.