i had my first ever pilonidal cyst incised and drained today. here’s my experience.

so today was probably about a week and a half that my cyst has been present and growing, and today it finally got to a point i just couldn’t take it anymore, my walking was hindered to a slow hobble, i couldn’t hardly sit naturally at all, bending down or squatting was a whole process, and the pain was the highest it’s ever been. so i go to take a look at it via squatting like an idiot and taking pictures with my phone behind my back, and find that it’s a deeper red/purplish than it’s ever been, there’s visible heads of pus, and did i mention it hurt a lot? decided that i can’t put it off any longer, i needed to go to an urgent care center and have it cut and drained.

i had been putting it off as long as i could because the insurance im getting through my current job doesn’t kick in until august 1st, so i figured i could just manage my pain until then to save some money. mission failed however.

anyway, i get to urgent care and after taking care of the proper paperwork and getting put in a room and dropping my bottoms and putting on a paper gown and all the works it was time to get started. she started with the numbing shots, which ironically, was absolutely the most painful part. holy hell. i was clenching the bed and breathing sharply and speaking in a strain. soon enough though the numbing agent did its job and i was no longer in pain. after that, she began to cut. i didn’t feel the cut at all, maybe a tiny tiny bit, but most of what i felt was the slight grip of her other hand. then she began to press and squeeze and all that gross stuff. i definitely heard a few puffs, a few splats. gag she said it was definitely very quick to drain and was doing it almost on its own. she continued pressing and squeezing, which this also hurt quite a bit. i guess the numbing agent is basically for the actual incision. she had to cut a little bit more so i got another round of numbing shots and so it was back to clenching in great pain. then another round of pressing and squeezing.

in the end, she told me we’re all done as she seems to have gotten most of it out. wiped the area clean with some sort of sanitizing fluid, put some gauze in, and i put my clothes back on (this was very difficult as i was still in pain and i now had gauze and tape all up in the area. just imagine c-3po from star wars trying to put on pants.)

i hobbled my way out of the building, made a very painful drive home, which i was practically standing diagonally in the car, arrived home and got in bed face down and relaxed until the pain soothed again. i am currently properly sitting flat in a chair, something i haven’t done in a week.

and yeah, that’s basically it. the actual procedure was grueling and painful, but the end result is i’m no longer in pain and sitting properly again. i know i’ll feel even better once i fully recover.

i know that this doesn’t mean the cyst is truly gone. that surgery is a problem for another day though.