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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

Pilonidal Cyst?

33 replies

zukiecat · 06/02/2017 23:52

Has anyone ever had one of these?

Up until a day or two I'd never heard of pilonidal cysts but I have developed a tender very red rather hard feeling lump at the very top of my behind, it's not too painful, just a bit tender to the touch, poking about at it makes it sting a bit

Very hard to see it properly, and DDs are away at the moment, so no-one here to look or to take a photo

The only thing that comes up when I google is a pilonidal cyst, which as I say I'd never heard of, but the pictures and stories are horrific!

I know it's hard without photos, but could it just be a big spot? I've never had a boil, but maybe that? It seems a bit daft and a waste of a doctor's time to go and see about it, but should I anyway or maybe with the nurse?

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JoMalones · 06/02/2017 23:57

Yes and it's horrible! If it starts to grow at all, see a GP. Mine went from pea to tennis ball in 48hrs

treaclesoda · 06/02/2017 23:57

Yes, I've had one. So has my dh and so has my sister. They're actually surprisingly common.

They can be very painful. And AFAIK the only way to cure it is by surgically removing it. I had it for years before I opted for surgery, but my sister had to have hers operated on as an emergency as she developed blood poisoning.

zukiecat · 07/02/2017 00:04

Ok thankyou for the quick replies

I don't think it has grown much since I first discovered it, maybe a bit but not as much as yours JoMalones

I'll just keep an eye on it and if it gets bigger it gets more painful I'll make an appt, if not I have one with the nurse on 28th February for a Vitamin B12 jab so I could ask her to take a look, if it's still there

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TheresABluebirdOnMyShoulder · 07/02/2017 00:20

Yes I had this and it was agony. Honestly the worst pain of my life. Worse than childbirth. I had about 8 or so flare ups before I had it surgically fixed and it was just horrendous. I ended up with depression as a result of it. It really just stopped me living my life.

All the NHS do (in my area at least) is drain it under GA and pack the wound. They will not attempt a proper fix. I ended up going private because it was getting to the point where I was having 5 weeks off work every few months and couldn't plan things like holidays etc. in case I had a flare up. Also didn't want to be having GA all the time. Had the op 5 years ago now and not a single problem since. If you want me to PM you the name of the surgeon I saw then I can do. He was amazing.

Danicc · 07/02/2017 00:21

My mum had one for over 20 years. It flared up every now and then. The last time it flared up, it got infected and she was rushed for emergency surgery to remove it.

JoMalones · 07/02/2017 00:24

Bluebird. Could you please Pm me your surgeon? It's been years since the last operation but so awful with the packing every day by a nurse etc. If it comes back I really want it gone for good. Thanks

AmberNectarine · 07/02/2017 00:25

Yes, I've had one of these bastards, over Easter weekend. Ended up having it surgically drained under GA - was the size of a tennis ball. Was right up there with childbirth and meningitis on my pain-o-meter.

Get it seen to, pronto. If treated early enough, antibiotics will do the job (I clocked my DH had one when he said it felt like he'd bruised his coccyx, that was the exact feeling I had initially).

AmberNectarine · 07/02/2017 00:27

And seriously, don't fuck about. Mine went from a bit tender on Good Friday to early stage blood poisoning and screaming agony by the Weds, and that was with a course of anti-bs (was too advanced by then).

zukiecat · 07/02/2017 00:28

Thankyou TheresABluebird but there's no way I can afford to go private and I'm in NE Scotland so probably nowhere near anyway!

Do you think I should phone the GP and try and get a same day appointment? Not an emergency one, but if you phone first thing in the morning you can sometimes get one for later that day

Reading all your stories, it sounds like I shouldn't just ignore this

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zukiecat · 07/02/2017 00:31

I thought when it first felt a bit tender that it was just a weird spot, it wasn't until I googled why I would get a tender spot there that I realised it could be this thing

Thanks for all the advice

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AmberNectarine · 07/02/2017 00:35

TBH, I would get an emergency appt if at all possible. I got anti-bs on day 3 and it wasn't enough to avoid surgery and being unwell enough to warrant 3 days in hospital.

AmberNectarine · 07/02/2017 00:36

If you're worrying about overburdening the NHS, consider that a prescription for antibiotics comes in a great deal cheaper than surgery, an inpatient stay and follow up appts.

TheresABluebirdOnMyShoulder · 07/02/2017 00:37

Yes, definitely get it seen to. Don't wait. If you are lucky and you catch it in time, you might be able to see it off with antibiotics. And don't let them fob you off. The first time I had this, I didn't know what it was and they sent me away telling me I must have bruised my coccyx. I was in agony. It ended up bursting in the middle of the night (disgusting - truly) and I was bloody lucky I didn't get septicemia. The next time I had it, I ended up in A&E where I had to beg the triage nurse to even look at it. She thought I was a time waster and was trying to send me away with paracetamol. I said I wasn't leaving the room without her examining me and then all of a sudden she realised that I needed an emergency op to drain it so I was immediately admitted. Do not wait. It won't go away on its own.

TheresABluebirdOnMyShoulder · 07/02/2017 00:42

JoMalones have just PMd you

zukiecat · 07/02/2017 00:43

Ok, thanks everyone for the advice

I'll phone my GP in the morning and get an appointment, hopefully antibiotics will see it off

I've never had anything like this before and I didn't realise they could be so serious

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AmberNectarine · 07/02/2017 01:14

It really can be very serious. Speaking as someone who has had sepsis (from a kidney infection - I have all the luck), which very nearly killed me, this sort of thing needs to be taken seriously.

Hope you've caught it in time, zukie. Do let us know.

zukiecat · 08/02/2017 16:55

The thing doesn't feel as big now, though it still looks very red, well almost purple in the middle and red round about it

I made an appointment with the Nurse Practicioner, but it's not until Tuesday, though they did say to phone them again if it gets worse

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user1475253854 · 08/02/2017 17:00

Definitely keep trying to see if you can go any earlier. The doctor will not think you are wasting their time. I had one and it did go away with antibiotics and I have had nothing since (fingers crossed) but it's the kind of thing that needs action.

zukiecat · 08/02/2017 19:20

Should I still keep trying even though the thing seems to have gone down a bit User?

It still is very red but just doesn't seem as big, do they do that? Still feels tender though

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user1475253854 · 08/02/2017 19:39

Hmm. Mine only went down cos it burst a bit (and then the doctor squeezed the rest of the gunk out - delightful!) so maybe it's not quite the same thing, but tbh I would err on the side of caution and try and get it looked at before the weekend if possible. I noticed mine sat/sun but put it off until Thursday and the doc couldn't believe I'd waited that long.

zukiecat · 08/02/2017 19:58

I'll try again tomorrow and see if I can be seen sooner,

The bit that I can see in the mirror does look awful, really angry so I don't really know what's going on!

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PaddlingFuriously · 08/02/2017 20:05

You know the drill is to take a pic and show us? creeps back in to sporners corner

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zukiecat · 08/02/2017 20:57

Ha Ha Paddling

I can't take any pics, there is no one here to take it for me, DD isn't back til tomorrow and she'll run a mile if I ask her!

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PaddlingFuriously · 09/02/2017 19:57

Is she back yet??

zukiecat · 09/02/2017 20:25

No Paddling

She won't be back til about 10ish, her flight from Gatwick gets in about 8.05, then she's going to her elder sister's flat to collect the stuff she left before she went

She'll be on the next flight back to London if I ask her to take a photo of my bum!

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