Hello all!

Well, it’s surgery time for this guy again. Earlier this year, I started experiencing a lot of pain and swelling in my lower back/top of my butt area. I had no idea what it was, but it was manageable, so I waited a couple of days, and it got significantly worse. The next morning, I went to Urgent Care and was diagnosed with a pilonidal cyst. What that is, is a small sac near the tailbone, in the buttock crease, often filled with hair, skin debris, and fluid, forming from an infected hair follicle or ingrown hair, causing pain, swelling, redness, and pus drainage if infected, and requires medical attention for treatment, which can range from drainage to surgery (thank you, Google). So rather embarrassing to deal with. Unfortunately, the only real solution is surgery, so I was referred to a general surgeon. The next morning, I woke up, and it had ruptured, and the pain was at a full 9. I ended up having to go to the ER and was there all day. I found out that it can turn septic, so that was their main concern. After hours of blood work and scans, I was cleared to go home with antibiotics and pain medication. After meeting with my surgeon, we decided to monitor it and see what happens since this was my first flare-up. Fast forward to now, after about 5-6 flare-ups, getting lancing and drains put in, and ultrasounds done, it was decided that surgery is my next step.

My surgery date is January 7th. The actual surgery is pretty easy. It takes about an hour. The recovery, however, is a different story. Because of the location, it makes healing slow and a lot of possibilities for complications. Every time you move your body, that part of your body is pulled and twisted. It makes it hard for the wound to heal. I won’t be able to sit down normally for a while, and mobility will be limited. I have to take a minimum of two weeks off work, and I’m self-employed, so I don’t have any options for medical leave or sick time. Any money raised will be going directly towards bills, food, and any supplies needed. I won’t be able to be up and moving around enough to cook or clean for a while, so I will be needing some assistance. I know times are really tough for a lot of people. Trust me, this year put me and my loved ones through it. So any and all help is greatly appreciated!

Thank you for taking the time to read, and Happy Holidays.