My 20 year old son has a pilonidial cyst and im veryconfused on what to do. would like more info from anyone ?

Question

i need more info on what my son and i are looking at as far recover time. and how much pain is involved with the vac.

Answer 1

It will completely depend on how early the cyst was caught - sometimes it just gets lanced / drained once and that's it, and other times huge amounts of flesh have to be cut away.

Regardless of the cyst's severity, they're excruciating. Make sure your son gets pain medicine if he needs it, and don't be afraid to request stronger stuff if he needs that. It's often 'day surgery' in the sense that you don't spend a night at the hospital, but recovery can be months of 3-baths-a-day and packing an open wound with gauze.

I don't have any experience myself with the wound suction devices, but I've heard mixed reviews.

If he ever ends up embarrassed of the scar,.I recommend the 'tail removal' cover story.

My greatest resources when I went through mine were http://pilonidal.org/ and my colorectal surgeon.