mouse_chalk
Well-Known Member
Soo... I'm sure some of you will remember that I had surgery about 6 weeks ago (that long already?!), on my back- a pilonidal abscess. I was told at the time that this likely wouldn't fix the problem long term, and I would need another 'more definitive procedure' in the future. They originally wanted to wait 3 months before referring me but that was just too long for me so with my private healthcare I arranged to see a consulant privately yesterday.
His opinion was that I could either wait and see if I heal now from the previous surgery, and hope that it doesn't come back again, but I've been doing that now for the past 6/7 years after 6 surgeries, and it hasn't worked so far! The other option is to go for further surgery, PAINFUL surgery. I wont go into gory details unless anyone wants to, but it basically involves moving skin from the nearby area over the wound and stitching it all up. Apparently there's about an 80-85% success rate of it staying healed up for good and the abscess/sinus not returning ever again... Well, I like the sound of that!
I had to weigh up the inevitable severe pain, plus 2/3 whole weeks of not being able to sit, or walk around much at all, VS it possibly healing up, and possibly not coming back... But then I thought that right now I can't work anyway, due to my other health issue, so I have the time (so to speak) to recover properly. Plus, what if I did nothing and then it came back in a year or so, when I have a new job/animal care course I want to do, and it messes things up then? Plus I have the healthcare to do it privately now, where they would keep me in hospital for 3-4 days to make sure I was healing properly, whereas on the NHS I'd have to wait months for it to be done, and most likely sent home after 1-2 days.
So, I decided to go for it andmy date for surgery at the moment is 2nd April!! :shock:I'll be in for 3-4 days, will be on lots of pain relief thankfully (something I was worried about), and my mum and Steve will have to do a lot of looking after me, if they aren't bored of that already lol!
I'm TERRIFIED of such a big operation and what if it doesn't work etc, but I think I need to give it the best shot of healing completely while I still can...
Now I just really need to find me some bunny pyjamas or something to go into hospital with lol
Jen xx
P.s I did find a forum for people who suffer with these pilonidal abscesses/sinuses, and posted there, but they obviously aren't as friendly as you lot as I've not had one reply yet lol!
His opinion was that I could either wait and see if I heal now from the previous surgery, and hope that it doesn't come back again, but I've been doing that now for the past 6/7 years after 6 surgeries, and it hasn't worked so far! The other option is to go for further surgery, PAINFUL surgery. I wont go into gory details unless anyone wants to, but it basically involves moving skin from the nearby area over the wound and stitching it all up. Apparently there's about an 80-85% success rate of it staying healed up for good and the abscess/sinus not returning ever again... Well, I like the sound of that!
I had to weigh up the inevitable severe pain, plus 2/3 whole weeks of not being able to sit, or walk around much at all, VS it possibly healing up, and possibly not coming back... But then I thought that right now I can't work anyway, due to my other health issue, so I have the time (so to speak) to recover properly. Plus, what if I did nothing and then it came back in a year or so, when I have a new job/animal care course I want to do, and it messes things up then? Plus I have the healthcare to do it privately now, where they would keep me in hospital for 3-4 days to make sure I was healing properly, whereas on the NHS I'd have to wait months for it to be done, and most likely sent home after 1-2 days.
So, I decided to go for it andmy date for surgery at the moment is 2nd April!! :shock:I'll be in for 3-4 days, will be on lots of pain relief thankfully (something I was worried about), and my mum and Steve will have to do a lot of looking after me, if they aren't bored of that already lol!
I'm TERRIFIED of such a big operation and what if it doesn't work etc, but I think I need to give it the best shot of healing completely while I still can...
Now I just really need to find me some bunny pyjamas or something to go into hospital with lol
Jen xx
P.s I did find a forum for people who suffer with these pilonidal abscesses/sinuses, and posted there, but they obviously aren't as friendly as you lot as I've not had one reply yet lol!
