I have had this problem for 30 years and have always been able to get it to drain either on my own or by a doctor. I am now 48 and it has been a big problem the last year. Any feedback from those who have had surgery?
I have had an operation on mine 3 times and comes back a few years later. I was in hospital last week because it's come back only this time it's just called a sinus ? Where I've had surgery on the scar line another two popped up. So it looks like surgery is only a part time solution.
No, absolutely not. All it does is build up scar tissue,and will come back anyway. You have been dealing for many years,so don't do surgery.
Thanks Kimberly this is such a miserable thing. I have lived with it so long and has ruined many days.
Thanks Jason what a miserable thing to deal with it has been a problem for 30 years!
How do yours come back? Do they appear as a spot or do you get the open hole? Just that the last time I was with the doc I was told its a sinus ?
The area gets red and sore for a day or two then fills up with junk. I can usually get it to drain by taking hot baths and applying pressure it then continued to drain a little for a few days
I don't like surgery but at least it goes away for a few years after . . . This time it looks as though I have a pilonidal sinus and a sinus beside it both have pus leaking 
so it looKS like I have to suffer and hope it goes away or go for surgery next month which I don't want because the last time I was in hospital for 4 weeks now I have a job and can't afford to take time off
Are u in the U.S.?
Dublin Ireland
OK I was going to say no American insurance company would let u stay 4 weeks in the hospital
Ha no way ? They wouldn't let me leave because I had a vac dressing .... to take that out of the hospital it would of cost me 3000 a week to hire it crazy
When I have read up on them it's says obese people and people that sit all day get them but I am an active 27 yr I am a Health care assistant and I am on my feet 10+ hours a day never time for sitting.
That's right,when you feel it filling up,put hot wash cloths,or heat. My son even puts a heating pad on it. He pushes on it when it's ready, then he ask me (mom) to get all the junk out. Instant relief. I had him put Ichthamol ointment on it with a band aid,for a couple of days to make sure all the stuff is out. This ointment is so great. It's a drawing salve. You can put this on when it starts to bother you, Keep puting it on,day,and night. This ointment has been around for ever. I used it alot growing up. It's like a black tar. Good stuff. Hope this info helps. You can get this ointment at any drug store.
Since mine started oozing months ago it's been on going every day I have some ointment I got still can't remember the name of it ha . . But now after antibiotics and creams and hot towels I am really considering having yet another operation.. the push has got that bad it's now irritating the skin around the area. It's not like a spot that I had at the start but rather a nasty coloured hole. . . I can't explain how annoying and stressful this makes me
Hey jason,sorry that you suffer with this nasty cyst. After the fourth time my son's cyst on his tail bone filled up, he now has the hole that you talked about. Not just Pilonidal cyst get that, but every cyst will eventually from it being popped open. I think that's a good thing because now it has an opening, and that is where it will drain.
Hi
How do you drain it yourself? does it not leave you with a hole/cavity that needs packing?
I have had this problem since 2011, previous to 2014 it came once a year. In 2014 i had a operation with stiches taken out after 10 days. This year it has appeared 5 times in 8 months.
Did you under go operations before? Did you do any prevention techniques for it not to bother you for 18 years?
Thanks and hope you get have been able to get a response.
Hi Seth
Mine seems to form an opening when it becomes inflamed it takes a couple of days of misery but then I can apply pressure on it after several hot baths and it for lack of a better term explodes never had an operation but considering since mine has been bad the last few years
I am always amazed at how fast a cyst will close. With my sons pilonidal cyst, after we completly drain everything ,it's an empty pocket,and closes right up. No matter how many sugery's you have, it will come back,and you will make it more difficult to take care of because of scar tissue. He had it fill up 4 times in a row,and we must have done a good job with it, because he hasn't had a problem for about 4 months.
Hi, I have the same problem as you. Ive had it for about 4 years and its now at the stage where i forget about it for a while, and then i notice the area has got painful again. within a day of me realising this - its ready to be drained. Same as you, hot baths etc and all the disgusting stuff will come out. It feels immediately better and generally closes up again within a couple of days. What I was wondering was, have you ever been told that leaving it there whilst infected and not having surgery could cause other health problems? Based on everything Ive read online, they tend to come back after surgery anyway and recovery seems to be a nightmare, so i'd rather stay clear and continue to deal with the issue myself. I was just worried that having your body continuously fight an infection might cause cellulitis or sepsis or something? which is obviously not a risk worth taking. Had any info to this effect? Would appreciate any guidance.
Thanks,
C