pilonidal cyst

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Sep 20, 2003

ooooooooooooooohh, how I do hate that for your hubby !

My poor dtr. had this two years ago... NOT fun... especially when in your early twenties.

Hers was way down on the end of the tailbone, and it was huge. They put in retention sutures and the poor thing looked like they pounded fenceposts in at both ends ! They were the rubber coated ones ... it looked AWFUL ! She had about eight rows of them. Then she still dehised, and they ended up placing a wick in there, and her poor fiance was the one who had to cut the wick QD and flush it with saline, etc. Poor guy. I live an hour and a half away, so I couldn't be up there every day to do this. But I showed him how, and what to watch for... they did alright in the end.

It IS very painful.. takes a looooooooooooong time to properly heal up. Her doc told her to remove the gauze pads and tape the first day and just place clean, dry ones on after that without tape.

He'll be lying on his belly for a good while. Stool softeners might be helpful the first week as well.. sure don't want to be straining!

Hope he heals up real soon.

Geeg · Sep 20, 2003

I am guessing maybe that the tape is sticking to hair. Maybe, by now it has been removed by the tape anyhow. Try using skin prep before putting the tape on, it may help w/removal. Also, go ask at a good pharmacy, there is tons of tape out there that is designed for easy removal. As far as pain, is he allowed to use any local anesthetic in the area like topical lido or anything?

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Sep 20, 2003

K -- So sorry to hear about your hubby. Can personally relate as I had this (over the tailbone) while in my 20s, many years ago.

All the above suggestions are good, especially regarding the hair. Gently shave it.

Also try to promote normal tissue re-growth from the inside out. Make sure the wound doesn't close falsely over itself. Include a good balanced diet -- lean towards extra protein.

I well remember the pain of getting the wound edges cauterized with silver nitrate sticks. Holy s^&t!!!

Do hope the surgeon got to (or will get) to the bottom of the tracts. My operation was re-done three times till they got it all.

All the best!

renerian, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2003

One time when I had one towards the upper gluteal fold I used montgomery straps to decrease that tape thing. I also premedicated the client or if they were in home health I had them take a pain pill one hour before I came.

They do take a long time to heal and usually more than one surgery to get all that needs taken out. I do feel bad for anyone who gets one of these.

renerian

Bonnie Rabbit · Sep 20, 2003

Content removed.

kats · Sep 20, 2003

No, I have been very careful to not pack too much. The first time, I actually didn't pack enough as I found out when I took it out and realized how little was in there. His is right over his tailbone too. He is sleeping right now. He has not been sleeping well at night and has to have pillows on both sides of him while he is laying on his side to make sure that he doesn't roll over to his back.

treecy · Sep 21, 2003

Oooow, I feel for your hubby. I had mine surgically removed (after several flair ups and I&Ds). After packing and applying 4x4s I used to abd pads and then used a sanitary napkin belt under my underwear and didn't need tape. Mind you this was 25 years ago. I don't know if they still make sanitary napkin belts but I'm sure the thong type underwear should work. Percocet controlled my pain, actually I think it was Percodan. Luckily I have had no further problems. Hope it is the same for your hubby.

ktwlpn, LPN · Sep 21, 2003

Here is some medical trivia for you................."This seemingly minor disease process has physicians baffled, as demonstrated by the multiple theories of its etiology and management in the current literature. Congenital and acquired theories of etiology have been proposed. For a time, the entity was referred to as Jeep rider's disease. It caused more than 80,000 US Army soldiers to be hospitalized during WWII and accounted for 4.2 million sick days. Much of the information we have about the disease comes from the military. " Who knew?

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Sep 21, 2003

Can you get a wide silk tape from work? or local pharmacy? and put a strip up each side of the area just close enough that you can use the other tape to hold on the dressing. Similar to the silks from Montgomery straps? Then just leave the silk tape in place until need for change. Might save him some of the pain of numerous pulls from tape through the day. As long as drainage is not breeching the dressing the silk tape should stay fairly clean for a number of days. Might save some skin for him too.

AlishaNHayzley · Sep 21, 2003

I have no idea about anything b/c I'm in my first month as a student, but I had one that was drained several times and had it the whole time I was pregnant before I had surgery on it.(scraped my tailbone)I have the ugliest scar right at the top of my crack. I remember how painful the packing was, I don't remember being given anything for pain though. I'm thinking I should of been. Give hubby my condolances.

kids · Sep 21, 2003

My 20 yo had one I&D'd in 2000, I used 2" and 4" Mefix, it held securely and didn't tear his skin up as bad as any of the tapes we tried.