Pilondial Cyst Experience
Greetings. I am a 35-year-old woman in good health who underwent surgery for a pilonidal cyst with flap reconstruction on August 29. After the procedure, I had a drainage tube placed to facilitate the removal of fluids, which remained in place for a week. I was prescribed antibiotics for a five-day period. During my follow-up appointment, the doctor removed the drainage tube and some of the steri-strips, advising me to clean the site and let it air out. One week later, I noticed that the surgical area felt very firm and was quite painful. Upon my return visit, the doctor informed me that he would need to reopen the incision slightly due to some accumulated blood that needed to be drained. He prescribed another round of antibiotics for a week and instructed me to redress the wound twice daily while allowing it to air out at night. Currently, the area is still very hard, swollen, and leaking a yellowish-pink fluid that seems reminiscent of blood. I am concerned that there has been no improvement. I called the doctor's office for advice, but did not receive a direct response from him. Instead, the front desk informed me that what I’m experiencing is considered normal. Has anyone else gone through this? It feels as though I’m experiencing more leakage now than I did when the cyst was present.
Answers (1)
9/15/2025, 10:01:51 PM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you’re experiencing some postoperative challenges after your pilonidal cyst surgery. It’s understandable to feel concerned about the firmness, swelling, and discharge you've described, especially since it feels like there’s more leakage now than before the surgery.
Main Points:
- Postoperative Symptoms: Firmness, swelling, and discharge can be part of the healing process but also require careful monitoring.
- Potential Issues: Accumulation of fluid or blood can happen after surgery and may need to be properly managed.
- Next Steps: Focus on monitoring your symptoms, maintaining wound care, and seeking timely follow-up if symptoms worsen.
Explanation:
Following your surgery, some swelling and firmness can occur as part of the body’s healing. However, continuous swelling, pain, and yellowish-pink discharge may indicate issues like seroma (fluid accumulation) or infection. Although the front desk mentioned that your symptoms are normal, it’s crucial to differentiate between typical recovery signs and potential complications.
Prioritized Next Steps:
-
Wound Care: Continue to clean the surgical site as your doctor advised, using saline or a gentle soap. Apply a new sterile dressing as recommended to keep the area clean and dry.
-
Monitor Symptoms: Keep a close eye on the area—note any changes in size, the consistency of the discharge, increase in pain, or new symptoms such as fever.
-
Seek Follow-Up: Given your ongoing concerns and changes in the wound, consider scheduling another follow-up appointment. If you can’t get an appointment, ask to speak with a nurse or physician assistant who might provide guidance. Express your worries clearly so they can understand the urgency of your situation.
-
Pain Management: For pain relief, consider over-the-counter pain medications (like acetaminophen or ibuprofen), unless contraindicated.
-
Hydration and Nutrition: Stay well-hydrated and maintain a balanced diet to support healing.
If you find that your symptoms worsen or if you develop a fever or increasing pain, it would be prudent to seek immediate attention. Your health and comfort are important, and it's always okay to ask for help when something feels off.
Related Questions
Am I Healing Properly?
Hello everyone, I’m a 27-year-old from the USA. I shared an update yesterday and received some comforting feedback, but unfortunately, my situation appears to be deteriorating. I underwent abdominal surgery on September 9th. Currently, the area is significantly more reddened and sore compared to my previous update. Last night, I took precautions by keeping cool during sleep and ensuring minimal friction on the affected area. I placed a gauze pad to cushion the skin fold and positioned myself relatively flat to avoid any pressure. The most problematic area seems to be the fold of my abdomen, which is unavoidable when sitting up. I've been scheduled for staple removal on September 29th, which is 14 days after the procedure, as the 23rd is the two-week mark. One particular staple is worrying me as it appears misaligned with the others. I know it's normal for surgical staples to appear red due to being metallic and treated as foreign objects, but this one seems to be embedded within the incision itself. Should I consider requesting an earlier appointment given the current state of my incision? The discomfort I feel isn’t unbearable, but it is certainly bothersome. I don’t have any symptoms of fever or chills. Lastly, are yellow crusty substances around the staples a cause for concern?
Leg Infection Update: Concern After Three Days on Bactrim
I’m a 39-year-old woman, standing at 5 feet 3 inches and weighing 200 pounds. I don't smoke and only occasionally enjoy a drink. My medical history is largely unremarkable, and I have not traveled recently. On September 13th, I sought treatment at an urgent care facility for an infection located on my leg. During the visit, they marked an outline around the affected area. Since then, I've completed six doses of Bactrim; however, I've noticed that although the redness has increased, the area has not shown any signs of draining. While there aren’t any visible red streaks, the expanding redness is concerning. When I followed up with the urgent care, I was advised to go to the emergency room, which feels a bit excessive to me. Is it necessary for me to visit the ER?
Persistent Eye Concerns
A 24-year-old female, with a height of 5'5" and weight of 152 pounds, has no significant medical history except for taking bupropion 300mg XL for the past four years. Recently, she has been experiencing unusual involuntary movements in her right eye, which occur unexpectedly and are beyond her control, lasting between one to five minutes. Additionally, she suffers from headaches located behind her eyes. This series of symptoms began in September 2024, and, more recently, she has noticed a peculiar sensation in her left eyelid. It resembles a twitching motion where her eyelid seems to want to close involuntarily, and she has to exert effort to keep it open; this incident lasts for less than ten seconds without any accompanying pain, though it feels quite strange to her. She is uncertain about the best way to seek help for these symptoms and wonders whether she should consult an optometrist, an ophthalmologist, or perhaps a general practitioner. She has also shared a visual reference in the comments for additional context.
Unexpected Finger Swelling
On Sunday evening, I found myself relaxing when I began to experience discomfort in my finger. By the following morning, the swelling had intensified significantly, and the affected area had turned an alarming shade of red. It appears that the redness has spread further down my finger. I am a 35-year-old woman diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease, leading to hypothyroidism.
Unexpected Growth Concern
At 26 years old, I’ve recently discovered a troubling bump on my pubic area that appeared unexpectedly. Unfortunately, it seems to have ruptured, resulting in significant bleeding. For the past year, I’ve been sexually involved with only one partner, which leads me to doubt that this issue is sexually transmitted – I sincerely hope that’s the case. Might this be an ingrown hair or an alternative issue? Are such bumps known to cause bleeding? I'm open to providing additional details if necessary.