Sounds horrible right?!?! I’m not really sure why they call it a disease. It’s more of a chronic infection or abscess than anything. My husband calls it BLOGGER BUTT.
They aren’t really sure what causes it but it could be from blocked hair follicles, family history, type and amount of hair, size of pores, injury to the tailbone such as a fall, and/or sitting improperly or for too long – hence the Blogger Butt idea! Watch out bloggers! 🙂
Pilonidals can go dormant for years at a time, lulling their owner into a false sense of escape. Every sufferer’s Pilonidal experience is uniquely their own – experiences range from regular flare-ups and constant miser to flare-ups that occur randomly with long gap (sometimes years) in between.
What It Is
“A Pilonidal (Abscess, Cyst, Sinus, Dimple) is an abscess in the natal cleft (more commonly referred to as your butt crack) that tends to become infected and cause intense pain and drainage.”
It’s most common in Caucasians between 16 and 26. It effects males slightly more than females.
Everyone has a Pilonidal sinus opening in their butt crack. YES everyone! It’s hard to see, but there is a tiny little hole there, sometimes it’s accompanied by a dip. Most people associate the word sinus with the nose, but sinuses can occur anywhere in the body. Sinus is simply a medical term for channel or cavity.
How It All Started
I first noticed some pain on my tailbone. Much like I had fallen and bruised my tailbone. The only problem was, I hadn’t fallen.
As it got worse and worse I thought maybe I had sat on something like a tack or needle… and didn’t notice it. (Not likely)
So then I started wondering if I had been bitten by something. A tick, a spider… something.
Then the next day pus started coming from the hole! (Not good) And then we started researching. We search for “pus coming from lower back butt area” and found exactly what we were looking for!
Treatment
Once you know you have a Pilonidal Abscess you have two choices: surgery or try to live with it. The decision will be based on the frequency and severity of your flare ups. Antibiotics usually aren’t helpful. I am currently taking Cephalexin, which helped at first but now it’s coming back!
So they decided to switch me to another antibiotic called Ciprofloxacin – which can cause ruptured tendons in your legs if you do any kind of physical activity. (Just what I need)
Although Ciprofloxacin is considered compatible with breast-feeding by the American Academy of Pediatrics. In one case report, a 2-month-old girl developed perforated pseudomembranous colitis following ingestion of ciprofloxacin via the mother’s milk and subsequently required a bowel resection.
So I WON’T be breastfeeding while taking it. I will either pump enough for two weeks or feed her formula for 2 weeks (if she’ll take it)
If the medicine doesn’t work, I’ll need surgery. If left untreated, the infection can expand or tunnel causing more issues. The surgery itself looks pretty nasty! All of the infected area must be removed and it can go up to 4 inches deep!!!
Warning you again… it’s pretty gross!
Picture post-op
{For the record, this is NOT my butt. I have NOT had any surgery… yet!}
and
SICK right?!? Hopefully this medicine works! I’m not looking forward to a gaping hole in my butt!
More Info/Support
I think I have this but there hasn’t been any discharge at all. The area is red a little swollen I can’t sleep comfortably, nor can I sit on a certain side. I’m scared of that surgery though, how long will I be out of work. That’s the only thing that worries me.
i’m only 14 and i have this problem. it started when i would get my periods, and the blood would come out very high sometimes, so i thought nothing of it at the time, until my mom saw and knew something was wrong because that was too high for blood to come out. she checked it out and saw a small hole at the top of my buttcrack, she took me to the doctors and they numbed the hole and cleaned it out, they told me to keep it clean which i tried to, but it’s now may and it seems infected, i can’t sit, and i cry in pain. from reading this i’m so scared that i think i have to get surgery to get a part removed. i don’t know what to do and i’m really stressing over it.
I think i have this going to book an appointment straight away its not leaking never has i did have an boil there before when i sit for to long it painful notice a small hole right in top of my bum very painful when i sit what shall i do
Hi Amy, so I just came across your blog today because your story is somewhat similar to mine. I just had a baby 2 months ago & have a cyst coming back :l. My first one came when I hit my tailbone in highschool, and 3 flare ups since then (one while I was pregnant..not fun). I have 2 girls also, honestly my main concern is having surgery & being in so much pain that my husband will have to care for them all day & change the dressings but he works at night! We can’t afford for him to take very much time off :l I don’t live near m family so I really have no clue who will be able to care for me & my girls.
So my questions for you, how on earth did you deal with the surgery & caring for your girls?? Did you breastfeed while you had the cyst & after surgery? This is just not great timing! But I appreciate how positive you sounded throughout the whole thing!
Hey Kathee! My youngest was 3 months old when I had the surgery. My husband helped me a lot with the kids. I kinda wish I had waited to have the surgery, even though I was told that was my only option. I had to stop breastfeeding (because of all the strong medications the doctors were trying) and I was never able to continue after the surgery. I hated my doctor, and I still wish I had gotten a second opinion. I only had the one flare-up and it never returned, but that area is still sensitive if I sit too long or ride in the car a long time – which I blame on the surgery. Looking back I’m not really sure how I did it with two little kids. I guess moms do what we have to do. If you’re concerned about breastfeeding, I personally would try to live with the cyst until you’re prepared to stop breastfeeding, just in case you’re unable to after. I feel like my choice to breastfeed was taken from me. Best of luck to you and your little ones! Let me know if you have any more questions.
Surgery pics — https://marvelousmommy.com/2011/08/pilonidal-surgery-update-postop-pics/
Thanks for your blog. When my daughter was born, I was told not to worry and no added information was given. Now we know that we need to look after the dimples as they can easily become infected and cause severe pain. Not sure whether surgery is the answer. I have noticed it is a lot commoner than what I thought. Still cannot wipe out the words “Do not worry about them”
I hate to hear all the comments left here..its a very scary thing. I’m a 29 year old female..been dealing with it for months. I got brave and went a month ago when I was giving smzs (bactum) however its spelled and they said it was too close to my booty hole..sent me on my way. So a month later went back with more pain and now they say its this and that it goes too deep to be lanced in a doctors office that I need surgery. I’m scared because the pictures and videos are horrible! Its a bump 1 inch above and 2 inches into my crack. So they said at first they are normally located right above the butt cheak. Its an itty bitty hole that really doesn’t drain but a huge lump under the skin that goes deep. I’m now taking clindymycin however that’s spelled to keep infection down until I have no clue when…I guess till I can afford the surgery. Its no fun! Thanks for your blog it does help!
Went back to read the comments and post opt pictures and some made me laugh..glad we find a lil humor in these situations!
Hey Jen! Even if they could lance it for you, you would probably still need the surgery. Mine was already draining on it’s own but because it goes so deep, you can never drain it enough to completely remove the infection in there. Honestly, I don’t think antibiotics will do anything for you. I would set up an appointment with a doctor that has done this type of surgery before. You want a doctor that has experience with this type of thing because if they mess up and don’t completely remove ALL of the infected area, there’s a good chance it will come back. The healing process is intense and the daily packing is extremely painful, but well worth it in the end! It’s been 4 years since I had the surgery and I haven’t had any flare-ups since. Even if you can’t afford the surgery yet, I would go ahead and see a doctor and try to get something scheduled. If you don’t have insurance, most places will give you a huge discount if you pay cash up front. That’s what we did.
Thank you…I’ve yet to go back. 2 visits later and 2 different antibiotics and your absolutely right. It does nothing.
I’m a 13 year old female, and I’m worried that I might have this problem. About two weeks ago, I noticed a small black hole in my butt. There isn’t much pus, and it almost never hurts. So I just left it alone, thinking that it would heal up in a few days. I had no idea what it was. And then today, I noticed another identical hole right underneath the first one. It’s incredibly embarrassing and I really don’t want to tell my parents if I don’t have to. I don’t know what to. I’m the most scared right now that I’ve ever been inky entire life. Please, please help me.
Alex, hi! I first noticed mine when I was 15 – so just a little bit older than you. I had some pain around the area and it was sore. I know how incredibly embarrassing it is – believe me! I mean, who wants to talk about their butts? Or say, “hey Mom! there’s a weird hole in my tailbone that is more likely a pilonidal cyst – can you check it out?”
I know it’s hard but I would definitely try to talk to your parents so that you can make an appointment to see your doctor. Your doctor will be able to help and be able to give you tips about how to keep the area clean and make sure you’re comfortable.
Also, remember! All doctors have seen things that are a LOT more embarrassing than your butt – or mine! haha. So try not to worry!
Thank you for being so open and honest about this! I’m 24 and I’ve had an abscess since I was 15. It’s so difficult to find any information or literature that doesn’t make it sound like a “hairy, overweight, old man’s disease.”
I had the surgery also. It was a couple days before I was leaving town for my birthday trip, and I began to feel something painful on my lower back, upper butt. Well, it was a the cyst. I had it drained and was able to go on my trip. I was in a little bit of pain, but my pain threshold is high! Anyways, I had the surgery two months later a couple days before Christmas. The worst pain is the packing twice daily!! The most relief I got was in the shower oddly enough the water actually felt good on my open incision. 5 years later I haven’t had a flare up.
There’s one thing that I am still struggling with is the scar on my butt. My buttcrack looks deformed and I am super insecure about who sees it. I plan on going to see a plastic surgeon to see if he can make it look semi normal. I will admit that it is has led to some self esteem issues.
Never thought I’d ask anyone this but for those who have had the surgery, does your scar make your butt look deformed?
My husband had the surgery in the 1970’s. If he hadn’t told me I never would have known. Our bodies all have some weird thing or other, it’s like a battle scar and you can be proud of it!
My 15 year old son has 2 small holes, a general surgeon is talking surgery but after reading this I am really nervous. My son has not been feeling well & no appetite. I guess we have no choice
Pamelyn….my 14 yr old son has one hole and above that a trail of 3-4 much smaller ..when i saw it it really scared me..its not big, but its not a normal pimple looking type thing…what did you find out, did your son have surgery?? i feel helpless
Thank God for your blog!!! We just found out our 16 year old son has this and I needed all of these stories and pictures to help me. We are scheduling surgery. I know it’s an embarrassing topic, but if I have one thing to say, it’s this: tell you parents so they can help you, they wiped your butt, they made you, let them help you!!
my son just told me he has a open pore or something on the inside of his butt crack…it is not near where these pictures show…he said its been there since last summer,and he just now got the courage up to tell me..i feel so bad that he was too embarrassed to tell me, but i totally understand..he said puss and blood come out of it..some one please tell me what to do..he says he is too embarrassed to go to the dr..im afraid im going to have to force him!!! any suggestions
Hi Margie. Just tell him that doctors see all kinds of things. It’s totally normal to be scared or embarrassed. Maybe he would feel more comfortable speaking to the doctor alone so he can ask questions without you in the room? Just be supportive and definitely set him up an appointment! He will feel sooo much better after he has some answers.
A few years ago my Dad had 3 holes in this same Area he let go for a very long time it was 4 inches deep before an Er Dr found out what he had they said it was staff and packed all 3 with some kinda medicated sulfur string stuff. Due to letting it go he lost his spleen and has chronic Ipt or Itp it affects his blood platelets. Please talk to someone don’t ignore this. God bless
Thank you for this down to earth blog. My husband had his cyst removed in the 1970’s, and last night my 14 year old daughter discovered she has one too. I’m hoping to put surgery off until early summer. She also has Hashimoto’s disease, not sure if it’s connected but that poor kid has been through so much in 14 years I hope to make it as painless as possible.
My dad also had one. I definitely believe family history plays a big part.
So I’m 17 and I think I have this problem. It started when I was 14 or 15 and I had noticed a weird pain in my tailbone region when I sat in my chair at home. I’m guessing since I sat on it really low with no good cusion to support my butt it made it worse and that’s when a few weeks later it got big like a small ball in my tailbone then one day it burst but not with puss put light red blood. It scared me so I cleaned the area very well and tried to stop the bleeding as it would come now and then. After maybe a week or 2 it finally stopped and the bump significantly decreased so I thought it was gone and I was fine. Earlier this year it returned not as bad as when it first came about 2 years ago but it came back. It didn’t hurt as bad as the last time and still very light red blood, no puss. It also bleed less than before which I thought thank god. After probably a couple months it is now a very very small bump and no longer bleeds. I haven’t spoken to the doctor or my mom about it because I was hoping it would just go away but hearing the surgey and risks it can cause, I need to get it checked out.
If it isn’t causing you pain, it’s probably nothing you need to be worried about at the moment. However, it does sound like you have a reoccurring abscess that will probably continue to cause you problems off and on. Please don’t be afraid or embarrassed to tell your parents. They are there to help you make an informed decision!
Thank you so much for your post, I thought I was the only one in the world facing this weird shit.
I’m 20 years old, male, and its been there for quite a few month as long as I could remember. Only recently I found it horrible enough to tell my parents.
The whole would bleed just randomly and sometimes just leaking some puss. It doesn’t feel pain at all! However it really feels weird to have a whole that bleeds in my butt crack…
Should I go for a surgery? Are there any other alternatives to solve this?
Would it be detrimental if I leave it unattended?
I had a pilonidal cyst when I was teen. I suffered for several years before the drainage/infection got so bad that I could no longer hide it from my Mother. It was surgically removed – homecoming weekend (I was bummed because I was scheduled to ride in the homecoming parade, but the surgeon insisted that my surgery couldn’t wait.) At the time, the doctor said I had the worse one he had ever seen. Since my removal happened in 1976 so the gaping wound has long since healed, but it did leave a huge scar. While they say these are not hereditary, my oldest daughter also had one when she was 16 years old! Hers, too, was surgically removed. After all these years, I’m now having trouble with my scar so I have called to be sent to a specialist. The scar tissue has doubled, if not tripled in size over the years and it’s now seems to be opening/scratched/damaged. I can’t let it get to the point it was there as it was constantly draining – I’m much too old to deal with that now!
I think I may have one. My tail bone area sometimes flared since I fell on it back in high school a few years ago. Recently I noticed the lower area would flare slightly when I sat down. It’s not overly painful, ony when I sit a certain way. At first I thought I had a bite as there was only a small bump on that area and incredibly itchy(realizing in hindsight probably shouldn’t have scratched at it) I was showering and cleaning myself when I felt the hole. I thought it was just a tender area. As far as I know, I have had no bleeding or pus from it. Course the bleeding could be masked by my period since I’m a heavy bleeder. I have long hair that sometimes gets caught so I don’t know. I don’t want to freak and assume its what it is above instead of a bite I scratched too hard at and it burst open (I’ve done that before) what should I do?
I have had since I a little girl I think it happened because of dog flee’s bet me in the crack of my butt so my butt crack all the way time to time get infected but all has pus come out both end of my body I’m a single mom n hard to time take care of myself because no to help I have to bag my babies daddy to watch his kids to just go to the hospital
I noticed mine a couple of years ago .Sometimes it does flare up but i clean it with alcohol or sometimes even germ x if i don’t have alcohol handy, and it goes away very quickly.My doctor told me its not uncommon, which made me feel better ,because i too was freaking out that there was something terribly wrong with me .
I’m female and when I was 20 I had one that was so inflamed I went to the ER and while I was in the waiting room for 4 hrs, it burst, running down my leg, but the pain relief was immediate and the smell putrid!. I went home and my Dr removed it in her office the following week. Almost 20 yrs later and it never came back. I only took 1day off work and I work an office job. Today I have a 3yr old who has my butt and I’ve always noticed the hairy cleft and noted to myself I would have to tell him he would need to watch for pilonidial cysts in the future…WELL, he already has one at 3 yrs old!! I’ve waiting to see what the Dr’s will do.
I have one this. i knew about it since i was a little girl. How i became aware of it… I know my father had the hole.. and he saidt my mother he can be sure it is his child once you have the hole. i think my brother has the hole.. i heard my father joking about it. also he got it from his father. who was Caucasian.( is it mostly Caucasian with this problem. I am mixed.. I became more aware of it as a young adult..I asked my doctor about it as i was getting a little pain there. He informed that people who sit a lot ..like truck driver especially get the problem. He said if you put a straw there it goes a long way in…I was always worried that if it is like a tunnel. if it can get infected…I am now 62 years.. and years apart. i would get a little itching or just a little crusty by the hole..I used to put a little antibiotic cream.t. I had forgotten about it for some years… but recently..this week actually. i have become aware of it again.it feels slight crusty. i always dry the crack properly. but i live in such a hot country that I perspire there a lot..( powdering with amens powder helps..). It is very hot these days. guess thats why it is flaring up…I have never really had to go to the doctor for it..Hope it never gets infected…But i dont think every one it.. or some have it deeper or wider than other.. Think i will do a survey and see how many people have it.. or are aware of it….
Yes I have this wonderful problem which sucks. I have a home care nurse taking the old gauze and putting new gauze in every two days.The nurse told me if it doesn’t get any better I will have to go for surgery.
I had this problem before but don’t remember it being so painful. I had the Pilonidal Sinus Cyts not fun. Better to have surgery you shouldn’t miss too much time off work. If so would only be roughly a week.
As the nurse comes to fix it only takes her about 10 minutes and she’s gone. Should be covered by OHIP if your Canadian.