My Journey with a Pilonidal Cyst

Many of you reading this blog will have known that I recently have experienced some health concerns. However, I decided to create a post that chronicles my experience with my pilonidal cyst. Below are the paragraphs that were included in my family's June 2012 newsletter:

"On June 9, Morelle injured her lower back at her part-time job at an assisted living home. By the night of June 11, she was in extreme pain and had made a chiropractor appointment. The following morning at 4:30 AM, she came into our bedroom feeling nauseous, went into our bathroom, and passed out.  When Cory found her, she was not breathing.  We immediately began to try to rouse her but she was unresponsive.  Julie called 911 and soon after Morelle began to breathe again but was very slow in responding.  When the paramedics came, they checked her vitals and soon believed that she was okay.  After some time, they recommended that she be taken to our family doctor and within four hours we were in his office.  She was diagnosed with severe low back pain and given medicine to relieve the pain and nausea. The next two days she went to the chiropractor for adjustments and seemed to be improving but began to get worse later in the week. Bruising and swelling developed on her low back and by June 16 she was again in extreme pain.  We took her to an urgent care where she was diagnosed with a pilonidal cyst. After treating this area with a heat compress, significant fluid buildup drained for several days.  As of this writing, she is continuing to improve but will need to have this cyst surgically removed or risk the possibility of having a reoccurrence. Please pray for Morelle as we plan to schedule a surgery this next month prior to her fall schooling."

Following the mailing of our newsletter, I received numerous emails from family and friends. Therefore, I decided to send out email updates regarding how I was doing. The following paragraphs are the two emails I sent.

*Email Number One*

"Hello everyone!

Due to our recent newletter communication, I am sure many of you have heard about my recent health problems. I have been improving some, although I still experience slight discomfort when assuming a seated position, and was able to travel with my family to Kankakee, Illinois, this past week. I appreciate all of our your prayers and words of encouragement!

However, due to the nature of pilonidal cysts, it was necessary for me to visit a surgeon and consider scheduling surgery in order to have the cyst removed; pilonidal cysts have a tendency to reoccur unless removed surgically. Yesterday, I visited Dr. Valerie Gorman of Waxahachie Surgical Specialists, who listened to my situation and scheduled surgery for Monday, July 16th, at 8:30 a.m. Please pray for me during this time!

There are still many variables that remain unknown in regards to the surgery. Dr. Gorman was unsure as to whether the anesthesiologist would have to put me to sleep, though that is the common practice in excision surgeries for pilonidal cysts. She was also uncertain as to the width of the incision that would need to be made, as the surgeon can only know once he or she begins surgery. Please pray for peace for myself and my family as we face these and other unknowns. Dr. Gorman was fairly confident however that the surgery would last for only an hour or two and, with the time allotted in recovery, that I should be released by around 1:00 p.m. the same day. Though the wound will be deep, it is hoped that sutures will be sufficient in order to assist the healing process following the surgery. Dr. Gorman did mention that often the sutures do not remain in place and one has to resort to packing and dressing the wound - an uncomfortable and more painful situation. Please pray that the wound will heal properly following surgery.

Recovery is expected to take at least a month, but I am hoping to be well enough to begin my senior year at Texas Woman's University beginning August 27th.

Myself and my family would appreciate all of your prayers during this time. If you are interested in learning more about pilonidal cysts, including causes, symptoms, and prevention, visit this link - Pilonidal Support Alliance. I would also be glad to share more information about my experience and the details regarding my surgery.

Thank you!

Morelle Cummins

    and the Cummins Clan"

*Email Number Two*

"Hello everyone!

I wanted to be sure to give you an update on how I am feeling following the excision surgery for my pilonidal cyst that occurred this past Monday, June 16th. I appreciate all of your prayers and words/letters/emails of encouragement! It was very apparent that God's presence was with me and my family (my Grandparents from Alaska were there too) on the day of the surgery. Every nurse and other health professional we encountered while at the hospital was kind, compassionate, and did their best to assist me in order to ensure my experience was the most pleasant it could possibly be. The surgery itself only took thirty minutes to complete and I was released from the hospital by around noon, much earlier than previously expected. The anesthesiologist did decide to put me to sleep, however I experienced no noticeable affects from this; praise the Lord! Dr. Gorman did inform my parents however following the surgery that the cyst was slightly larger than initially expected; she classified it as medium-sized. As a result, she had to pack, as well as suture, the wound. 

In the days since my surgery, I have been slowly recovering. I thank the Lord that I am not in too much pain however, my body continues to be weak. I also have been fighting nausea off and on. Please pray that I will continue to gain strength and that the Lord will give me patience during the recovery process.

Yesterday (Thursday), I had a follow-up appointment with the nurse in order to have my packing changed for the first time. I had previously been informed that this procedure might be uncomfortable and it proved to be so. The packing in the wound is to be changed once a day and, due to the position of the wound, my mother will take the majority of the responsibility of doing this. We are not quite sure how long this task will need to be done. Please pray for me and my family, especially my mother, as we deal with this challenge. 

I know that God will be with me and my family in the coming weeks and I once again thank you for your prayers and encouragement! I greatly appreciate them!

Morelle Cummins"

I plan to send a third email update tomorrow and will post it on this blog when I do. Thanks to everyone for their prayers and words of encouragement!