Pilonidal sinus - Diagnosis 

Diagnosing a pilonidal sinus 

See your GP as soon as possible if you think you have a pilonidal sinus. Without treatment, the pain and infection may get worse.

Your GP should be able to diagnose a pilonidal sinus after carrying out a visual examination of the affected area of skin. Further testing is not usually required.

Last reviewed: 03/03/2011

Next review due: 03/03/2013

Comments

2 Comments

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Comments are personal views. Any information they give has not been checked and may not be accurate.

milliepops1 said on 18 April 2012

I went to the dr at the end of janurary with the problem of bleeding when i went to the toilet. I had no pain or any symptoms to suggest it was anything serious. The dr said it was a very large p.s. and refered me to a specialist and i was seen within a week. They operated the next day, but i was told i not only had one cavity but two. Aftert two months of daily visits to the nurse for dressings, i was back at the specialist for a check up. I was told there was no improvement and he would would check again in two months. if no improvements have occured in two months more surgery will be needed to look for underlying problems, such as another cyst having grown between the two cavities. If nothing is found a plastic surgeon is going to have to close the cavities.
My adivce to you would be to go see a dr as soon as you notice somethings wrong, and don't assume its a trival matter or it'll get better in time. the sooner you get it seen the easier it is to be treated, and heal and won't turn into a huge cavity like mine that needs further surgery.
Another piece of advice is to make sure you keep it clean by showering every day. I avoided infection because i shower daily, and got dressings changed everyday. an infection can cause a lot of problems, one being a lot of pain, discharge and bleeding.
it's a very embarrasing and painful disorder, but one that cannot be ignored. You certainly have no dignity left after having a p.s. haha

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frances duffy 94 said on 04 November 2011

i got my P.S on the 1st of august 11' and operated on, then again operated on the 19th of october but in august i went to A&E and was told the absess was tiny , i could not walk, sit, lie, it was horribel! and was put on oral antibiotics for a week and told to return if my symptoms persisted, then exactly a week later , while in the kitchen , my absess burst releasing the most blood i have ever seen!! dont go to your GP go to A&E and demand treatment at the end of the day, your the one in pain, not the doctors, nurses. i was told it was tiny and was left in agony for another week, then operated on in emergency surgery

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