Experience with the Pilonidal cystectomy with Bascom flap

Hi everyone, thought I'd give my two cents since this page helped me a lot during my experience with my cyst. Two weeks ago, I got a cystectomy with the bascom flap procedure done. I've had nothing but a positive recovery process for what it is. For reference, I am a 21yo female in college who just got really unlucky with this cyst about 2 years ago; it has had to be drained twice since including the initial drainage.

The surgery itself was super streamline. I woke up with a drain in my incision and stitches that are going to be removed tomorrow, so I'll have had the drain for two weeks. I haven't had a lot of bleeding in the drain and I found that even though it's annoying to carry it around in my pocket attached to me, it's so much better than having bloody bandages all the time. I had to take two weeks off to rest, so I did it over my winter break. For the first week, I was pretty much a mobile vegetable. I could walk and be functioning etc but absolutely no laying on my back or sitting-- I couldn't touch my knees without feeling uncomfortable so putting on shoes was annoying. Using the bathroom was a little hard, I made sure I ate a lot of fiber to avoid stretching back there lol. No driving etc so I went a little stir crazy, so definitely have stuff to watch. The second week is really where I felt back to normal. I hardly remember I have the drain still in-- although I am still taking it easy for the rest of the month.

Since I'm in college, it did take a mental number on me since I had to completely stop my life for like two weeks. I ride horses so taking that time off sucks-- but based on how I feel, I think I'll be back in the saddle by the latest, the middle of February. I am being as conservative as possible with recovery so this has the least amount of chance of coming back.

Let me know if you have any questions, just thought I'd share my recovery :)