chronic
Legacy Name: chronic

c h r o n i c ;
persisting for a long time or constantly recurring

I've had an open wound for over a decade.
This is my real-life recolection of my health journey. It's the first time I've really put it all down into words or illustrated what it's been like. It's been over a decade since this began - 7 surgeries, countless hospital visits and doctors not knowing how to fix me and just suggesting 'I live with it'. Partners, friends, family, even myself not understanding how this has truely affected my self worth, confidence and quality of life.


2012. One Year
I vividly remember being on the bus, with a huge pain in my ass.
When I got home, I saw a huge hole. dark. bleeding.

They called it a Pilonidal Cyst. Very common, I’m told.
Typically seen in older men, with lots of body hair, usually treatable with antibiotics.

Against all odds I guess I was just lucky.

2013. Two Years
First surgery scheduled.
Cut it out and stitched it up.
Healing, healing, healing, stopped.
Not the whole way, nothing infected, nothing wrong
Just stopped.

2014. Three Years
Second Surgery.
Same thing, “The disease must still be in there”

2015. Four Years
I was referred to a Plastic Surgeon for review.
Third Surgery
He explained to me he will be doing a 'Z-Plasty' flap.

"I'm concerned about how it will heal.."
Surgeon: “Pfft. No one's going to be eating off of it.”

Fourth Surgery.
It was huge. I was told I couldn’t sit down for months while it healed.
Only laying down and standing.
Not even the bathroom.
I had to use a camping funnel and shower after every time I went.
One month later, I was admitted to emergency with an infection.
On the operating table, he told me “Were you sitting down?”
Like it wasn’t impossible.

Fifth Surgery.
3 months later, another infection that warranted emergency department.
Nurse "You must hate hospitals"
I had what looked like rubber glove fingers going through the four holes.
This was to keep the wounds open – trying to drain the infection underneath.
It didn’t work.

2016. Five Years

2017. Six Years

2018. Seven Years
Sixth surgery
I had a drain put in that literally just looked like a cable tie that was keeping the two holes open.

2019. Eight Years
They told me the plan was to cut it all out, to do another flap from 'hip to hip'
Doctor "You, uh, won't have a buttcrack for awhile but it will eventually settle back down"
Paid for a private plastic surgeon for a second opinion - he agreed it would require something aggressive.

2020. Nine Years
Seventh Surgery

2021. One D e c a d e

2022. Eleven Years

2023. Twelve Years

2024. Thirteen Years
Diagnosed with Hidradentitis Superativa

2025. Fourteen Years

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