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Pain inside navel?
Apologies in advance for the grossness of this topic!
Almost a year and a half ago, I noticed an odd smell would appear inside my belly button. It occured at random, and happened along with a small amount of discharge. I would q-tips, cotton balls, or toilet paper to try to clear it out, but it didn't seem to help. I was always very clean in regards to washing it while I showered.
Eventually, whatever I used to wipe it started coming away with a small amount of blood. This was worrisome, but the problem would come and go, sometimes once a month or even longer before it happened again. However, it had also started appearing with a sharp, or pinching, pain inside the navel. It was never unbearable but very uncomfortable. When I finally went to the doctor, he took a culture with a swab, and prescribed some anti-biotics. The anti-biotics did nothing, but the culture didn't provide any answers either. As the problem was still intermittent, I let it go.
Within the last two months, it's come back with a vengeance. It's been near-constant, and sometimes I've woken up in the morning with a ring of caked blood around my belly button. The smell is still foul, but it's very hard to yield anything while cleaning it out. I went to my doctor again (a new one), and told him the history. He examined it, and said I have a very deep navel (I'm slightly overweight), and to make sure to clean well (I told him I did). Besides that, he said he couldn't see anything to be causing it.
What's moved me to post this is tonight it's been extremely painful without letting up. I've tried wiping and nothing is coming up. I've tried probing inside myself to see if I can find anything, but I can't get a good angle, and the pain does seem to increase once I get deeper and try to move the skin around. I generally avoid just shoving a finger in there because the smell is not only very gross, but hard to get rid of (even with soap), but I did tonight and I have no idea what I'm feeling for!
The only thing I can think to add is that I suffer from pretty moderate anxiety, and I have noticed that the pain increases significantly when I'm under more stress and anxiety. I don't know if that could in any way be related, but it's the one pattern that has stuck. Thanks for any help you give, and for sticking through the disgusting story!
Almost a year and a half ago, I noticed an odd smell would appear inside my belly button. It occured at random, and happened along with a small amount of discharge. I would q-tips, cotton balls, or toilet paper to try to clear it out, but it didn't seem to help. I was always very clean in regards to washing it while I showered.
Eventually, whatever I used to wipe it started coming away with a small amount of blood. This was worrisome, but the problem would come and go, sometimes once a month or even longer before it happened again. However, it had also started appearing with a sharp, or pinching, pain inside the navel. It was never unbearable but very uncomfortable. When I finally went to the doctor, he took a culture with a swab, and prescribed some anti-biotics. The anti-biotics did nothing, but the culture didn't provide any answers either. As the problem was still intermittent, I let it go.
Within the last two months, it's come back with a vengeance. It's been near-constant, and sometimes I've woken up in the morning with a ring of caked blood around my belly button. The smell is still foul, but it's very hard to yield anything while cleaning it out. I went to my doctor again (a new one), and told him the history. He examined it, and said I have a very deep navel (I'm slightly overweight), and to make sure to clean well (I told him I did). Besides that, he said he couldn't see anything to be causing it.
What's moved me to post this is tonight it's been extremely painful without letting up. I've tried wiping and nothing is coming up. I've tried probing inside myself to see if I can find anything, but I can't get a good angle, and the pain does seem to increase once I get deeper and try to move the skin around. I generally avoid just shoving a finger in there because the smell is not only very gross, but hard to get rid of (even with soap), but I did tonight and I have no idea what I'm feeling for!
The only thing I can think to add is that I suffer from pretty moderate anxiety, and I have noticed that the pain increases significantly when I'm under more stress and anxiety. I don't know if that could in any way be related, but it's the one pattern that has stuck. Thanks for any help you give, and for sticking through the disgusting story!
I understand anxiety.....personally, I also have a very deep belly button and the same symptoms as you since childhood. My suggestion to you....leave it alone. Stop treating it so that it can heal. The smell is usually is not noticeable to others unless they stick their nose right in there and take a big whiff! It is just because it stays moist in there and constantly moist skin smells (can also be due to bacterial growth) ....stop using Q-tips and trying to scrub it out, this just irritates the dermis layers and keeps it from healing. The pain...if i put my finger in MY belly button and move it around, I can actually feel pain in my lower abdomen/groin area (kinda like when you have a UTI. Is this what you are experiencing?). I was told that this was just because of how the scar tissue formed after the umbilical cord was cut when I was born and excess weight can cause it to seem even deeper and pull on that scar tissue.
Then when it is become less irritated, about once a week, you can use a Q tip with a small amount of alcohol and clean it out (don't go too deep to the point that it hurts). This will inhibit bacterial growth. The blow dryer thing is a great idea too....wish I would have thought of that one a long time ago. Thanks Elliot777 for that comment.
Good Luck greycobalt!
Then when it is become less irritated, about once a week, you can use a Q tip with a small amount of alcohol and clean it out (don't go too deep to the point that it hurts). This will inhibit bacterial growth. The blow dryer thing is a great idea too....wish I would have thought of that one a long time ago. Thanks Elliot777 for that comment.
Good Luck greycobalt!
Good Morning!
A suggestion. Perhaps you have irritated the area while attempting to keep it clean. I suggest you use straight hydroperoxide. Lie on the bed...pour a capful in your bellybutton and let it fiz away! Gently place a cottonball inside to remove the excess liquid. Perhaps do it again. Then, get a hair dryer. Put it on a cool setting and blow your navel until it is dry. Try this for a couple days and let me know if it helps.
kindest regards,
Elliot777
A suggestion. Perhaps you have irritated the area while attempting to keep it clean. I suggest you use straight hydroperoxide. Lie on the bed...pour a capful in your bellybutton and let it fiz away! Gently place a cottonball inside to remove the excess liquid. Perhaps do it again. Then, get a hair dryer. Put it on a cool setting and blow your navel until it is dry. Try this for a couple days and let me know if it helps.
kindest regards,
Elliot777
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