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Navel Pain - What is it?

Hi, I have a been experiencing pain in my navel for about two weeks now.  It's happened once in the past (3 months ago?), but I thought it was caused by wearing jeans that were too tight (the button pressing into my abdomen in the belly button area).  The pain went away and I didn't think twice about it afterwards.

The pain returned about two weeks ago.  It's not intense, but more like an uncomfortable "pressure."  It occurs if I bend over, lean forward, or stretch.  It also occurs while lying in bed, if I turn over to lay on either side.  If my waistband touches my navel, or if I brush against it by accident, it hurts.

There is no discharge or bad smell coming from my abdomen.  I'm pretty sure it's not appendicitis (since I've had this for weeks now with no severe complications).  However, when I try to look inside my navel (I have an innie), it appears to be swollen in the lower part of the navel.  I pressed on it yesterday and it was firm (not rock hard) and caused discomfort.

Does anyone have any idea of what this may be?  I was going to go to my doctor last week, but it felt like it was going away so I cancelled the appointment.  Now it's back and seems like it's getting worse.  Any help will be appreciated - thanks!
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Avatar universal
Lemango- or anyone here... I have EXACT THING as Lemango has. Please... Has anyone (especially Lemango) been treated for anything??? Mine started 2 yrs ago, stabbing tiny pain at belly button, goes away for month, comes back for a weak, disappears a few months, comes back a few days... Goes away several months, comes back after turning the wrong way, or while changing, etc... It's BACK WITH A VENGEANCE! I have no insurance and am fighting going to ER. I'm afraid. Someone please advise if they've been diagnosed, and WHAT IT WAS, and if your problem has been FIXED. PLEASE..... I'm desperate. Thank you!
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Avatar universal
I know you posted about this all the way back in 2008 but I really hope you can help me...I have the exact exact pains u have described! It's been going on for 3 or for years now just here's and there's....but very painful and I was hoping u may have found out what it was from..

The weirdest part of it all is I had the pain maybe a hand full of times in the 1st yr..then while at work I decided to empty the very larg trash can & to get the bag out I had to lift both arms all the way up to get bag out of can...wen I did this it caused very intense and worst time for the pain in belly button area..it was almost like something tore on the inside & ripped about one inch to my right of belly button then ripped straight down to my vaginal area...It took every thing inside me not to cry...I wrote an accident report and made dr apt dr couldn't feel anything so they wanted me to do ultrasound but bc I had told my boss of the pain feeling like someone was cutting my belly button...and how I have had sharp pain there b4 workmanship comp denied my claim and I was un able to afford the ultrasound....sorry to make this so long I just really need input frm someone who has similar pain...thank u so much!
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Avatar universal
i have acid reflex, you would have pain in the chest and upper stomach area, not your belly button.
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Avatar universal
Hey guys, I am an ER doc, and my wife is an OB/GYN-  she is having the exact same kind of pain and we have no idea-  umbilical hernias generally protrude or have some physical evidence of herniation.  If it was more serious (appendicitis or infection) she would be much sicker by now.  It's probably just some irritation to the umbilicus and deeper tissue causing this vague pain.  An ultrasound should sufficiently rule out anything scary like cancer.  Appendicitis should not be confused by this dull, long standing pain.  If you are having severe abd pain in the right lower quadrant, have fever, and/or can't eat, please go to the ER
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Avatar universal
What type of doctor was able to help you??
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Avatar universal
My belly button problem started suddenly, after having a rash on my stomach around it.  I had a very itchy stomach rash first with tiny red sores all over my stomach, and I was diagnosed with scabies (but it wasn't conclusive).  The stomach sores are fading.  But now suddenly I have the same red sores, like little red spots, inside my belly button and it hurts alot.  It feels almost lke the way stitches feel after surgery.  My belly area hurts around my belly button, too.   And the smell coming out of my belly button is really bad, I can smell it even when I lean forward.  It's like a colicky stitchy pain, not severe but getting there.   THe pain gets worse when I press the area, or when pants are too tight.  My belly feels harder than usual, too.  ANd like some of the previous posters, I had a laparoscopy for endometriosis, through my belly button a number of years ago.  It left scar tissue, but no pain or rash until now.  What can this be?
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