I Need Your Help Ladies!!!

Ok, here's the deal and I hope I don't gross anyone out. For the past month after showering I have smelled a weird smell. It took me all that time to figure out that the smell was coming from my belly button. Gross!!!!!!! I know! I've been super dilligent about keeping it clean and have even tried alcohol and peroxide to no avail. My belly button is completely open and i don't have any problems with it being closed due to skin on my tummy (it's snapping back pretty well right now). I have no idea what's going on. I had a thought this morning that the smell smells like an infected wound and my mind started racing. I'm too embarrassed to call the surgeon's office because I don't want them to think I'm a slob that doesn't know personal hygiene (I assure you, I'm obssessive about it). I appreciate any and all advice on this subject. I won't be around today as I have to work but look forward to your responses. I love my Oct. '06 sisters!!!!!!

Sounds like a yeast infection. From what I have been reading around the boards its super common. CALL YOUR SURGEON. Don't be silly about the "doesn't know personal hygiene" you pay them for this kind of thing ok!! Although from what I have read most surgeons will differ you to your PCP but again start with your surgeon and work down to your PCP. *HUGS* No worries its common and your normal!! Now off you go to the phone!! *big huggles* Felicia =0)

Jenn, Like Felicia said it is super common. Someones else on here had the same issue. She asked her PCP and it was indeed a yeast infection. I would not worry about them not thinking you are not a clean person. Fact is they have seen EVERY part of you. Remember we went into surgery BUCK NAKED!!! At that point they KNEW you were a clean person No worries. May sound silly but that is the way that I look at it when I have had any issues. Like F said that is what we have paid them for. They are there for the asking. Just give them a call. Or if you are more comfotable with your PCP..maybe they have seen you for years and I am sure they know you are clean..they will be able to help as well. I know one thing that the other girl did was buy some over the counter yeast infection cream and used that for a while till she saw the PCP. Good luck to you. Don;t panic. It will be fine I am sure! Big Hugs...feel better soon, Melissa

Hi Jenn! I don't have anything to add that Felicia and Melissa haven't said. Just wanted to say, I agree with them that you need to call your doctor. Trust me, they have seen it ALL....and that's why you pay them - to take care of you!!! So, give them a call. You will be worried until you have it checked...and so will we....so please please please give them a call today. Love you too sweetie!!! Us October Sisters have to stick together!! Susan

Thanks girls! I panicked this morning thinking that I was rotting from the inside out or something. I'm relieved to hear that this is "normal".

HI, Jenn. Sorry I was gone all day and didn't get online until I started working tonight. It was me that had the same problem and asked my PCP about it last week. She agreed it was a yeast infection. I told her that I had been putting monistat in it and she said that was good. She gave me a prescription for a powder that I could you to keep it at bay. I have had 3-4 yeast infections in my belly button in the past 2-3 months. She documented my chart that I had the infection, that way if I try for plastics, we started the paper trail. I am bad at self medicating. It was stinky, red and there was like a whitish discharge in the belly button, so I knew it was a yeast infection and I just put the monistat on it because that is what I use on my daughter when she gets yeast infections from her diapers or teething or colds (she used to get them weekly when she was a little younger...she's only two now). If you are embarrassed and don't want to see anyone about it, I would try the monistat if you feel that is what it is, to see if that gets rid of it. But they know this is common with the sugery and you really shouldn't be embarrassed. My dr didn't think twice about it. She was totally cool about it. Hope you can get it cleared up quickly. Hugs, Tabby

The strange thing is that it's not red or itchy like the other yeast infections I've had so I didn't think about it being yeast. I'm going to take your advice and try the Monostat first. Thank you so much!

OMAGAD! that brings back awful memories for me. i had that in my 20s. it started out wettish. then sticky, then whiti**** was so smelly! i was soooo very embarrased to go to the doctor. after a while, my belly started getting hard and achy. i remembered once i visited my brother, and he told me i smelt like a hobo! then the navel burst and white pus and dirty blood oozed out!!!! mortified and so very scared, i went to the GP. doc took one look at it, gave anti-biotics and said that betadine (a brownish ointment) normally sorts out the problem in the beginning. i use a boriac powder with magnesium / zinc for my body nowadays and that dries up ANYTHING good luck.

That is horrible!! I understand the stink factor. It took me a month to figure out where that smell was coming from. It was always after a shower. Must be the water brought out the worst. I'm sorry you had to go through that. Thanks for the advice!