my belly button hurts

Maybe you're getting stress-induced maladies related to your impending move, Larry. When I first moved to Charlotte I started getting mad chest pains and numbness down my arm. I went to the doctor and she asked me if I had any stress in my life, then I started thinking about it: I had just started a job that was a stretch for my skills, I had a baby on the way, and my house in Buffalo (a horrible real estate market) was still on the market. Yup, I was stressed. The funny part was that prior to going to the doctor, the stress of not knowing what was causing my pain was probably making it worse. Soon after, it settled down.
I wouldn't discourage you from trying to find a physiological reason for your belly button pain, but stress can do some wacky things to your body as well.

 

sadic, i've been thinking the same thing...


boo, i was thinking the same thing, too. i did clean out a bit of lint last night -- that's when i noticed that it was tender. you saying it just needs more cleaning? i know it's gross and all, but it does hurt. a q-tip and some alcohol?

 

just pour it in there man...

 

Putt is right, it may be a hernia. I had one repaired a couple of years ago but mine was more in the groin area. They can occur up near the belly button as well. If the pain persists, see a doctor right away. He/she would be able to tell if it's a hernia just from examining you. The sooner you take care of one, the more minor the surgical effort. Thanks to my apathy in dealing with mine, I have a three inch scar on my groin instead of what could have been a much smaller incision. People usually associate hernias with heavy lifting, but sometimes they are an inherited trait.

From what the doctor told me, a hernia is simply a weakening of the muscles that surround the instestinal wall, which is basically a bag that holds all of your intestines together. When the muslces around it weaken in one spot, the intestinal wall can poke through the weak muscle tissue. This is why it can be sort of uncomfotable and/or painful because it's your freaking intestines that are displaced a little bit. It can also be dangerous because blood flow can be cut off to that part of the wall.

Like I said, if it persists, let a doctor look at it!

 

if it's skin related i had it a few weeks ago. i used tea tree oil - a natural antiseptic and it cleared right up. it was really bothersome.

 

i may just be worrying myself, but it is hardening in the tissue at the top of my belly button. i found this:



Lump on Belly Button

My friend has a lump on his belly button and his stomach looks bloated. He has also lost a lot of weight. The doctor told him that he could be having problems with his liver. He does not drink. Do you know what liver condition could be causing the bloating and loss of appetite?
L.W.

The symptoms you describe could stem from several causes. A lump on or "in" the belly button may actually be a small hernia protruding from the abdomen. It could also be due to an increase in abdominal pressure, often related to a build-up of fluid in the belly in liver disease. One of the less common causes of lumps near the belly button is enlargement of lymph nodes, which is usually a sign of cancer somewhere in the abdomen.

Like "lumps," bloating of the abdomen can be caused by a variety of factors. Causes may include gas in the colon or intestines, fluid in the abdomen, a mass in the abdomen (often because of cancer) or sometimes impacted stool in the colon.

It is important for patients with abdominal lumps or bloating to be evaluated by a doctor. Certainly, it is possible for end-stage liver disease (cirrhosis) to cause these problems, and weight loss can also occur in such patients. However, other types of diseases, such as cancer, can cause similar symptoms.

Your friend's doctor probably performed certain tests to evaluate his symptoms. These may have included blood tests that would give an indication of the function of the liver. Certain imaging tests can also provide information about the abdominal organs. The most commonly used exams include ultrasound and CT scans. If liver disease is suspected and if there is no obvious reason for your friend to have liver disease, then a biopsy of the liver may need to be done at some point. Your friend should follow up with his doctor to have the appropriate tests to determine the exact cause of his symptoms.

 

I told you that way back up yonder. You'll learn when to listen to me one of these days. I know things that others don't.

 

there's a definite bulge in there now. y'all can feel it at the lake tomorrow. it's sore, too. i hope to get one more good day of drinking in before i go to the hospital.

 

Damn, it sounds like your onto something. That sucks. Don't wait too long to get it looked at. Is it at all conceivable that this could be related in some way to your wang curviture, or is this just a really special month for you?

 

uh...

i may not be going to the lake.

there's stuff leaking out of my belly button. oozing, is a better word. it's dark colored -- like brown snot. and it stinks.

i cleaned it out with a q-tip, then clinched my abs -- and more came out. the second bit was bloodier.

shit.