Really weird belly-button problem..somethings strange since post op 4months ago

[bluejay39 0]

So I have noticed that a lot of the times, my belly button has some kind of "crust" in it, and I have no idea why. And if theres no crust, its just kind of...oily or something. Slimy.

I know this sounds gross but its 100% sincere so if you have any thoughts can you let me know? Theres no evidence of discharge, just smelly (typical) some crust (atypical) and slimy/oily (atypical).

Any thoughts? Please dont say contact my doc/nurse...

[IdahoGirl32 89]

Sometimes if you're taking antibiotics, you'll get a yeast infection in places that are dark and damp. Does it itch? If so, this could be what it is. Sometimes it happens because of hormonal changes, too.

Keep it very clean (wash with a mild soap with no fragrance) and then dry it thoroughly. Try not to cover it with anything restrictive - let it breathe. If it doesn't improve in a few days, you should probably talk to a doctor.

[squawprincess_2013 14]

Mine gets red inside and has an odor. I just wash it good, dry it and sometimes put a little neosporin in it with a q-tip. It's probably better to just keep it dry though.

[bluejay39 0]

Is this something common after the surgery, or will it just go away? The crusty thing happened for about two weeks or so, but now all I feel is just oily-ness and odor.

[mistysj 1,939]

I got it before surgery because I was so fat the skin kind of closed up my belly button. It was always a yeast infection. No problems post-op but I have lost a good deal.

[kshepa 77]

I had this, too. Foul odor and redness all around outer edges. I started cleaning the inside with soap and Water, drying it with towel and q tip. Then applied Lamicil anti fungal cream and it all cleared up in 5 days. I put the cream into my belly button then put a cotton ball in and left it in all day and took out at bedtime. It worked. Never had this problem until after weight loss.

[artymama 170]

I had the same thing before surgery and would dry it thoroughly with the hair dryer after my showers. It cleared up!

[DeniseM 238]

I had this too after my gallbladder surgery. What I suspect is that I had an incision in my belly button that should have been sutured but was not. The first two days after surgery I was bleeding from my belly button but then it stopped. After four weeks, I was still seeing crust and oozing from my belly button so I had it checked out and found out that the wound had never healed. I then needed to have it packed and treated with silver nitrate and after another month it had finally healed. My surgeon told me that she sometimes uses a tool to lift the abdomen when putting gas in the abdomen before surgery. Of course she said she didn't use that on me, but clearly she did since I had the non-healing wound to prove it. She said it also could have been a cyst or abscess, but I pointed out that I was bleeding from my belly button for two days after surgery. Anyway, I had to have a month wound care treatments to get it to clear up, so you should have it checked out. A non-healing wound can become infected, so you need to be careful with that.

[Teachamy 1,042]

Try some athletes foot ointment.

[julia7665 100]

I have this too post op. I was told it is yeast from the loose skin after losing weight and is very common after weight loss surgery. They gave me some nystatin ointment to put on it. Cleared it right up.

[lookn2lose1383837872 3]

Thank you all!! I have had this since my surgery on Monday. I thought I was going crazy. I am constantly cleaning my belly button with a q-tip. Now I am off to get some ointment! Thank you again!!