Belly button issues

[katertot]

Hi everyone,

Just wondering about an issue I have going on with my belly button. My pain is mostly in my navel/mid abdomen. I've been on Imuran for about 2 months. My diarrhea finally stopped but I'm still having some pain. I've had a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy, and have a pill cam in 10 days.

My belly button was really hurting this weekend. I looked yesterday and the bottom part seemed to split open a bit as well as a small spot on the top of my navel. It is so incredibly painful to touch. It is pink but not too swollen. The entire inside of it hurts.

I went to urgent care and the doc said it was a fissure. Checked for infection or leakage and didn't find any. Told me to keep it clean and protect it with vasoline or neosporin and take Tylenol for pain. He did advise me to let my GI know just to keep him in the loop, but he didn't seem worried about it.

Has anyone had issues like this? Does it sound Crohn's related? I'm also overweight, not sure if that has anything to do with it. I will email my GI tomorrow but wanted to reach out and see if anyone had had issues like this before. Thanks.

 

[ronroush7]

Anyone?

 

[DJW]

Sorry I can't help.
I hope this gets sorted out quickly.

 

[Axelfl3333]

Could it be a hernia?i would definitely get to the doctor again.all the best good luck

 

[katertot]

Thanks for the support everyone. I sent a message to my GI like the doc at urgent care told me to, and they told me to also contact my primary doctor. Hopefully one of them will follow up with me and I'll get some answers.

 

[Tuff]

It could be a fistula that hasn't broken through yet. When I was hospitalized, the lady in my room had a fistula that drained from near her belly button. An MRI is a good test for pinpointing fistulas.

 

[katertot]

My GI got back with me yesterday about this issue. He said that the concern with things like this is for a fistula, but that his suspicion for me having one is very low. I had an MRI 5 weeks ago, so he's having the radiologist look over the images again to make sure nothing was missed. Could a fistula have formed that quickly? I also have a pill cam next week, so hopefully I'll find something out soon. Thanks for all of your advice!

 

[Tuff]

I don't think a pill cam is effective in finding fistulas. The MRI you had is old, a fistula can form in a few days. Mine would pop out overnight with no warning. Not all fistulas break through the skin either. I had a bunch in my buttocks that didn't lead anywhere. They eventually healed up. I hope you find out what the problem is soon. :ghug:

 

[katertot]

I had the pill cam scheduled before this all started happening. I think it is still worth having, but good to know that is isn't super effective in finding fistulas. When you had yours, did you have to change up your meds, or did they heal on their own? I'm just on Imuran right now. My GI said he would get back with me after reviewing the MRI early next week, so I'll discuss the possibility of it being something new when we speak.

I so appreciate this forum. Having just been diagnosed in September and not really even knowing what it was when I was diagnosed, I have found so much great information and it has calmed me down during this whirlwind time!

 

[Tuff]

I went on Remicade. You can find my story here
http://www.crohnsforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=314
I hope that link works, it's under Surgery, Fistula success stories.
When I was diagnosed, I didn't know what Crohn's was, and did not get any instructions on how to look after myself. I felt really let down by the lack of information on what to do. They just sent me home with $500/month prescriptions. I think it's important to educate yourself, but some of the info is contradictory. I still have my ups and downs, but it gets better.

 

[tots]

Never had one BUT, it seems to be they should have called the Dr while you were there
if indeed thy thought thats what it is.

Good luck, feel better soon.

Lauren