By Marty Makary M.D., M.P.H. Located directly behind the stomach, the pancreas lies deep in the center of the abdomen. Its position corresponds to an area 3-6 inches above the “belly button”, straight back on the back wall of the abdominal cavity.
What is periumbilical pain? Periumbilical pain is a type of abdominal pain that is localized in the region around or behind your belly button. This part of your abdomen is referred to as the umbilical region. It contains parts of your stomach, small and large intestine, and your pancreas.
Stomach pain: Abdominal discomfort or pain in the abdomen above the navel may be a symptom of a stomach tumor. Also, swelling or fluid build-up in the abdomen may also be caused by stomach cancer.
Fungi and other germs can also get trapped inside the belly button region. These germs feast on oil, dead skin, dirt, sweat, and other debris that gets trapped in your belly button. Then they multiply. Bacteria and other germs create the foul smell, just as they make your armpits smell when you sweat.
No! The belly button is kind of like a scar. You can't reopen your belly button. Depending on how the scar tissue forms will decide whether you have an innie or an outie!
Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and gently rub the surfaces inside your bellybutton. If the swab gets dirty, throw it away and start a new one. Once the cotton swab comes out clean, use a fresh one dipped in water to rinse the alcohol out of your bellybutton so it doesn't dry your skin.
Speaking of touching your belly button (and all the grossness that comes with it), you may feel a tingly sensation when you stick your finger in it. That's because you're stimulating fibers lining the inside of your abdomen, which then send a message to your spinal cord.
When a baby is in the womb, the umbilical cord attaches to the navel at one end and your placenta—an organ that develops during pregnancy that's attached to the uterus—at the other. The body responds to the transition by closing up the point where the umbilical cord connected to the body. The result: A belly button.
Discharge and smells can be a result of several different factors, though slight navel odors are typically normal. If you have a combination of foul smell and discharge, it could be a sign of: A fungal infection or yeast infection of the belly button. A bacterial infection of the belly button.
Also, raised moles are quite normal. Moles can appear anywhere on the body so being in your belly button is no problem either. The thing to look out for is any change in the mole at any time.
Bloating with belly button pain can also be caused by appendicitis. This condition occurs when the appendix becomes infected and then inflamed. The appendix is part of the large intestine, which is why the pain is near the belly button. Other symptoms of appendicitis include fever and an upset stomach.
Apply an antibacterial creamYou can buy over-the-counter antibacterial cream, such as Neosporin, but there is a risk for allergic irritation of the skin with this type of product.
However, melanoma is especially insidious because it can crop up in unusual places that escape detection, allowing it to grow deeper and wider and possibly even spread to other parts of the body — as it did in Bucay's case, starting out hidden in the navel.
When your stomach swells and feels hard, the explanation might be as simple as overeating or drinking carbonated drinks, which is easy to remedy. Other causes may be more serious, such as an inflammatory bowel disease. Sometimes the accumulated gas from drinking a soda too quickly can result in a hard stomach.
If the lump has solid components, due to tissue rather than liquid or air, it could be either benign or malignant. However, the only way to confirm whether a cyst or tumor is cancerous is to have it biopsied by your doctor. This involves surgically removing some or all of the lump.
How to tell you have a hernia
- Feel for a lump or swelling around the pubic bone.
- If you find a lump, make note of where it is and lie down.
- Did the lump disappear or become smaller? If so, it may be a hernia.
- Do you feel discomfort when coughing or lifting heavy objects? It's almost certainly a hernia.
Typically, patients with ventral hernias describe mild pain, aching or a pressure sensation at the site of the hernia. The discomfort worsens with any activity that puts a strain on the abdomen, such as heavy lifting, running or bearing down during bowel movements. Some patients have a bulge but do not have discomfort.
Endo belly can cause discomfort, pain, and pressure in your abdomen and your back. The lower abdomen can swell for days, weeks, or just a few hours. Many women who experience endo belly say that they “look pregnant,” even though they're not. Endo belly is just one symptom of endometriosis.
Possible causes include hernias, lipomas, hematomas, undescended testicles, and tumors. Not all abdominal lumps require treatment, but some may need surgery. Abdominal lumps can be hard or soft and may feel sore. However, they may also appear with no additional symptoms.
Pressing on your stomach is a way to find out if the size of your internal organs is normal, to check if anything hurts, and to feel if anything unusual is going on. Looking, listening, and feeling are all part of a physical exam.
A sebaceous cyst is a bump that can form in your belly button, as well as on other parts of your body. It forms from the oil-releasing glands in your skin called sebaceous glands. There may be a blackhead pimple in the center of the cyst.
Walk your fingers up the side of her abdomen (Figure 10.1) until you feel the top of her abdomen under the skin. It will feel like a hard ball. You can feel the top by curving your fingers gently into the abdomen. Figure 10.1 With the woman lying on her back, begin by finding the top of the uterus with your fingers.
Usually, the stools (poop) of the patients with colon cancer may have the following characteristics: Black poop is a red flag for cancer of the bowel. Blood from in the bowel becomes dark red or black and can make poop stools look like tar. Such poop needs to be investigated further.
Getting a Diagnosis
- Blood tests to look for signs of cancer in your body.
- Upper endoscopy. Your doctor will put a thin, flexible tube with a small camera down your throat to look into your stomach.
- Upper GI series test. You'll drink a chalky liquid with a substance called barium.
- CT scan .
- Biopsy .
Signs and symptoms of stomach cancer may include: Difficulty swallowing. Feeling bloated after eating. Feeling full after eating small amounts of food.
Lab tests. When looking for signs of stomach cancer, a doctor may order a blood test called a complete blood count (CBC) to look for anemia (which could be caused by the cancer bleeding into the stomach). A fecal occult blood test may be done to look for blood in stool (feces) that can't be seen by the naked eye.
