Belly button abscess recurring

[Pav545]

Hi guys and girls again,

You are my source of information because I don’t have a consultant as I’m on W & W.

It’s about the 4th time in 2 years that I’ve had an abscess in my belly button which has become infected and treated with antibiotics.

Is this related to my CLL ?

In fact this was how My CLL was diagnosed after repeated infections.

[AdrianUK]

Hi, an abscess is an infection and so as CLL makes us more susceptible to infections this is likely to be related in that sense rather than a direct effect of the CLL cells themselves.

It is worth asking your doctor to do a set of bloods to see what markers of your immune system are affected if any. The main ones are neutrophils (which if they are low would definitely be a reason to insist on a consultant referral) and antibody levels (IGG specifically).

If you are getting regular infections I would personally be asking for a referral anyway.

Have you had your immunisations sorted out? See the pinned post section for more information on what ones we need.

[Pav545 in reply to AdrianUK]

I think you are so right. I need to ask for a referral

[JustAGuy]

Hi, when you say you don't have a consultant, do you mean that you don't have a haematologist whom you see for periodic blood tests and checkups?

[Pav545 in reply to JustAGuy]

That is correct. The consultant that diagnosed my CLL has said that unless the count gets worse I don’t need to be on her list

[Pav545 in reply to JustAGuy]

I do give blood to my GP every 6 months

[shoshanaz]

I'm heavy set, and my belly button tends to be a moist environment, so I do a preventative: After showering, I dry it out as much as possible with a tissue, then use a q-tip to smear a bit of antibiotic ointment inside. This seems to have helped a lot. I have not gotten actual abscesses, but certainly sores before doing this.

[Pav545 in reply to shoshanaz]

Thank you. I will start doing this after every shower as this infection is very painful.