Belly button leaking 2 weeks on

[Lisamaire86]

Hello had a laparoscopy 2 weeks ago now and my belly button is still leaking a clear yellowish fluid, has a swab at doctors all came back clear and was just told to keep dry and clean with bandage

Has anyone had anything similar and wondering how long it will take to stop 😊 not red or sore just a pain really having to change the bandage all the time xx

[princessk09]

Hey I had this, as gross as it was, the doctor said it’s normal and my bellybutton was basically just cleaning itself out kind of thing 😷 I’m not sure how long it lasted but it could of been a couple of weeks.

Make sure you pat dry as well instead of rubbing xxx

[Alisha79]

Hi,I had that too but mine was like 2 months after laparoscopy. Did a swab n it came back fine no infection. It's stopped after a few weeks. Just keep it clean n dry.

[IndigoMoon1234]

I got an infection after lap. I was given antibiotics and had to attend the clinic every day for a week to have it cleaned. The nurse used saline solution and applied a silver plaster when she was finished.

Hope this helps.

[luthien]

Hi, after my first lap I had the same and I've found a way to get that to dry up quicker and had a chance to test it after my second.

I did the same as a lot of people and got worried, went to my doc and they said keep it dry. it leaks because it doesn't have a chance to scab over with it being in the belly button and always against skin.

Get some non adhesive dressing (stuff that's on the inside of plasters, usually in first aid kits), cut about a 1/2 cm by 1cm strip, dab on some gel or liquid: colloidal silver (amazon or health shops), witch hazel (diluted - health shops or pharmacy) tea tree (diluted - health shops or pharmacy) or aloe vera (health shops) to cover the strip. Fold this up so it fits neatly in the belly button and cover if you want to with a plaster, or leave open if you're okay with it. These are all natural antibacterials and will help form a scab as air gets to the incision. remove and replace twice a day, if it doesn't come out easily soak with whichever of the above you've used and wait a few mins. Keep doing the above until the little strip comes out non yellowy / dry / comes out easily. Mine took about two weeks, then after that I just needed to clean it out with any of the above after a bath / shower for another week.

Obviously if it becomes red, sore, rashy then see a doc. Don't try to clean it too much with cotton buds, If you need to clean it soak it when having a bath or shower. You can use cotton buds but be very careful; make sure you can see what you're doing / cleaning and don't clean too hard. It may itch slightly when it's healing much like normal cuts, if it itches with the above then see a doc. I didn't use savlon or anything similar as I found those tend to make the scab break down and take longer to heal.

Hope that helps x

[Hidden]

Hi I had the same problem and posted on here, and was relieved to find I was not alone. I too had antibiotics a week after surgery. It took a month or so to heal. Best advice I can give, only shower in the morning so that it is drying whilst you are sat up or walking about. And as has been said above, clean with a cotton bud gently, and I did get some pure water wipes from Boots which I used. I also left the bandage off to get air, but obviously only while in the house.

good luck.

[Lisamaire86]

Thank you for your replies

It’s definitely slowing down and I’m seeing the nurse every 3 days to check on it but I’m sure I can see a very tiny hole 🤔.. the fluid is getting less but still keeping it dry wearing a dressing over it just wondering if anyone had anything similar if it is a small hole ?? How would they treat it ?? just overthinking maybe xx