How do you keep belly button incision clean?

[Bluerock7]

So this is absolutely grossing me out if I’m honest but I’ve gotten up this morning to an unpleasant smell from the belly button incision - I can only describe it as smelling like the jerky dog treats 🤢 I’ve dabbed it to try to clean it a bit just with a flannel and warm water but it’s still got a bit of an aroma!! It’s making me feel quite queasy as I’m really aware of it and worried something is wrong with it. All looks fine and like it’s healing well but wondering if this is normal and how others have kept any grim smell at bay?

[Jane884]

Hi there, how many days post op are you? I don't think it's normal to have a smell from it. I kept mine dry for a few days and then whenever I had a shower I just let the water run over my incisions and pat them dry. I couldn't being myself to touch the belly button one for about three weeks, it just freaked me out, but thankfully it didn't seem to need any attention x

[Bluerock7 in reply to Jane884]

Hi Jane884, I am 9 days post op now. All the incisions are itchy but the belly button one is still sore, itchy and quite frankly really annoying!! I took the dressing off it around 3 days post op and have only washed it with warm water just when having a shower as it makes me feel queasy! The last 2 nights I’ve woken up in the night in sweats but just thought that was down to still getting over surgery. Thinking I may be wrong though and that maybe my belly button is a bit off!!

[Jane884 in reply to Bluerock7]

I had a little itching, I find I get that when anything is healing up. I know what you mean about it making you feel queasy to touch them! But you really shouldn't have to do anything other than take them in the shower with you. I think maybe you have a bit of an infection in the wound. In the morning I would phone a pharmacy or 111 just so they can advise you, there is probably some kind of antiseptic type thing you can get for it over the counter. Then maybe go to the nurse at your gp on Monday. If you start to feel unwell or get at temperature then call 111 x

[Username12345678]

Hi There, I’d definitely call your doc to get that checked out as it could be infected. I’m 3 weeks post hysterectomy and a week ago noticed some redness and weeping. I had what I’d though we’re night sweats but realised after talking to the doc that it could’ve been a fever. Mine is infected so I’m on a week of antibiotics.

[Chrysta123]

The smell is most likely due to some sort of infection so probably safest to get to checked out just in case…Mine didn’t get infected while it was healing but turns out you can get little infections after it’s bloody healed too! My advice for after healing is make sure you really dry your belly button properly and if notice it gets a bit red/itchy/smelly put a little sudocrem in it and that should clear it up (although not recommending this while it’s still a fairly fresh wound as not sure it wouldn’t make it worse!) x

[LouiseC83]

Like the others say, get that one checked out. Minimise any kind of touching for a couple of weeks longer and only change dressings every five days at the most. I ended up keeping mine covered for a good three weeks because like you I was a bit grossed out. Don't worry too much about the night sweats. Your hormones will be havoc post surgery. My night sweats went on for about four weeks

[Cockapoo-2016]

Hi There.I had my laparscorpy surgery 3 months ago

It sounds to me you may have an infection, when I had my surgery my left side wound had abit of yellowish colour and started to smell abit, sign of an infection.

I cleaned my wounds including the belly button incision with hydrogen peroxide volume 20 or 30 which will kill any bacteria or infection you may have. If it continues to smell and no sign of any improvement I suggest you seek your GP or Nurse immediately you may need antibiotics.

I hope you will be ok.

💛.

[Bluerock7]

Thank you to everyone for replies and advice, I contacted the hospital where I had the lap done and they asked me to go in so they could check. She said everything is healing well and the smell is due to it basically being inside a whole so just to continue to keep it clean and if it gets red, sore, more itchy or if I begin to feel unwell then to either contact them again or go to the gp/walk in centre.