Belly Button Gunk

Specialties Operating Room

Published

Specializes in Surgical Services.

Just thinking of something that has changed since starting in the OR....... I have a cleaner umbilicus. Anyone agree?? If you don't, have you done your share of Laparoscopic procedures? :nono:

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Specializes in Peri-op/Sub-Acute ANP.

I call them BBMs = Belly Button Monsters!

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Specializes in CST in general surgery, LDRs, & podiatry.
just thinking of something that has changed since starting in the or....... i have a cleaner umbilicus. anyone agree?? if you don't, have you done your share of laparoscopic procedures? :nono:

you bet i have - the washcloth on one finger digs around in there every morning in the shower - nobody is going to find any of that yucky stuff on me if i ever have to have something done through a scope! :nono: and i've done a ton of them over the last 14 years!

don't know exactly why, but a couple of circulators i used to work with called it "pearl diving" when they had to go in there with the applicators and dig out the gunk............

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Mine is shined and polished like a new car LOL. I agree that anyone exposed to many laparoscopic cases would be inclined to never let their buttons go.

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Specializes in Surgical Services.

It is amazing to me how the cleanest looking person can have such nasty belly buttons.

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I just had to read this post bsed on the Title!

I use a qtip swab dipped in some liquid soap, rinse, then dry with a blow dryer. Since my own scope I have a much deeper innie and I find myself digging it out too.

Very funny!

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Not only do I have a very clean umbilicus, but I also am very particular about my toilet tissue,, so I don't have lint build up in the areas that I don't normally see. Who would have thunk it, entering school!

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Specializes in NICU.

I've always bemoaned my shallow belly button - it's like a half-sphere. Multiple people refused to pierce it when I was young and foolish and desired such a thing. Now I'm feeling better. :)

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Specializes in Surgical.

OMG this is too funny. I was just telling my hubby about this (again). He always looks at me like I'm weird.

But one look at some of the gross stuff I've excavated from belly buttons and he'd understand.

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Specializes in OR.

We call them bellybuttonectomies. I'm constantly trying to convince my surgeons that they are outside my scope of practice and they should really be performing the procedures themselves :lol2:

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Specializes in Surgical Services.
We call them bellybuttonectomies. I'm constantly trying to convince my surgeons that they are outside my scope of practice and they should really be performing the procedures themselves :lol2:

I am going to have to try this!! Just too funny...

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Specializes in ICU.

I can hardly believe I'm saying this but on two seperate occassions now I have had drainage and a foul smell coming from my BB. I went to a doc the first time and he told me that it was because I clean it and irritated the delicate skin. I thought for sure it was infected or something. After that visit I stopped pushing stuff in it to clean it and just let the soap and water run over it in the shower. It then happened again and I mean it filled up like a lake a few times a day, was red and itchy. I did some research on the net and it said I had a yeast infection in my umbilicus. After reading all your threads regarding this subject I don't know what I should be doing. My family is completely disgusted when I even bring it up. It's not something I wish to experience again. I mean all I can think of is someone doing a belly shot on someone with the same problem (how disgusting), not me of course:)

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