Belly Button Gunk

sharlynn · Feb 13, 2008

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!

I also read this based on the title. I never thought about it before, but I don't remember any problems before my lap chole. Perhaps mine is deeper, too! Too funny! :lol2:

Circl8r · Feb 15, 2008

I had a surgeon who called them "Oscars"...like little rewards, and have asked surgeons if I could bill for the procedure!

I've seen some real 'clinkers' in my day! Remember when our Moms used to tell us to wear clean underwear in case we got hit by a bus? I always told my kids to make sure their belly buttons were clean!

ebear, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2008

I swear I think some people could grow tomatoes in there! :barf01:

ShariDCST · Feb 17, 2008

i swear i think some people could grow tomatoes in there! :barf01:

i've seen a couple where a potato crop could have easily been cultivated............. :uhoh3:

suzanne4, RN · Feb 17, 2008

Have to agree with each and every one of you, and not just from patients that were having lap procedures.

Guess that it is one area that many do not think of cleaning when in the shower.

Thanks everyone for the smiles that I am having right now. :yeah:

IsseyM · Feb 18, 2008

This is too funny. I can't believe some of the stuff that comes out of there on some people. We pulled out a huge chunk on this 75 year old lady and it stunk bad. It didn't even look like her belly button was that deep! I admit that i do have a cleaner umbilicus than before. After shower, I usually use a Q-tip saturated with alcohol to clean it. It doesn't irritate or burn.

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Feb 18, 2008

My personal hygiene rules are as follows:

Clean the belly button while in the shower.

Make sure to wear clean undies.

Make sure my legs are shaved in case I have to have emergency surgery.

Some people come in for surgery dirty. Often, these are people who are relatively affluent-not like they are homeless or anything. Maybe they figure they'll get a bath while in the hospital so they want to get their moneys worth? Not to be gross or anything but I went to put a foley in on one woman and when I froglegged her, the smell just about knocked me down. She was a same day admit too so she didn't have the excuse of being in the hospital. We've gotten some patients that have dirt literally caked on to their skin. Again, not necessarily the old or homeless in that case either.

Weird, blood and guts don't phase me in the least but that post about the nurse pulling a bellybutton chunk out made me gag!:barf01:

RacheloneRN · Mar 21, 2008

My personal hygiene rules are as follows:
Weird, blood and guts don't phase me in the least but that post about the nurse pulling a bellybutton chunk out made me gag!:barf01:

Haha I couldn't agree more! I'm a new OR nurse and one of my first abdominal preps I was so grossed out by what I dug out of this clean looking patient's belly button.

It is also interesting to find unexpected tattoos on patients (not that I can say anything because I have one of my own on my hip that few people know about....)