Pain around my belly button, lower stomach - not sure why?

August 7, 2023 3:41 PM

YANMD. Around where the incisions for my colon cancer tumor removal surgery took place, at my belly button, started having odd pain/discomfort last night. I feel some degree of tightness/pain (not dire, but not comfortable either) when moving around in certain ways or bending over. I talked with my surgeon, and she didn't seem too concerned.

I asked if it could be related to some kind of late effect from the surgery, and she said that some residual pain could be normal. However, this pain happened completely out of the blue last night, and my surgery was way back in May. Had absolutely zero issues with the area prior to that.

When I stand up/walk upstairs or downstairs, bend over, or even move my torso around a bit, sometimes it'll hurt—feels kind of tight. I'd say the pain level is maybe 4-5 out of 10. I thought it was bloating because I had a big bag of movie theater popcorn while watching Barbie yesterday (worth the watch btw) but it didn't subside overnight. The pain is happening inside, not related to the scar/skin. It hurts around/at my belly button, and lower right stomach (facing forward). When I press on my belly button, it hurts/feels uncomfortable. My belly button isn't pierced or anything.

I asked my surgeon because it was in the area where the surgery happened, and I was worried that the surgery site where my colon was cut and then reconnected (to remove the tumor) was hurt, but she seemed to think this is normal. However, 3 months later, out of the blue... kind of weird. I figured I'd come here and ask and see if others had similar experiences, or if it could be something else. My PCP is also leaving Kaiser, so right now, I don't have a PCP. YANMD. Is this something my surgeon might know about, or...?

Thanks!

posted by dubious_dude to Health & Fitness (17 answers total)

After my surgery I had all sorts of weird, random pains off and on for a year or so. If it gets worse or doesn't go away definitely get it checked out, but for now I don't think this is too worrisome.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 3:46 PM on August 7, 2023 [2 favorites]

If it gets worse, it could be appendicitis.
posted by heatherlogan at 4:07 PM on August 7, 2023

Per Mayo Clinic,
Appendicitis causes pain in your lower right abdomen. However, in most people, pain begins around the navel and then moves. As inflammation worsens, appendicitis pain typically increases and eventually becomes severe.

I believe that Kaiser has a 24hr nurse line, so I’d call and ask them what to do.
posted by maleficent at 4:18 PM on August 7, 2023

Yes, could be appendicitis. Call the nurse line. Since it's not even been 24 hours, they'll probably tell you to wait and see if it gets worse, but at least they can have your medical history for context.

(I know you rely a lot on AskMe, but a post-surgical cancer patient should really be bringing urgent questions to medical professionals rather than a gaggle of randos.)
posted by praemunire at 4:22 PM on August 7, 2023 [5 favorites]

should really be bringing urgent questions to medical professionals rather than a gaggle of randos

(Unfortunately, a gaggle of randos is happy to communicate freely with a Deaf person in writing, while medical professionals are often unwilling to do so.)
posted by heatherlogan at 5:01 PM on August 7, 2023 [11 favorites]

should really be bringing urgent questions to medical professionals rather than a gaggle of randos

From the post: "I talked with my surgeon, and she didn't seem too concerned."
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 5:18 PM on August 7, 2023 [4 favorites]

Response by poster: Just for clarification, I emailed my surgeon through the Kaiser portal. The reason I am asking here is because I figured I could see others' experiences, and Kaiser doesn't have a way to call directly to a doctor's office—you have to go through a 800 number and it can be a pain to use. I've tried their advice nurse line before, and they were honestly kind of unhelpful, so that's why I thought I could try asking here to see if others had any similar experiences. It's hard to reach a proper doctor at Kaiser, as their offices are all "behind" the 800 number, and I also am trying to save time/money and not go to UC unless absolutely necessary.

Thank you for the suggestion of appendicitis—that could be possible. The pain so far hasn't been intense, and I haven't experienced the other symptoms of nausea, loss of appetite, fever, etc., so it could be something else. Or it could be the early stages of appendicitis.

I'll wait it out for the next couple of days, and if the pain persists/does not improve or worsen, I'll try UC or talking to my surgeon again and see if she can put in a referral for an ultrasound. I welcome any other suggestions in addition to appendicitis.
posted by dubious_dude at 5:46 PM on August 7, 2023

Just a thought - did you mention the popcorn when you contacted your doctor? I know that some folks with a propensity for diverticulitis have problems with popcorn and I wonder if post surgery scar tissue would leave you more susceptible to any issues processing the kernels.
posted by platinum at 6:35 PM on August 7, 2023 [11 favorites]

Do you also have an oncologist? I ask because surgeons are really specialized on surgery. Your oncologist might have a better perspective (or the onco nurse).
posted by dbmcd at 6:37 PM on August 7, 2023 [1 favorite]

Have you done anything mildly strenuous lately? I got a hematoma (just a fancy medical name for a bad bruise) at the site of a laparoscopic surgery by overexerting myself—it was after less time, maybe a month, but I really didn't think I exerted myself much at all (I went on a bike ride, which I guess agitated the area). Significantly worse pain than I ever had from the incisions immediately after surgery. It was extremely normal, if extremely uncomfortable, and went away on its own. Probably couldn't hurt to try a cold compress or whatever else you'd do for a bad bruise, although if it's that it's likely deeper than most bruises you get.
posted by babelfish at 6:55 PM on August 7, 2023

From the post: "I talked with my surgeon, and she didn't seem too concerned."

If the surgeon is wrong (and they could be!), OP will get much better advice about his potentially emergent situation from other medical professionals with their chart in front of them than from us. Under the circumstances, there is not a responsible answer to this post that doesn't at least end in "...but seek actual medical advice in the near future." How this can even be controversial is beyond me.
posted by praemunire at 7:52 PM on August 7, 2023 [5 favorites]

I’m not a doctor, and never had surgery done in the same area, but last year I did have a small tumor removed from my back and for many months afterwards, would feel some pain in the area at quite random times after different activities. It was attributed to scar tissue. That seems perfectly plausible. Obviously this is anecdotal and you should seek qualified medical advice, but I mention it because at least it’s an example that pain post-surgery months later might not be something more serious. (But I would for sure rule out other possibilities first.)
posted by StrawberryPie at 9:08 PM on August 7, 2023

Yes, to be clear, probably couldn't hurt to try a cold compress while you wait to seek actual medical advice in the near future!
posted by babelfish at 9:18 PM on August 7, 2023

Pain weeks to a few years post surgery is not always cause for alarm. When they do the surgery they cut a lot of nerves. The nerves will attempt to heal and when they have some success and reconnect, it often feels like a sharp pain, although seldom a significantly distressing one. For me it has always been the kind of pain I can read a good book through, but maybe distracting enough it can keep me from falling asleep. It certainly does feel funny. This is probably why your surgeon is not concerned. New nerve re-connecting pain wears off in about the same amount of time muscle over use pain wears off. Of course multiple nerves are often reconnecting, so you can get this kind of pain repeatedly for awhile. It's never major pain. If your pain jags up to something that you have to work to ignore, then you need to not ignore it.

Also, given the type of surgery you had, pain from scar tissue making it difficult to process some types of food would not surprise me. Scar tissue is not flexible, so if you eat something that doesn't render to a thin liquid in your digestive juices, you could be having pain because a large seed or some such thing is trying to get through some of that scar tissue. That's definitely not good, but it's also not an emergency. If it happens more than once you may have to change your diet. Your surgeon should have addressed that too, post-op.

That said, of course, your pain and your concerns need to be addressed and not brushed aside. My answer is meant to reassure you, lest you start down the spiral of my-cancer-is-spreading or maybe-I-swallowed-a-chicken-bone, it's NOT meant to discourage you from making an appointment and discussing it with a doctor in person and letting a qualified medical person examine you. It doesn't sound to me like you need to go in to Emerg. It sounds like you need to monitor it, and make an appointment - and if it gets any worse or you start feeling sick you will want to bring it to a clinic sooner rather than later.
posted by Jane the Brown at 9:12 AM on August 8, 2023 [2 favorites]

I read your question to my loved one who had a similar surgery and they had thoughts of a herniation or scar tissue. They were also surprised at the suggestion that you might still have an appendix, apparently they are typically removed as part of this surgery, ask to see if you still have one!

Also often in the months after the surgery they would say "oh my anastomosis!"....painfully feeling food passing through the spot where the colon had been stitched back together.

so those are some thoughts, but I heartily encourage you to make an appointment with your surgeon to be examined.

Lots of love and healing to you!
posted by Jenny'sCricket at 1:45 PM on August 8, 2023 [2 favorites]

I had my gall bladder removed laparoscopically. It went fine. A week or two later I had horrible pain and went to the ER. They gave me dilaudid. They didn’t find anything wrong, but a nurse said they see that a lot where patients have that pain soon after but nothing wrong is found. IANAD of course, just sharing my experience.
posted by mermaidcafe at 8:00 AM on August 15, 2023

Very late reply here, so not sure you will see it or still have the pain.
However, it sounds very similar to my situation (surgery for colon cancer, pain a couple of months later, mine was accompanied by a bump). It was a hernia. I actually ended up with a few. The pushing it back in to relieve the pain is something I do if my gets a bit sore. Given it's position(near my belly button), my main one gets sore if I use my stomach muscles too much.
The hernia was confirmed with an ultrasound. So if it is still bothering you, perhaps ask for that.
posted by daffodil at 3:31 PM on August 27, 2023