The topic at hand is about a mother who is concerned about her 42-year-old son's belly button moving in and out after he had an ileostomy two months ago. She is curious if this is something other people with ileostomies have experienced.
Here are some insights and advice shared by others:
1. Changes in how the belly button looks after surgery are quite common. Many people have noticed that their belly button either flattens or seems to disappear after having abdominal surgery or a stoma.
2. The normal activity of a stoma can cause nearby skin to move. Some people have observed that the skin around their belly button shifts when the stoma itself moves during output.
3. There might be a possibility of an umbilical or parastomal hernia:
- An umbilical hernia could cause the belly button to bulge out and then go back in.
- Parastomal hernias can change in size depending on your body position, such as standing, sitting, or lying down, and they often flatten when you lie down.
- It is recommended to have a healthcare professional examine the area to determine if a hernia is present.
4. General movement of the abdomen is also something others have noticed. One person described wave-like movements across their abdomen while waiting for a hospital assessment. While this kind of movement is not unusual after surgery, it is still important to discuss it with a doctor.