Causes of Belly Button Pain: From Appendicitis to Ulcers

When I was a teenager I would keep waking in the night with pain that seemed to be right behind my belly button. I was an athlete so I would blow it off as aching or pulled abdominal muscles.

A few weeks after the initial pains I woke up about 2 am with pains so severe behind my naval and going down my abdomen and to the right side that my parents took me to the local emergency room. Doctors initially thought food poisoning, but discovered they were wrong after a CAT Scan.

It was discovered that I had been suffering from an inflamed appendix and that now it had ruptured. I was immediately rushed to surgery and came out with a slight fever and no more pain. Preceding the rupture the pain was a sharp and burning pain that was always there, but seemed to have flare-ups especially after running or getting hit in the stomach. I had a few evers here and there, but nothing completely odd. Most doctors simply told me to take it easier on the court and sent me home. All pains can be a sign of something bigger than themselves. Abdominal pain is especially dangerous because it could mean miscarriage, internal bleeding, gallbladder disease, ulcers and of course appendicitis. In my case, until it ruptured there was nothing I could do except consult a doctor, rest a bit and take Tylenol.

Appendicitis is simply put an inflammation of the appendix. Common symptoms of appendicitis are belly button pain that makes its way to the lower abdomen and to the right side. The pain is often made worse with pressure or a sudden release of it, walking/running and coughing. Some more serious symptoms are nausea, loss of appetite, low fever that begins after other symptoms are present, constipation, gas retention, abdominal swelling and diarrhea.

Internal bleeding is most after brought on after trauma especially to the stomach or internal organs. All symptoms are very serious and if experiences one must seek medical attention right away. Common symptoms of internal bleeding are belly button pain and abdominal pain as a whole, blood in vomit, vomit that takes on the appearance of "coffee grounds", dark speck in vomit, blood in stool, lightheadedness, dizziness and loss of consciousness.

A miscarriage is a sudden loss of the fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy. There are several reasons a woman may have a miscarriage such as genetic problems with her or the fetus, age, trauma, history of miscarriage, diabetes, thyroid problems and infections. All symptoms are serious. Common symptoms are belly button pain, abdominal pain/lower pain that is cramping/dull/sharp, vaginal bleeding and passing tissue like clots through the vagina.

An ulcer is simply tissue erosion in the GI tract. Ulcers are generally caused by, smoking, drinking and H. pylori infections. The most common symptoms of ulcers are belly button pain that is sudden and sharp and often is within the entire abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea, frequency in burping or hiccuping and weight loss. More serious symptoms are blood in vomit or "coffee ground" appearance of vomit and bloody or black stools; these symptoms require immediate medical attention.

Gallbladder disease is a series of things such as gallbladder inflammation, infection, stones or obstruction. Gallbladder disease develops when a person has a condition which slow or block the flow of bile out of the gallbladder. All symptoms are considered serious. Common symptoms are any type of belly button pain or abdominal pain, abdominal fullness, fever, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, chills, shaking and chest pain located under the breastbone.

Pain is always the indication of a problem and no matter how small it may be one should use caution and seek some type of medical attention. In my experience I wish I would have pushed my doctor harder and took my pain more seriously. If I would have I probably wouldn't have had to take that terrifying trip to the emergency room that night.