AIBU to be worried? Pulse in tummy

[mummy2b2011]

Hello!
I haven’t posted on here for years, but am hoping to receive some advice. I can be an anxious person and a miscarriage last year/ pandemic has made me develop a bit of health anxiety.

I had noticed a pulsing in my tummy - just above my bellybutton. Googled it, worried myself sick about aortic aneurysms, made app. to see GP. I saw her today and she has referred me to have an ultrasound scan.

GP said it’s really hard to tell, but it feels like it (my aorta) is between 3&4cm (I think it’s supposed to be around 3?), but as I have a fair amount of fat in that area (my words!), it hard to know for sure how big it really is. I’m 13st and have lost 1.5 stone within the past year, so perhaps I’m just noticing a normal pulsing which I couldn’t previously notice? She said it’s pulsing up, rather than out, so that a good sign (?).

I’ve never smoked, don’t drink, run regularly and am outside most days. I eat plenty of fruit and veg.

Does anyone have any experience of this? I’ve got a private ultrasound booked for Wednesday evening as the wait for a NHS app. Is likely to be months.

Thank you in advance!

I suspect what you might be feeling is peristalsis which is the muscular contraction of your bowel, it's perfectly normal and is how your bowel moves food through it. It does indeed feel like a pulse if you're lucky enough to notice it- I say lucky enough, because I've only every noticed it when I've been at my slimmest

Good that you're getting it checked out tho - better to be safe than sorry! But do try not to worry

I had this after I lost weight and they said it was nothing to worry about just less fat causing it to be more noticeable

I can see and feel mine but never had it checked out. I’ve always been able to see/feel it.

Hopefully it’s normal.

Normal (to an extent) to see pulsation of the abdominal aorta in thinner people (especially when lying down) - I would be reassured by your GP, but if you can afford the private scan then hopefully that sets your mind at rest.

I can see my pulse in my abdomen all the time

@TaraR2020

I suspect what you might be feeling is peristalsis which is the muscular contraction of your bowel, it's perfectly normal and is how your bowel moves food through it. It does indeed feel like a pulse if you're lucky enough to notice it- I say lucky enough, because I've only every noticed it when I've been at my slimmest

I think her GP would know the difference though and she had it checked.

I have had two abdominal scans for this when 2 separate GP's examined my tummy ( for different reasons) and their faces were a picture of dread

All was well (as I told them at the time). I have always been able to see, feel and move around the pulse in my abdomen. When I have eaten a big meal it moves over to the side

Thank you for all replies! Much appreciated. I’m feeling reassured :-) It’s driving my husband to distraction- all my worrying and googling & assuming the worst. I’ll report back!

@AnyFucker

I have had two abdominal scans for this when 2 separate GP's examined my tummy ( for different reasons) and their faces were a picture of dread

All was well (as I told them at the time). I have always been able to see, feel and move around the pulse in my abdomen. When I have eaten a big meal it moves over to the side

Yikes! That’s quite something!

@TaraR2020

Good that you're getting it checked out tho - better to be safe than sorry! But do try not to worry

Thank you!

@alittlebitofbreadandnocheese

I had this after I lost weight and they said it was nothing to worry about just less fat causing it to be more noticeable

I really hope it’s this. I’ve been intermittent fasting too, and when I’m on the empty side, it’s really noticeable

Aortic aneurism is highly unusual in young people, and is moreso in women. I wouldn’t worry, almost certainly your scan will be fine. In the unlikely event it isn’t, there is a good medical pathway and they tend to be well managed. (NB- Not medical but worked with A&E/trauma doctors for a couple of years in a non medical role).

Have always been able to see my pulse in abdomen too!

@AnaisNun

Aortic aneurism is highly unusual in young people, and is moreso in women. I wouldn’t worry, almost certainly your scan will be fine. In the unlikely event it isn’t, there is a good medical pathway and they tend to be well managed. (NB- Not medical but worked with A&E/trauma doctors for a couple of years in a non medical role).

Thank you for this. Just realised I didn’t say my age- 38. That’s good to know about it being well managed even if bad news

I see my pulse in my abdomen all the time too

I have always been able to feel this and thought it was entirely normal. In fact, it's banging away like the clappers right now as i've just had a huge meal.

@mummy2b2011

The worry is when the AAA is unknown- if they’re undetected, theyre much more of a problem (eg they may rupture- monitoring known AAAs keeps on top of their management). This is a concern particularly with older males. As you’re having a scan- happy days (I know it might not feel like that when you’re worried!)

It should reassure you that regular AAA screening on the nhs is only offered to men over 65 (don’t think women, but don’t quote me) as those as the people most likely to have a problem.

Most likely you’re just finding new bodily workings as you’re losing weight

If I lie in the bath I can see the pulsating ripple just below my breast bone.

Having seen AAA for real, the pulsating I could see from the other side of the bedroom. She was quite unwell and had the classic presentation of feeling a tearing pain in her back as she bent down to empty the dishwasher. She was much older than you, OP, and she did survive.

I have always had a tummy pulse too, about four fingers above the belly button, never been checked?

I see pulse in my abdomen too. Have never worried about it! I don't think it's uncommon.

@Poshjock

If I lie in the bath I can see the pulsating ripple just below my breast bone.

Having seen AAA for real, the pulsating I could see from the other side of the bedroom. She was quite unwell and had the classic presentation of feeling a tearing pain in her back as she bent down to empty the dishwasher. She was much older than you, OP, and she did survive.

Oh gosh, yes, that’s very different and what a relief she survived. How awful for her to experience that.

[quote AnaisNun]@mummy2b2011

The worry is when the AAA is unknown- if they’re undetected, theyre much more of a problem (eg they may rupture- monitoring known AAAs keeps on top of their management). This is a concern particularly with older males. As you’re having a scan- happy days (I know it might not feel like that when you’re worried!)

It should reassure you that regular AAA screening on the nhs is only offered to men over 65 (don’t think women, but don’t quote me) as those as the people most likely to have a problem.

Most likely you’re just finding new bodily workings as you’re losing weight [/quote]
This is reassuring!

It's normal. If you saw an acupuncturist or other Chinese Medicine practitioner, you'd be diagnosed with a very common imbalance in western culture. I do physical examinations on people regularly and loads of people have this. Interestingly, overthinking is another symptom of the same imbalance...

It seems like a tummy pulse is extremely common. I’m feeling loads better about it. Thanks everyone !