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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to be worried? Pulse in tummy

60 replies

mummy2b2011 · 21/12/2020 20:57

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!

OP posts:

Original poster

mummy2b2011 · 21/12/2020 22:26

@Eckhart

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...

This is very interesting. I definitely am an over thinker (have found Lockdowns etc hard because I get stuck in my mind), and I‘m also pretty sure I have a hormonal imbalance which I’m trying to are balance through diet- have cut out sugar and dairy and generally trying to eat for optimum nutrition. Also movement and sleep.

Thank you for sharing

OP posts:

teaandcustardcreamsx · 21/12/2020 22:26

I had this when I lost a lot of weight. Was extremely worried too but as PP said nothing to worry about

WhySoSensitive · 21/12/2020 22:27

I’m another who’s always had it!
(I also have a hormone imbalance if that’s relevant to the chinese herbalist amongst us 😂)

BertieBotts · 21/12/2020 22:33

I have always had it too. I'm usually a bit underweight. Curious about the Chinese herbalist imbalance! What can I google?

Crinkle77 · 21/12/2020 22:38

@DivGirl

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.

Yeah me too.

ZombiePara · 21/12/2020 22:43

@Eckhart

@Eckhart can i ask what the imbalance is, as an awful overthink myself please?

OP, i too have a pulse in my tiny, inch or so under my sternum, and mostly felt/seen when laying flat. As a PP said, best to get checked over, but the offs are definitely in your favour for it to be nothing to stress over!

Coffeeeeandcake · 21/12/2020 22:48

I have it, and first noticed it 20+ years ago

Thecurtainsofdestiny · 21/12/2020 22:48

İ can see mine. Have had scans for other reasons and definitely no aortic aneurysm!

Hope your scan puts your mind at rest.

NotAnotherUserNumber · 21/12/2020 22:59

I think it is normal in many slimmer people to be able to feel their pulse just next to their bellybutton. I suspect it is most likely that you can feel yours now because you have lost abdominal fat.

AleynEivlys · 21/12/2020 23:07

I've always had this? It's right above the navel. I am not aware of the feeling of pulsing or anything just going about my daily business but if I put my hand on it, it's there. You could see it too when I was younger (and slimmer), pre-kids! I had a friend who noticed it bouncing away when we were sunbathing in a park one day, and it fascinated him. That was at least 10 years ago (I would have been about 23) and I'm still here ...!

thebabessavedme · 21/12/2020 23:08

ok, so I am a total freak , I'm getting on a bit, late 50s, when I clean my teeth in the evening, (I do not get this in the morning, probs because I have just woken up and am not knackered!) I seem to have developed the habit of leaning on the basin, I can feel my pulse/vein/artori? going through one side, my right side, its most odd, I don't like it but assume I'm breathing?

It does give me the hebbies!

mena51 · 21/12/2020 23:14

It's your aorta. Just noticed that you're 38 and no mention of any concerning past medical history, it's really not appropriate for your GP to refer you for an USS (not your fault, they should know better), but I hope the private scan will reassure you.

jessstan1 · 21/12/2020 23:16

It just happens sometimes, Mummy, honestly.

Neverbeme · 21/12/2020 23:18

I have always had this.

dottiedaisee · 21/12/2020 23:24

I can honestly say that you really need to relax...an aortic aneurysm is associated with long term high BP .If it is a problem you would have chest pain radiating to your back and it will be excruciating most people are in their 70s plus ! Xx

Eckhart · 22/12/2020 07:17

@BertieBotts

I have always had it too. I'm usually a bit underweight. Curious about the Chinese herbalist imbalance! What can I google?

Well, I'm not a herbalist but I do study Traditional Chinese Medicine as a shiatsu practitioner and acupuncturist. You can't diagnose with any certainty at all on one or two symptoms, but generally a pulsing in the general umbilicus area is an indication of Spleen Qi deficiency.

The Spleen in TCM (rather than your actual physical spleen - don't go thinking that you've got a poorly spleen, it means something different) looks after what I would generally call 'processing', with regard to both food and thoughts. 'Qi deficiency' fundamentally means low energy, so it's interesting that OP's pulsing happens more when she is fasted. And also, Bertie, being underweight can mean that you're either not eating enough (so, not fueling your Spleen) or that you're not processing what you do eat fully (so, your Spleen isn't doing it's job well)

Unfortunately, it could be caused by a number of other different imbalances so I can't suggest what to do about it specifically, but there's a bit of an overview here

agelessherbs.com/spleen-qi-deficiency/

and a 'Spleen Qi deficiency' Google search will give you more info.

This deficiency is common in our society because we don't eat well and we don't rest well, so poor old Spleen is just knackered a lot of the time!

Eckhart · 22/12/2020 07:22

As an aside, I'm surprised that a pulsing feeling is causing so much alarm for people. Our bodies are meant to pulse. If they stop pulsing, we die! Pulsing doesn't usually mean anything bad on its own. Unless it's accompanied by pain or swelling, it's a symptom of being alive.

Original poster

mummy2b2011 · 22/12/2020 22:29

I managed to have my appointment brought forward & had the ultrasound this afternoon- aorta is completely fine! Hooray!

What they did discover was: fatty liver- early stages and completely reversible. And- gallstones! Which I had no idea about.

I’m on a bit of a high from getting the aneurysm all-clear (the consultant was very puzzled that I was there with concerns over my aorta considering my age), so I don’t feel overly concerned about what they did find. I’m excited to take on the challenge to lose 2-3 more stones in weight (I’ve already lost around 2) and then see if the fatty liver is no longer fatty. And apparently my actual gallbladder is ‘uncomplicated’ and its wall is normal / non- inflamed. So 🤞🤞 it doesn’t get any worse.

Thanks for all your reassuring words- I was beside myself with worry and they really helped

OP posts:

Original poster

mummy2b2011 · 22/12/2020 22:30

This is fascinating- I’m definitely going to look more deeply at it - thanks for sharing!

OP posts:

Original poster

mummy2b2011 · 22/12/2020 22:31

Sorry, my last comment was to @Eckhart

OP posts:

amicissimma · 22/12/2020 22:46

I've got a tummy pulse! Always have had.

RaeCJ82 · 01/01/2021 12:41

@mummy2b2011 What did it feel like when you pressed on your belly if you don't mind me asking? I am experiencing this at the moment between my ribs and belly button and when I press the pulsing is quite strong. I suffer from anxiety so the pulsing is probably made stronger by that.

Inpersuitofhappiness · 01/01/2021 12:55

Great news on your update OP.
There are great diets out there to reduce fatty liver. Wishing you all the best

Ps i had the same findings from an ultrasound, just gives us a bit of a push towards a healthier lifestyle!

Original poster

mummy2b2011 · 01/01/2021 13:02

[quote RaeCJ82]@mummy2b2011 What did it feel like when you pressed on your belly if you don't mind me asking? I am experiencing this at the moment between my ribs and belly button and when I press the pulsing is quite strong. I suffer from anxiety so the pulsing is probably made stronger by that.[/quote]
Hi! It just felt like a strong pulse, really. I tried to measure the width but it was nearly impossible because i carry extra weight in that area. But I’ve also lost a fair bit of weight recently, so I think that made it stand out to me more, if that makes sense?

I think anxiety does amplify these things. And it’s hard not to scrutinise ‘symptoms’ at difficult times like this. I think from other responses on here, it’s very common to feel it.

Do you otherwise feel well?

My scan revealed a fatty liver (completely reversible, thank goodness!) So I am experiencing things being a bit out of whack (bloating being one thing)... which is why the above comment regarding Chinese medicine and a pounding pulse being an indicator for imbalance is so interesting to me.

OP posts:

MaskingForIt · 01/01/2021 13:05

@rookgizzardpie

I can see my pulse in my abdomen all the time

Me too. I can’t imagine wasting the GP’s time and NHS’s money on this. How ridiculous.

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