Weird alienesque pulsing in my stomach - anyone know what it could be?

[deathbyprocrastination]

Started a couple of days ago and it's really unsettling. It's around the middle of my stomach so parallel with my belly button and it honestly feels like there's something moving around in there under the surface. Doesn't seem related to eating/digestion because I'm experiencing it in the morning before I've eaten, after food etc to the same extent. I'm 47 so wondering if it's some weird peri-menopause symptom I've not heard about. Any ideas?

Your abdominal aorta?

Have you exercising more lately?

I had this recently (although it was intermittent rather than a regular pulse) saw a doctor about it and was told it’s most likely acid reflux, which causes all kinds of weird symptoms in that area. Now on omeprazole to block the acid.

Good to know - thank you. Have contacted GP and am waiting for a call-back

Re exercise, I'm fairly active but haven't started anything new / increased exercise levels of late.

I get this - it’s like a washing machine going round of a baby turning over. I have diverticular disease so assumed it’s to do with that as I get all sorts of weird spasms and pains off and on.

Ah, that is interesting. I do have a v sensitive digestive system generally. Food goes through me quite fast and I struggle to keep weight on at times. DM has diverticular disease and it looks as if there's some evidence it's hereditary so maybe it's something like that

I would definitely be doing a pregnancy test first

Have you been pregnant before?
Those movements sound like a baby moving to me. But if you have been pregnant before you would probably recognise the movements

If you have had children it could it be weakened or stretched abdominal muscles and you are just feeling things moving in your digestive system? Especially when you are lying on you back as the rectus abdominus is stretched. Maybe a diastasis recti? Probably worth getting checked by the gp though just in case

Thanks for all your comments - managed to get a miraculous last-min appointment at the GP. He has referred me for an ultrasound to make sure it's not aorta related. He also thinks it's possible that if my colon is inflamed (as I said, sensitive stomach and have had colitis in the past) it might be pressing on the aorta or something, which would explain the symptoms.

Re baby movements - it's not unlike that (I do have DC) but i never had it so consistently from nowhere in during pregnancies (this is more or less constant). So with that, my age, the mirena coil and the lack of any other pregnancy symptoms I think it's super super unlikely.

The above sounds a bit dramatic so I should add that he wasn't concerned because there isn't any pain so these are just precautionary measures and he sent me off with a couple of bowel tests to explore the colon possibility.

Thank you again for all the thoughtful responses and suggestions

That’s good - NHS often comes good despite the doom talking -about it. Hope it’s nothing, Now you’ve said about your history of bowel issues then that has to be most likely. AAA is not common and tends to be in big smokin drinking males but you never know.

yes, so grateful that I was able to see someone today and he was super helpful.

I'd actually forgotten about the colitis diagnosis (it's not on my medical records because it was years ago when I was living abroad, and said to be mild so I never followed up on it) but when the GP asked extensively about bowel/stomach stuff it reminded me. This just feels so different from any thing digestive I've experienced in the past and doesn't seem affected by food/drink but if general inflammation in that area can press on the aorta that would make sense.