Resolved question:
I have a very strong pulse (like a heartbeat) in my stomach. It randomly started happening a few weeks ago. I can literally see my stomach move up and down when i lay on my back.
I went to the doctor and asked if it could be an aortic aneurysm and he said i was too young for that (25), but he ordered a abdominal ultrasound anyways. The tests came back normal but im not sure if they screened me for the aortic aneurysm as the paperwork has results for liver, gallbladder, cbd, pancreas, kidneys, spleen and "other" but not aorta. Would a big aneurysm be impossible to miss if they screened me for all of those things? The doctor told me not to worry but im still a bit concerned. Also, i have been having mild lower back pain which i think could be a symptom.
I would appreciate any help i could get.
Thank you
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Cardiologist
Hello,
Thank you for your query at DoctorSpring.com
I understand your concern.
Ultrasound is the investigation of choice when it comes to screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. It is not reported unless it is seen, and the one who is performing the ultrasound can very easily pick up an increased thickness or diameter of the abdominal aorta when he sees the organs inside.
It is difficult to elicit that in obese people and hence for them CT/MRI is suggested.
Since you're having such strong pulse like feeling in the abdomen, it is better you go for a CT SCAN to give us a better idea of what is wrong.
However I can assure you since the ultrasound has ruled out AAA, in all likelihood it will be negative in the CT too.
Feel free to discuss further,
Regards
Thank you for the reply. So it's pretty normal to feel the pulse in your stomach then? To be fair for the past 2-3 weeks ive been pretty stressed and can feel my heart beating stronger as well, as if it's about to jump out of my chest. So maybe thats why i am now feeling the pulse in my stomach stronger too.
As long as you think they would have seen something with the ultra sound and they didnt then i'm ok witht that.
Thank you very much
Hello,
Thank you for following up.
It is not normal to feel the heartbeat in your stomach, but sincd you have been stressed it could be causing such symptoms.
But to answer your main query, yes if there was an abdominal aortic aneurysm they would have definitely seen it in the ultrasound and told you about it. Since they mentioned nothing about it and with an unremarkable ultrasound, everything is normal.
Regards.
Thanks again for your help. One last question. I am starting to have some abdominal cramps. I dont know if this is because of anxiety or something else though. Do you think i need to go back to the doctors to get another ultrasound to 100% rule out an aneurysm. I dont know why but i am fixated on the possibility of having one.
Thank you
Hello,
No abdominal cramps is not a symptom of abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Since you're 25, it could also be due to your periods, or due to some other causes.
When was your LMP?
I'm a man so luckily no periods! For the past 3 weeks i have been having heavy heart beats, a bit of lightheadedness and breathlessness. Just walking up stairs sometimes leaves me breathing heavily and with a fast heart beat which used to never happen. I have been stressed so i thought it might all be because of stress but feeling the pulse in my stomache made me think it was an aneurysm. Now these cramps are making me more freaked out but if it's not symptom i'm sure it's from something normal then like gas. I may go get a second ultra sound from another doctor to be 100% sure it's not an aneurysm.
Hello,
I can assure you that if you did have aortic aneurysm, they would have picked it up in the first ultrasound itself.
But if it is causing so much stress, you can rather get a CT to rule it out completely.
Also yes stress sould be causing the symptoms.
Abdominal cramps could also be due to infection ( colitis ), indigestion, could be due to gall stones, e.t.c
Hence you can get a CT SCAN done to have a conclusive report.
Regards.