My stomach recently has also completely distended on most days; and when I fully push out my belly that spot feels tight inside, like it is being gripped. Sometimes I get strange sharp / tingling spasm from my stomach (behind left ribcage), but this is rare. I'll also find that I've been tensing my abdominals without even realising sometimes, and I have to make a conscious effort to relax my abdomen. I'll get a similar feeling in my chest too sometimes, like my whole front is seizing up.
I went to my GP a couple of days ago, explained that I'm suffering from bloating and acid reflux etc, and also that I have been experiencing this uncomfortable pulsating in my upper abdomen area (and whole abdomen in general). She didn't even check my aorta, probably because I'm only 22.. Just checked my pulse, said it was fine and then felt the sides of my belly and said I was congested. I've been prescribed Senna herbal medication, the box says they're for short term constipation relief and so far they have not been helping to alleviate any of my symptoms to be honest.
Another thing is I smoke cannabis on most days, and this increases my symptoms tenfold. I'll get burning and stabbing pains all over my abdomen and also in-between my shoulder blades intermittently (most noticeable in the upper back and upper right abdomen). This with the heightened mental activity cannabis creates, easily leads to anxiety attacks. Because of how much my heart rate increases when smoking cannabis, immediately after smoking I can feel my aorta throbbing in my abdomen! I've learnt to just wait it out, as this subsides within about 10 minutes, however the uncomfortable bloating feeling does not. To ease this feeling I have to lean forward (which doesn't really work), the only way to make it disappear almost completely is to lie on my front strangely? Just before Christmas time, I had an anxiety attack while smoking cannabis, I really thought I was having a heart attack; but I experienced no pain in my chest or left side or shortness of breath, even today I have never experienced any actual pain from my symptoms. What did happen during this 15 minute period though was my heart kept on skipping beats a considerable amount, and this strange shooting feeling in the centre of my trunk, the only way to describe it was it felt like blood was trying to travel through something that was too narrow, creating this awareness of it passing through. This sensation was very brief and mild, and definitely not painful. It has only happened once and nothing like it has happened since. Since that happened it has always been in the back of my mind that I have an AAA, but my symptoms don't really fit any of the criteria I have researched for having an AAA, or any personal recollections of anyone suffering from one.. So I just don't know.
Apologies for the essay, I wanted to avoid writing something long and personally tailored. But as I've started writing, I've realised how much I've had to say and no one to say it to for months!
I've also attached a picture with the area that pulsates circled.
Thank you for any help / advice :)
In the majority of cases, an abdominal aortic aneurysm develops slowly with no symptoms or only minor symptoms, such as a gnawing feeling around the stomach or a throbbing sensation in the abdomen. This type of aneurysm may be detected in a standard physical exam or through monitoring for another condition.
See Lower Back Pain Symptoms
When an abdominal aortic aneurysm does produce symptoms, the pain and discomfort are usually severe and immediately noticeable.
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- WebMD Symptom Checker helps you find the most common medical conditions indicated by the symptoms pulsating sensation (abdomen (upper)).
- In some cases, patients notice an abnormal pulse in their abdomen. As the aneurysm stretches it can also cause pain in your back or abdomen. Men are invited for screening during the year they turn 65. Men over 65 who have not previously been screened can contact.
Symptoms of abdominal aortic rupture can include some combination of the following:
- Abdominal pain. A stabbing pain may be felt deep in the abdomen between the sternum and the belly button. Pain may be described as continuous and is not relieved by rest or changing positions. The pain can be so severe that it causes patients to double over, making it difficult to stand or straighten the upper body.
- Low back pain. Abdominal pain may radiate into the low back due to the aorta’s proximity to the spine. Pain may also spread to the groin, pelvis, or legs.
- Tenderness, pulsing sensation in the abdomen. A pulsating mass in the abdomen may be felt through the skin, and may be sensitive to touch or pressure. A doctor may try to recreate tenderness or pain to confirm the presence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
- Low blood pressure. Significant blood loss results in low blood pressure, also called hypotension, which causes lightheadedness/dizziness, nausea or vomiting, blurred vision, and confusion. Symptoms tend to exacerbate when standing, making on feel the need to sit or lie down.
- Symptoms of shock. Internal bleeding caused by a ruptured aneurysm can lead to shock, which includes symptoms such as a sudden and rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing, clammy skin and cold sweats, general weakness, and confusion, agitations or anxiety, and losing consciousness.
See Low Back Pain with Referred Pain
Pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas, causes abdominal pain and swelling, nausea, and rapid pulse. You aorta runs through your stomach so think of it as a positive sign, a doctor would want to feel the heartbeat there if they examined you, you are seeing it and it is perhaps a little more prominent because of your anxiety but this is a healthy heart pumping blood through that healthy aorta, it's a good thing rather than bad.
The above symptoms indicate a medical emergency, as symptoms usually develop once the aneurysm has ruptured or is expanding quickly. Patients who experience symptoms should receive prompt medical attention. Delay in treatment can lead to fatal internal bleeding.
Diagnosing an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Most cases of an abdominal aortic aneurysm are found during screening for another condition. For example, during a routine physical, a doctor may feel by hand (called palpation) along the abdomen and find that the aorta is enlarged, suggesting that further testing is necessary.
See Getting an Accurate Back Pain Diagnosis
If an abdominal aortic aneurysm is suspected, the diagnosis will be confirmed using an imaging test. Diagnostic imaging tests may include one of the following:
- An ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of the inside of the body. Ultrasounds create live images of the body, showing blood moving through blood vessels and other bodily functions. There is no exposure to radiation from ultrasound screening.
- A CT scan (or computerized tomography) uses x-rays to produce detailed, cross-sectioned images of the body’s internal tissues, and can detect blockage and expansion of the body’s arteries.
- An angiography uses dye injected into the bloodstream and a standard imaging test (CT, X-ray, or ultrasound) to visualize blood vessels in the body and identify any abnormalities.
See Introduction to Diagnostic Studies for Back and Neck Pain
One-time screening for an abdominal aortic aneurysm is recommended for men over age 65 who have ever smoked cigarettes, even if they have no symptoms. It is up to a doctor’s judgment whether men older than 75, younger male smokers, or women smokers should be screened.1
Visible Pulse In Abdomen
References
Pulse In Stomach Area
- 1.US Preventative Services Task Force. Final Recommendation Statement Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Screening. Published June 2014. Accessed October 18, 2016.