Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

[assured]

I have been noticing that I can feel my pulse in my abdomen.  I do suffer from panic attacks, so often feel like my pulse is very strong.  In June 2004 I had an abdominal CT scan with contrast.  All clear.  Two months ago I was in the hospital for three days and had EKGs, blood work, chest x-ray, echo, thallium stress test, and finally a heart cath.  The doctor said all was well, just very anxious.  Borderline hypertension, 25 pounds overweight, 42 yo female, non-smoker.

I am concerned that I might have an abdominal aortic aneurysm.  Would this have shown up on the heart cath?  or on the CT in 2004 (I have read they are slow growing)?  Do I need to have this checked out further?  My mom tells me the cardiologist would have picked up on it before starting the cath.

Thank you for your help.

Cindy

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

Hi cindy,

It is quite common to feel your pulse in your abdomen, especially if you are thin or just exercised.  The CT scan in 2004 would have picked this up.  Unless the heart cath did an angiogram with run off (which I doubt), it would not pick it up.   Just ask your doctor.  If they suspect anything, an ultrasound will quickly answer the question.  With a CT 2 years ago making no mention of enlargement, a AAA is VERY unlikely.

Thanks for posting, I hope this helps.

[daisey401]

A related discussion, stomach anurysium was started.

[LukeL]

If you had en ECHO the technician will usually do a quick sweep of your abdomen for an AAA ( I had an heart ECHO done and the tech imaged my abdomen for 5 or so seconds so I assume she was checking my aorta) It sounds like you ran the gauntlet of cardiac tests so the risk sounds very small. At your age the risk is even smaller. I know what health anxiety can do to a person, I am only 21 and assume I have had every cardiac problem known to man and then some.

[Upbeat]

I am going by what my scale reads not by the standard chart.  A body builder with hardly any fat will have a much lower bmi than someone with the same weight and height who is a couch potato.

                                                         Ron

[pbanders]

If you're 6'0" and 165 lbs, your BMI is 22.4, not 17. Check it at:

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/calc-bmi.htm

At your height, a BMI of 17 would mean you would weigh 125 lbs. Seems a little skinny to me.

[upbeat63]

Oh how interesting, just noticed someone else has the same screen name, or very close to mine--I'm upbeat63--with the high frequency PVCs. Hope it doesn't get too confusing.

[Upbeat]

Talking about AAA.  Three years ago I found out I had a 4.0 CM AAA. I had another ultrasound yesterday and found out it has grown to 5.7 CM. I find this hard to believe and am wondering if maybe the test was in error.  During the test my Aorta was pulsating something awfull. I wonder if the test could have been influenced by this abnormal pulsating. Over the last three years I have worked very hard ( at least I thought I was ) at keeping the growth rate in check. I keep my blood pressure about 100 I don't smoke. I work out using the treadmill for 1 hour every day. I was told this lifestyle was what you needed to do to keep the growth rate in check. Yet here it has grown at twice the normal rate. If the ultrasound it correct then I wonder if maybe the hour a day working out has caused the problem by forcing the blood threw the aorta. Sorry for the ramble. If anyone can shed any insight it would be appreciated.

                                                            Ron

[Upbeat]

no pacemaker. had bypass surgery. Also a stent for her AAA. Yep where I got. Its in the genes. Its only her heart doctor that say no to the exercise.
                                                         Ron

[Upbeat]

Yes I have many questions.  My results were sent to my GP and she knows nothen. She is sending me to a vascular guy and maybe he will know more. If the results are true I guess I will go to the mayo clinic and have them do a stent.  On the exercise I just don't know. For three years now I have been doing it and now iam in great shape. I would hate to think this has caused the problem. 6.0ft 165 lbs and a body mass index of 17.  About where I was when I was in High school. I am 60 now.  My Mother called today to tell me her heart doctor said no to the exercise. Go figure.  Thanks for your insight.

                                                      Ron

[andie3330]

I agree that it isn't unusual to be able to feel your pulse in your abdomen - I know I can at times.  I have major anxiety issues myself, and it is so hard for me to know when I've done everything I can to keep myself healthy vs. when I need another test or another medical opinion. If anyone has advice on how to draw the line and just trust in being healthy, I'd love to hear it. It just seems like, for me, whenever I get to that point, some new worrisome symptom crops up. Because I am so analytical and have a scientific research background, not to mention anxiety disorder, I feel compelled to learn as much as I can about what could possible be causing the symptom. My husband thinks I should be banned from looking at internet medical sites because I tend to just get myself more worried.

Anacyde - I think I remember reading that you just had a baby recently and had some concerns about ppcm. I don't have any info about ppcm, but I do know from experience that it can take quite a while for one's heart to get "back to normal" after delivery. I first started noticing PVCs when I was pregnant three years ago. After my daughter was born, the PVCs and PACs increased in frequency to the point where I was having them several times a minute, probably well over a thousand per day. Anyway that went on for about 6-8 months postpartum. They gradually tapered off, and ever since then, I only probably have under 100 a day - which I hardly even notice. Congratulations on the birth of your baby and thank you for all of your reassuring posts on this site. Andie