Heartbeat seen in the stomach (just above navel)

[iwillfixyou]

I am 23 year old male and for the past 3 to 4 years I have suffered with what looks and feels like me to be a pulsating sensation just above my navel (about an inch or two above my belly button). It feels like a pulsating and I can even see what looks like a fluttering/pulsating in the same place. Accompanied with this, I also get shortness of breath and the only time it feels like I can get a proper breath is when i yawn. At all other times it seems like I can only breathe in to a certain point before i feel the need to stop and have another breathe. I rarely seem able to achieve that sensaton whilst breathing when you breathe in to the point and get to its peak and then naturally flow into the exhalation. This gets very frustrating because it seems to be an ongoing symptom. Also, my inhalation is alot longer than my ability to exhale.

As it regards breathing I can only usually, naturally take about 4-6 breaths per minute but don't feel any ill effects of this like not getting enough oxygen. The sensation of having a shortness of breath like i said before is more like an uncomfortable sensation of breathing, like I am not getting enough air. This lack of breath does not appear when I am talking and is not a gasping for air kind of sensation. I do however sometimes though wake up soon after going to bed gasping like I cannot get enough air and very often find it hard to get to sleep.

Just to mention, I also have suffered with anxiety and panic attacks since Sept 2001 and this has branched out to be agoraphobia aswell.

Can anybody relate to these symptoms?

Dave

[National Jewish]

The pulsation you see is from the aorta, one of the large blood vessels in the body.  In a 23 year old this is almost certainly normal, especially if you are not overweight.

The breathing symptoms you describe are not suggestive of a lung problem.  Talk with your doctor about treatment for your anxiety and panic attacks to see if this helps your breathing symptoms.

Diaphragmatic breathing is something else to try.  It can help you move more air in and out of your lungs.  This is the most efficient way to breathe and may make your shortness of breath go away.  Learning this technique will help you to breathe slowly, regularly, gently, and smoothly all of the time.  Here are the instructions:
· Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose.
· While you breathe in, count 1, 2 and push your stomach out.
· Place your hand on your stomach so you can feel your stomach going out.  This promotes the use of your diaphragm and your lower respiratory muscles.
· Breathe out slowly and deeply through your mouth.  Imagine that you are breathing out through a straw by “pursing” your lips.
· While you slowly breathe out all the way, count 1, 2, 3, 4 and let your stomach relax.  You can feel your stomach going in with your hand.
You often can get help with this type of breathing by taking an introductory yoga class or checking out a videotape on yoga that focuses on breathing and relaxation.

[Bucketta]

Could you have OSA?  Obstructive sleep apnea!  by not sleeping well and waking up in  your sleep feeling you can't breathe could very well be OSA, but then with panic attacks it could be those happening in the night, the pulse thing in the stomach I have no idea about.  Have you sought medical help for this?

Bucketta

[Strapper]

Dave,

It's amazing! We have the exact set of symptoms!!  I have had doctors tell me to try Flonase, Nasacort, etc. They believe it's Rhinitis? I know it drives me crazy...let me know if you find the answer! I have not.