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What Causes Pulsation In Abdomen With History Of Coeliac Disease?

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Posted on Tue, 17 Feb 2015
Question: Okay I know I am probably way overthinking my symptoms but I dont know....



First off, I am 19, I am a first year medical student,I am slim, I don't smoke, I eat healthily, I keep fairly active, I only really have alcohol on occasion, my only past medical history is Coeliac disease, I don't have any significant family history that I'm aware of.



In the last month or so I have noticed that I can feel a pulsation in my abdomen, more noticeable when I lie down and on full inspiration. Lately I have also felt like I have had stitch like pains in my abdomen that come and go, and can sometimes be felt in my sides. I have just started learning about the cardiovascular system and I can't get rid in my head of the possibility that this pulsation I am feeling could be an aortic aneurysm! I know it seems extremely unlikely as I am only 19 and don't have any history of any form of vascular disease, but I just wanted to hear someone's opinion. Is it even possible for someone as young as 19 to get an aneurysm unless they have a congenital defect?



Thanks in advance
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (49 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I don't believe such a diagnosis is likely

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

diagnosing abdominal aortic aneurysm at this age would be very very rare (not to say impossible). First of all, your symptoms have nothing to do with aortic aneurysms. Aortic aneurysms may cause lower back pain when they rupture or when rupture is imminent.

If you're thin then you can probably watch the pulsation of your aorta in the abdomen - you'll actually see the abdominal wall moving in parallel with the pulsations of the aorta. This is normal when you're lying down like the way you described feeling the pulsations.

So the answer to your question is that even without examining you, the risk of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is close to zero!

Medical students commonly feel symptoms of serious diseases. All this new knowledge is sometimes overwhelming and may cause anxiety - which is the real reason for the symptoms.

If you can't get it out of your mind, then an ultrasound scan would be enough to confirm or exclude it.
I hope I've helped!
If you'd like further clarifications, please contact me again using your follow-up questions.

Kind Regards!

Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3819 Questions

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What Causes Pulsation In Abdomen With History Of Coeliac Disease?

Brief Answer: I don't believe such a diagnosis is likely Detailed Answer: Hello, diagnosing abdominal aortic aneurysm at this age would be very very rare (not to say impossible). First of all, your symptoms have nothing to do with aortic aneurysms. Aortic aneurysms may cause lower back pain when they rupture or when rupture is imminent. If you're thin then you can probably watch the pulsation of your aorta in the abdomen - you'll actually see the abdominal wall moving in parallel with the pulsations of the aorta. This is normal when you're lying down like the way you described feeling the pulsations. So the answer to your question is that even without examining you, the risk of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is close to zero! Medical students commonly feel symptoms of serious diseases. All this new knowledge is sometimes overwhelming and may cause anxiety - which is the real reason for the symptoms. If you can't get it out of your mind, then an ultrasound scan would be enough to confirm or exclude it. I hope I've helped! If you'd like further clarifications, please contact me again using your follow-up questions. Kind Regards!