The Student Room Group

Pulsing Stomach

Well over the last few months when I lie down, Ive noticed that my stomach beats almost like my heart would.
I can actually see my stomach moving up and down and feel it when Im relaxing...Was just wondering if this was normal? As I looked it up on the internet (stupid thing to do I know) and I was shocked by some of the replies I got back.
I don't want to go to a GP as I think it will sound stupid if I go in saying that my stomach starts beating...Please help as Im worried it's something serious.

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1
If you are quite skinny then it is pretty normal for this to happen, and be noticeable when you lie down and keep still. Basically your aorta (the main artery from your heart supplying your body) runs down the middle of your tummy, and because the pulse inside it is so strong, sometimes the 'shockwaves' from it can be visible on the skin in rather skinny people.

If you are worried about it, then go see your GP because it MAY be an Aortic Aneurysm (where your aorta becomes wider than it should be), but this is NOT very common in young healthy people- it is more common in older people with blood pressure problems etc. However i probably wouldn't worry.
Do you have any excess stomach fat which err wobbles, hence causing such appearance?
Reply 3
You probably just have a twin living inside you.
It's an artery running down in that region that causes the pulse. It is actually a pulse, not your stomach.

I'm not particularly skinny and I've always had it.
Reply 5
Do you happen to have a lot of sex?
I have the exact same thing - my stomach beats like my heart. I was worried for a while but thought it couldn't do much harm lol.
Reply 7
Look around your local area - If a loacl band are missing their drum kit and the local zoo are missing a monkey then your know what the problem is. Just cough them back up and you will be fine!
Reply 8
it might be your muscles moving

or you might be pregnant

congrats if it's the second :h:
Reply 9
a mini stomach attack :dontknow:
Reply 10
snail_87
If you are quite skinny then it is pretty normal for this to happen, and be noticeable when you lie down and keep still. Basically your aorta (the main artery from your heart supplying your body) runs down the middle of your tummy, and because the pulse inside it is so strong, sometimes the 'shockwaves' from it can be visible on the skin in rather skinny people.

If you are worried about it, then go see your GP because it MAY be an Aortic Aneurysm (where your aorta becomes wider than it should be), but this is NOT very common in young healthy people- it is more common in older people with blood pressure problems etc. However i probably wouldn't worry.


Thankyou, you've given me the most sensible advice so far!
I was worried that it could be an Aneurysm but Im only 19 and I have low blood pressure if that makes much of a difference?
I would have thought it is just a artery in your stomach area not actually your stomach. This causes a pulsing as the blood is pumped through it.

If you are very worried see your doctor about it :smile:
Reply 12
Veni_vidi
a mini stomach attack :dontknow:


i had one of those once, i just punched it around a little and i was fine :h:

i mean, it caused internal bleeding and all.. .

but the pulsing stopped :proud:
Hey wow i got this, I thought it was normal. :s-smilie: And whys everyone on anon - its not that embarrassing :p:
i have had that for a few years, i thought i was pregnant at first and spent a few months pooping my pants!

I'm still standing though, so it cant be that bad!
Reply 15
emilina
i had one of those once, i just punched it around a little and i was fine :h:

i mean, it caused internal bleeding and all.. .

but the pulsing stopped :proud:

:rofl: good one, a little punch always does the trick
Reply 16
Lulu*et*Moi
Hey wow i got this, I thought it was normal. :s-smilie:
Believe me, it isn't. A classmate of a friend of my often had this and died... She crossed the road and the pulsing started again, which distracted her and then she got hit by a truck.
Reply 17
emilina
i had one of those once, i just punched it around a little and i was fine :h:

i mean, it caused internal bleeding and all.. .

but the pulsing stopped :proud:


Lmao - remind me not to get on the wrong side of your punch then - I like my blood where it belongs, and that is not "bleeding"
Reply 18
Anonymous
Thankyou, you've given me the most sensible advice so far!
I was worried that it could be an Aneurysm but Im only 19 and I have low blood pressure if that makes much of a difference?


Not a problem :smile:

If you've always had low blood pressure then i doubt it very much. High blood pressure is what causes the aneurysm, and the high pressure from the blood being forced through such a small gap can put pressure on the walls of the artery and cause it to 'balloon' out, and the pulse becomes more visible than normal. But as I say it is unlikely in your case.
Reply 19
bomberli
Lmao - remind me not to get on the wrong side of your punch then - I like my blood where it belongs, and that is not "bleeding"


ok

just tell me if your stomach starts to pulse, yea? coz i'll happily sort that out for you :colone: