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What Causes Pain In Stomach And Fast Heart Beats?

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Posted on Tue, 22 Jul 2014
Question: I have been having belly pain for 8 months now, especially if you press on my navel or around my navel. Also when pressing on it I can see and feel my heart beating fast, it makes my fingers jump. I have had 1 cat scan in the ER and 1 MRI entergraphy for small bowels and both were normal. I am nervous that it can be an abdominal aorta. Would that show up on a cat scan. I just don't understand why the pain is so sensitive and not going away. I have had my appendix and gall bladder out. I have had a partial hysterectomy so no right ovary or uterus. It very hard for me to have bowel movements without straining so I take miralax every single night. Why am I feeling my heart beat fast when I press on the pain in and around my navel.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Rovena (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
A normal CT scan exclude Aortic aneurysm.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I read carefully your query and understand your concern.

Everyone can feel the pulsation of abdominal aorta and this is more evident in lying position and in skinny people.This is a normal finding.
An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is a dilation (ballooning) of part of the aorta that is within the abdomen.
The ballooning of the aneurysm does not cause any symptoms unless it becomes large enough to put pressure on nearby structures. If symptoms do occur, they are likely to be mild abdominal or back pains and a pulsating mass in abdomen.

In your case I would exclude this possibility because it is easily diagnosed in CT scan and MRI.
The pulsation feeling when you press the navel is normal finding.
Your fast heartbeat might be related with stress and anxiety.

You don't need to worry about Aortic aneurysm.If you had AAA it would be obvious in CT scan or MRI.

Your persistent abdominal pain might be due to your IBS or it might have other causes.
Since you have done some surgeries (appendix removal,gall bladder removal,partial hysterectomy ), an option to be taken in consideration is intestinal adhesions after surgery.
Adhesions are fibrous bands that form between tissues and organs, often as a result of injury during surgery. They may be thought of as internal scar tissue that connect tissues not normally connected.

These adhesions may bind neighboring structures that are designed to move independently. When that happens, the post-surgical adhesions and scars can create unusual pulls in the body, often causing pain or dysfunction that can confound patient and physician alike.

In my opinion you should consult a general surgeon and discuss this option with him.

Hope my answer has helped.
If you have any other question ,please feel free to write me ,I will be happy to help.

Take care.
Dr.Rovena Murati
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rovena (15 minutes later)
Thanks for the responds, I was just concern about AAA because the area I would press on that hurts is where the pulsing comes from. I checked my kids who are skinny and couldn't feel theirs, but my is very noticeable. Do you think I would have adhesion? My last surgery was the gall bladder and that was exactly 1 year to date, wouldn't the doctor see adhesion if there was some at time of surgery?

Any thoughts on why I can not have a bowel movement without miralax. I just feel like my IBS keep stool in my colon. Anything you suggestion about that?

Thanks
XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Rovena (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Abdominal adhesion is a possibility.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again dear!

I understand your concern about AAA because it is a very frightening condition but if you have an AAA, it would have been obvious in CT scan and MRI.
Since CT scan and MRI are normal,AAA is not an option.

In a post-surgery patient with chronic abdominal pain and severe constipation ,adhesion is an option to be taken in consideration.

If you had adhesion from previous surgeries then in your last surgery ,the surgeon would have seen them (not necessarily ) but still is possible that abdominal adhesion is formed after the last surgery.
MRI, CT or ultrasound detect adhesions only in limited circumstances.
The only way to see adhesions is by direct surgical observation (laparoscopy).


Since your constipation is severe and chronic ,you probably should do some investigation to evaluate it including colonoscopy,colon transit study,etc.

In my opinion you should consult a general surgeon and get his opinion.

Meanwhile you should do some lifestyle changes to relieve your constipation including:
-A high fiber diet
-Drink plenty of fluids
-Physical activity. Try to fit in exercise most days of the week.

Wish you all the best.
Let me know if you have additional questions.

Regards.

Dr.Rovena Murati.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rovena (30 minutes later)
Hi Dr. MuratI
Thank you for helping me out. I did ask my gastrointestinal doctor about possibly adhesions but she said she doubt it and even if it was I would not want to make it worst by going in to do anything about it.

I just don't understand why ibs would cause me to not have bowel movements every day. If I take in fiber I bulk up and then can't get the stool out bc its too big.

I eat good and drink water. I even told her that my stool is very thin but she said that is my ibs.

Can being bloated cause weird sensesation in the body, like adredalianin? I get this often so I stretch my body to calm it down. I am not anxious so I don't know what is causing this.
XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Rovena (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
You can get a second opinion.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXX

Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic disease and may be a lifelong condition with symptoms that tend to come and go and probably after some time the symptoms of your IBS will go away or get milder.
Probably all you need to do is to be patient,maintain a healthy lifestyle and try some relaxation techniques (including Yoga) to help with your symptoms.

If I were your treating doctor I would also evaluate Thyroid function ,just in case because Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism can cause constipation and in this way making worse your IBS symptoms.

Probably your gastroenterologist has right and it is just your IBS but still I suggest to consult a general surgeon and get a second opinion.

Take care!

Dr.Rovena Murati
Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Rovena

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2013

Answered : 1243 Questions

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What Causes Pain In Stomach And Fast Heart Beats?

Brief Answer: A normal CT scan exclude Aortic aneurysm. Detailed Answer: Hello! I read carefully your query and understand your concern. Everyone can feel the pulsation of abdominal aorta and this is more evident in lying position and in skinny people.This is a normal finding. An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is a dilation (ballooning) of part of the aorta that is within the abdomen. The ballooning of the aneurysm does not cause any symptoms unless it becomes large enough to put pressure on nearby structures. If symptoms do occur, they are likely to be mild abdominal or back pains and a pulsating mass in abdomen. In your case I would exclude this possibility because it is easily diagnosed in CT scan and MRI. The pulsation feeling when you press the navel is normal finding. Your fast heartbeat might be related with stress and anxiety. You don't need to worry about Aortic aneurysm.If you had AAA it would be obvious in CT scan or MRI. Your persistent abdominal pain might be due to your IBS or it might have other causes. Since you have done some surgeries (appendix removal,gall bladder removal,partial hysterectomy ), an option to be taken in consideration is intestinal adhesions after surgery. Adhesions are fibrous bands that form between tissues and organs, often as a result of injury during surgery. They may be thought of as internal scar tissue that connect tissues not normally connected. These adhesions may bind neighboring structures that are designed to move independently. When that happens, the post-surgical adhesions and scars can create unusual pulls in the body, often causing pain or dysfunction that can confound patient and physician alike. In my opinion you should consult a general surgeon and discuss this option with him. Hope my answer has helped. If you have any other question ,please feel free to write me ,I will be happy to help. Take care. Dr.Rovena Murati