Hello Dr. I just started having pulsating or throbbing upper center abdomen early yesterday morning. The previous night the same area felt sore like a muscle but didnt throb and become unbearable till 4 am yesterday. Taking tums helps significantly, as well as prilosec and alka seltzer. Pepto seems to do nothing. Tums is only temporary and causes cloudy urine so I minimize my use of it to avoid kidney stones. I have had a bad stomach for years (25 years old now) and have been prescribed prilosec then switched to nexium. I had a camera in my stomach (endoscopy?) 3.5 years ago and found out I have GERD. Could this be an ulcer? Thank you
Hi. Thanks for your query and history. Yes, an Ulcer can cause abdominal pulsation and throbbing. But there are more important causes like aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. Since you are a known patient of HERD, this can be an ulcer too. I would advise you to have another Upper GI endoscopy as this is the only way to prove or disprove the presence of an ulcer or cancer. You also should undergo ultrasonography with color Doppler to see if there is a possibility of an aortic aneurysm or any other problem. CT scan helps to confirm.