Can you feel/see your pulse in the suprasternal notch?

[Dornish red]

Hello everyone! I have a question/request.

Can you feel/see your pulse in the suprasternal notch?
If you are wondering, that is the dip above the middle of your collarbone. Can you feel it there? Can you see the area pulsating?
Please share if you can feel your pulse there, and/or see it.
My fear is aortic aneurysm, and apparently that is a symptom. I have some connective tissue disorder symptoms and this is a major fear for me.
I also have trouble swallowing, feeling like food is getting stuck in my esophagus, and that is another symptom of an aneurysm.
I will probably be getting an echo of my heart next week (recommended by my GP because of my other symptoms regarding a possible connective tissue disorder) and I am having trouble coping with all this. I can constantly feel my pulse in that area, and above my collarbone on both sides, and I can't stop thinking about this. I can also see it.
Please share if you have the same thing/something similar. I am desperate. I am on anxiety medication but it can only do so much for me. Honestly, having the worst week ever in my life.
I keep looking at my family wondering how am I going to tell them I might have a life threathening condition. Possibility is real. Connective tissue disorders can cause aneurysms in young people.
Any input would be helpful. Can you guys please try to see if there is a pulse for you in that spot, and share. Thanks.

 

[Chris]

Hi, sorry you’re going through this, it must be a very anxious time for you. I hadn’t heard of this bone before, had to look it up. I can feel a light pulse if I press hard enough, yes, although I felt like I was chocking myself doing it. I’m sure others will give you their experiences as well, try not stress yourself out.
I wish you well.

 

[Dornish red]

Hi, sorry you’re going through this, it must be a very anxious time for you. I hadn’t heard of this bone before, had to look it up. I can feel a light pulse if I press hard enough, yes, although I felt like I was chocking myself doing it. I’m sure others will give you their experiences as well, try not stress yourself out.
I wish you well.

Thank you very much.
I can feel it quite strongly there, and see it, and that worries me a lot. My pulse is also pretty strong because of my anxiety, but I feel it even when I calm down, maybe just a little lighter.
Yeah, this is a very hard time for me and I am having a lot of trouble coping. I yet have to tell my parents about it and it is all very depressing.
Trying to stay positive but not succeeding really.
Hopefully someone else can feel the same thing and share, I would appreciate it so much.

 

[Chris]

Thank you very much.
I can feel it quite strongly there, and see it, and that worries me a lot. My pulse is also pretty strong because of my anxiety, but I feel it even when I calm down, maybe just a little lighter.
Yeah, this is a very hard time for me and I am having a lot of trouble coping. I yet have to tell my parents about it and it is all very depressing.
Trying to stay positive but not succeeding really.
Hopefully someone else can feel the same thing and share, I would appreciate it so much.

I can only imagine the anxiety your feeling, I wish I could say something meaningful to help put your mind at ease a little.

 

[Rinka]

As far as I know, it’s normal to feel it and see it in that area. Obviously I’m no doctor, so definitely go to this echo, just to make sure.

Coming back to the Puls depending on the intensity of your exercise or your anxiety even other people are able to see your Puls there. To be honest, I wouldn’t worry about it. Giving your condition, it’s always good to have such things checked out anyway.

 

[Dornish red]

I can only imagine the anxiety your feeling, I wish I could say something meaningful to help put your mind at ease a little.

Thank you so much, it is very hard, but I have finally told my parents about all this and they calmed me down a little. At least I have my family for support no matter how all this goes. Still obsessing about my pulse thought. Having a hard time accepting that it is normal, since it is pretty forceful and visible.

 

[Dornish red]

As far as I know, it’s normal to feel it and see it in that area. Obviously I’m no doctor, so definitely go to this echo, just to make sure.

Coming back to the Puls depending on the intensity of your exercise or your anxiety even other people are able to see your Puls there. To be honest, I wouldn’t worry about it. Giving your condition, it’s always good to have such things checked out anyway.

Thank you for your input. Have you ever experienced it youself? Or maybe seen it in other people? I will go and arrange an eco as soon as I can, for sure.

 

[Rinka]

Yes certainly have seen it and felt it on myself and saw it on other people.

 

[Dornish red]

Yes certainly have seen it and felt it on myself and saw it on other people.

Thank you. Makes me feel a bit better. Google has only the worst answers to this question, pretty much everything screams ANEURYSM I just wish I wouldn't feel it constantly ugh, even when resting. But I am probably checking on it too much. Been putting my fingers in that damn dip all day lol. I even tried checking on my BF and my mum. Theirs is much more subtle, but I think I can feel their heartbeat there. Not as much as mine though. Damn, this is such a hard time for me.

 

[Chris]

I know it’s hard but trust me the worst thing you can do is google your symptoms it’s going to drive you mad.

 

[Rinka]

Thank you. Makes me feel a bit better. Google has only the worst answers to this question, pretty much everything screams ANEURYSM I just wish I wouldn't feel it constantly ugh, even when resting. But I am probably checking on it too much. Been putting my fingers in that damn dip all day lol. I even tried checking on my BF and my mum. Theirs is much more subtle, but I think I can feel their heartbeat there. Not as much as mine though. Damn, this is such a hard time for me.

Google is the WORST when it comes to googling symptoms. It always seems to be cancer, a heart attack, a stroke or you die anyway in 10 seconds

Best is not to spend too much time on googling symptoms and certainly if anything really is of worry going to the doctor.
You said that you are going to have a scan? Did you go for it and do you have any results?

 

[Dornish red]

Google is the WORST when it comes to googling symptoms. It always seems to be cancer, a heart attack, a stroke or you die anyway in 10 seconds

Best is not to spend too much time on googling symptoms and certainly if anything really is of worry going to the doctor.
You said that you are going to have a scan? Did you go for it and do you have any results?

Thank you for your concern. My mom is going to arrange an echo for me, I am in a such bad state that I can't even make myself do it lol
I am hoping I will be getting an echo on monday.
We are all extremely stressed and scared.
I am very tense and my throat feels weird, like I am choking and someone is pressing on my throat. I hope this is just anxiety. Still aware of my pulse in the area in question, can feel it and see it. Very scary. Hopefully someone else has the same thing. Hopefully this doesn't mean aneurysm.

 

[Dornish red]

I will be getting an echo on monday.
This is honestly the worst weekend ever in my life.
Prospects of having an aneurysm and a diagnosis of a connective tissue disorder is so very scary. Me and my family are having a very hard time with all of this. I don't know how to cope. We are all so very scared. Trying to stay positive but it is so so hard with all my numerous symptoms of a possible CTD and this palpable pulse thing, it doesn't look good at all. I just keep thinking how I am going to die young.

I will let you know how it goes.

 

[Rinka]

So sorry that you feel so scared and anxious. To be honest I dearly hope it’s just anxiety and that you will be fine. Should you at any point feel worse, go to the A&E /ER

 

[Dornish red]

Just to update you guys.
Well I don't know if I have good or bad news.
My echo was fine, but only a certain part of the aorta is visible on an echo and I am still very afraid that I might have an aneurysm on my descending aorta. I do have a few of the other symptoms that could be related to other problems, but also to an aneurysm (sometimes trouble swallowing, cough and hoarseness that could be from my chronic sinus problems). I am still a mess. I am afraid now that I have an aneurysm that is even more dangerous My GP thinks I am healthy but she can't feel her pulse in that spot, yet alone see it. She says I read too much and I was referred to a therapist for panic disorder and anxiety.
I don't know what to do, I can't afford a CT scan. I am constantly anxious and my heart is pounding and I can't eat or sleep or think. I just can't forget how everything I read about this pulse points to an aortic aneurysm...amd me potentially having a connective tissue disorder that can cause them... I am such a mess right now and want to die. My family and BF think I am fine because I had a clear echo but I know that is not enough to rule out an aneurysm. What do I do now

 

[Ann1984]

Hello, I am new at the forum. I have life time long manageable (social) anxiety, but also I am doctor, so i can offer you some help. We all can palpate а slight pulse in the supraclavicular notch, but it should not be not intense and strong. Actually,we can palpate false pulse everywhere on the body if we press our finger, and actually will fell the pulse in the fingers (which I think might be the case here).
I believe that your GP was right. As a doctors we have to think of the most likely diagnosis first which in your cause is anxiety derived strong pulse. You also made echo examination, so it is unlikely that the doctor missed something. Did he do echo in the suprasternal region?As you know many people with anxiety have exaggerated look of their physiological functions.
If everything turns to be ok (which I hope) , you should make a conclusion out of this: that you imagine something very unlikely almost bizarre (autoimmune disease) happening to the body. You should ask yourself what could be the reason for this kinds of fantasies?

 

[Dornish red]

Hello, I am new at the forum. I have life time long manageable (social) anxiety, but also I am doctor, so i can offer you some help. We all can palpate а slight pulse in the supraclavicular notch, but it should not be not intense and strong. Actually,we can palpate false pulse everywhere on the body if we press our finger, and actually will fell the pulse in the fingers (which I think might be the case here).
I believe that your GP was right. As a doctors we have to think of the most likely diagnosis first which in your cause is anxiety derived strong pulse. You also made echo examination, so it is unlikely that the doctor missed something. Did he do echo in the suprasternal region?As you know many people with anxiety have exaggerated look of their physiological functions.
If everything turns to be ok (which I hope) , you should make a conclusion out of this: that you imagine something very unlikely almost bizarre (autoimmune disease) happening to the body. You should ask yourself what could be the reason for this kinds of fantasies?

Thank you for your input
My pulse in that area can be seen with the naked eye, so I am for sure not imagining it, or feeling it through my fingers. It is prominent and visible, which freaks me out and make my heart beat stronger and make it even more visible so you think that anxiety can affect the strength of the pulse? I hope so.
I have decided to see both a cardiologist and a psyhciatrist. I have a lot of issues in my head that I need to work on, but I also have symptoms of a connective tissue disorder that can cause early aneurysms and also I have some other symptoms of an aneurysm (hoarse voice sometimes, cough, trouble swallowing sometimes) and all of that makes me very anxious and afraid that I might in fact do have an aneurysm.
So I will arrange an apointment with a good cardiologist and I will also see a therapist for my anxiety.
All of this is making me very afraid and I feel like something is wrong with me

 

[Ann1984]

Well, if it's visible I would checked it out, but am wondering why your GP and the echo technician/or doctor didn't acknowledge it? I haven't read any of your previous thread and wondering what symptoms you have to make assumption that you have connective tissue disorder, which is rare diagnosis? There are laboratory test for these disorders.

 

[Dornish red]

Well, if it's visible I would checked it out, but am wondering why your GP and the echo technician/or doctor didn't acknowledge it? I haven't read any of your previous thread and wondering what symptoms you have to make assumption that you have connective tissue disorder, which is rare diagnosis? There are laboratory test for these disorders.

My GP felt it and said it was nothing. I insisted she felt it and she did, and I said I could see it and she still said it is perfectly fine. But she is known to just dismiss things.
As for the technician who did the echo...I was so thrilled that she said everything looks perfect that I did not even think about the possibility that an echo cannot show everything, and now I feel sorry for not making her actually feel the pulse with her fingers...I just said that I feel it and see it in that area and after all she said it could be due to stress or thyroid problems or something. I should have made her feel it, I know, it was stupid of me. Well, here I am worrying about all of it again. So you agree that it is concerning? I guess my GP just doesn't care...

 

[Dornish red]

As for the CTD...trust me, I have a lot of symptoms both visible and those that are not. The highlight of them all is the arthritis that I got in my joints when I was only 25. I am waiting to see a specialist about that as well, but looks like an early onset of ostheoarthritis. That could very well signal a CTD.