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motility testing

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 1/27/2008 3:07 AM (GMT 0)
I had an Esophegeal Manometry test to see if I could have the lap surgery. My GI Doc insisted on it and I trusted in him very much to know that was needed before I had surgery. Her is a brilliant Doctor.....and well, he was right on to do the test. Dr. said that he would definately recommend that I have the sufgery to the surgeon that works in his office. I have Barrets esophagus and I have very bad GERD. St the moment I am taking 4 prilosec otc a day and it is about 75 percent under control, meaning that about 25% of the time I have acid reflux....we are going to switch me to Prevacid soon. Ok, so after the motility test on my esophagus it was determined that I could not have the surgery because I dont swallow well enough. That is what the test is checking for. If I cant swallow that great now , my doc says that I might not swallow well at all after the surgery...and he will not take that chance. God bless his wisdom. So now I am going to be on meds my whole life, but thats ok.....just wondered if anyone else has any thoughts on this....and if one medicine worked better than others for you to control the reflux. Thank you for listening, love you all. I hope each and every one of us here at healing well.....heal well......byebye for now....Annie
Posted 1/27/2008 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
I am writing back to correct a typo of mine....My doctor is a man so when I typed her it was supposed to say he...thanks ...I know it doesnt bug you all , my typos that is...it just bugs me.....lol 

Annie

Posted 1/27/2008 6:12 AM (GMT 0)
Anne, just be glad you have a med that works. The only thing that ever worked for me was ranitidine in very very high dosages.
Also, I went thru esophageal manometry a few years ago and they said I was not a canidate for surgery. Recently I tested again, more thoroughly, and it turned out I was eligable.
Posted 1/27/2008 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
oakley:

Once you find a medication that really works all the time, ask for another motility test after you've been on it a while. It sounds like the medication you currently take is not working 100% so it is still allowing some acid to irritate the esophagus - Prilosec OTC isn't one of the stronger PPI's so it doesn't surprise me that it's not totally controlling acid if you have very bad GERD.

The first time I had the manometry test, I did so with no medication (I was taking Protonix 40 mg once a day and stopped taking it quite a while before the test so that they could get a reading of my natural function) - that meant the esophagus wasn't in good shape, the motility was very poor and the surgery that was planned was called off. The GI decided to try mega-doses of PPI to neutralize all acid. After several weeks of Nexium 40mg twice a day, I had the motility test again - that meant the esophagus was in better shape due to the medication controlling the acid. The second test proved I was a good candidate for surgery because it indicated that without the acid constantly irritating it, the esophagus functioned normally.

The doctors have to determine if the acid damage in the esophagus causes the poor motility or if it's the poor motility causing the reflux. If you provide an acid-free environment for your esophagus to heal and retake the motility test, it may show that your esophagus functions perfectly fine when it's not being bathed in acid all the time. The surgery keeps the acid in your stomach where it belongs, therefore, it would show that you are a good candidate for the procedure. However, if you still have poor motility while on a medication that controls your acid, you will know for sure that the procedure is not for you and medication is your best option.

Good luck.
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