Problem with my Bravo meter?

You mean yours is still hanging on?! Mine fell off after five days. If it's still causing problems give the doctor a yell.

Mine was low at night and high during the day.

Joy

I just got the thing yesterday.  Yes, it's still on.  Sending signals - but I can't imagine a reading of 9 is accurate.  I thought 8 was about the max.

I think the capsule just dropped off early.  I tried sipping some dilute vinegar and water and nothing happened to the pH meter.

I take it in today.  Now I'm scared I'll have to go through this whole thing again!

I went to the hospital today and got a chest x-ray.  The capsule was indeed gone.  Now I just have to wait and hope there was enough data recorded so I don't have to do that all over again.

At my hospital there is a 10 day prep off ppi's and a week off everything else, including nsaids and cholesterol meds.  For me, with a never-closing LES, that was torture.  A nurse puts the Bravo beastie down your throat while you sit up - no spray or other anesthesia.  Wouldn't be bad if I didn't have an unusually awful gag reflex.  Then you are supposed to eat and do all activities normally for 48 hours.  You are supposed to sleep lying flat.  It would be fine for most people, but my LES is stuck in my chest with my herniated stomach.

 

yes i meant a 20+ on my score, my ph thing read round an 7 or 8 the whole time, i figured it was normal, wat did i know lol.
for mine i was sedated'
griff

couchtater - my endoscopy was through my nose - part of the monometry test because they couldn't get the little tube to not curl up and go down my trachea.  So they shoved a 15 french endoscope past my deviated septum and I gagged and vomited while they threaded a wire into my stomach and then pushed the manometry tube over the wire.  I got local gel for my nose and a spray for my throat, but don't dream of sedation for manometry because you have to be awake to swallow water later.

Shooz -

I was told with the Bravo to eat and drink normally.  I had to record it unless it was water.  Nothing I ate or drank did much for the pH.  It remained below 4 no matter what.  Untill the capsule fell off.

Then suddenly I noticed I could eat a little without extreme spasms.  Drinking was never a big problem.

I was supposed to sleep flat too.  Hah!  Normally, with Nexium, I can sleep flat, but not for this test.  It was horrible even to contemplate.

I'm hanging.  Sometime don't want to, but I've been in the GERD group for over 25 years.  I'm grateful for finally finding this forum.  I've learned a lot even with my years of personal experience.

Bill -

Thanks for the suggestion, but I gagged and threw up for 2 1/2 hours just doing the monometry.  Bravo was hell enough, near gagging all the time it was in place.  I'm not going through any of it again if I can help it.  If I wake up with an NG tube after Nissen I'll pull it out after deflating the cuff.

Alcie, You need to find a different GI. They have done your tests kind of odd. Also, they way they have been treating you is not right. You need to fire him and get another doctor, really.

Joy

Joy -

I see my regular gastro guy next week before the surgeon.  I am going to see if he has any suggestions on switching docs.  The surgeon is technically extremely highly qualified, but he's terminally arrogant, and his staff are rude and dismissive, and his residents ignorant.  There are a couple of other possible docs in the area.

Bill-

Thanks for the NG note.  I thought they had a cuff.  Makes it easier to just yank out the thing without it when you aren't thinking clearly post-op.  I see the surgeon in a week and a half, and that's an item on my long list of questions for him.

I'm going to start another post on a Nissen subject.  I need to know if my irradiated stomach fundus will hold up to a wrap.  I'll tell that story on the new post.

I retrieved the Bravo capsule (TMI), so that story is over unless I have to redo the test, which I guess I won't hear about until the surgeon yells at me again.

Alcie-
As Kitt said, No yelling here only helpfullness. Post away my new friend. We are a strange bunch, but will help anyway we can. We have even been known to "Call out the Herd" and et them docs straightened out.
Seriuosly, if you feel the need to start a new thread by all means do so, but with this one getting attention you might jst want to add to it. I know my thread has gone several directions and I think that is so cool. I never mind anyone posting whatever on my thread, it gives it a life all it's own and makes for some interesting reading.
Don't be affraid to ask us anything, if we don't know it Kitt usually can find it. If the surgeon and the group is the way you say, Fire them! You don't need to deal with the "Holier than though" attitudes some surgeons have. I have been there and won't ever deal with it again. I just recently had to because of an emergency, but I am now with a great group of urologists. Please don't think because they have a reputation you have to go to them. There are plenty of great surgeons who aren't pompus asses out there. I am lucky t have a great thoracic/general surgeon, an awesome surgeon for my nissen, and a great urologist group now. None are the type to believe they are better than anyone. I feel truly blessed to have found them. I believe with all my heart you can too. Don't rush into this with a surgeon with a bad personality.
If you have read my thread from the beginning you are a reading fiend. That thing is long, but it, Denise's, Bea's, Rafael's, Griff's, Janice's, and so many others are so full of great information.

Take care,
Bill

Post Edited (opnwhl4) : 10/10/2009 5:18:32 PM (GMT-6)