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bravo ph confusion

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 7/20/2010 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
A little background... In January (age 24) I got an endoscopy. I had a case of oral thrush and my hair started falling out back in November so my doctor though I was not absorbing something so she referred me to GI. Well, after my endoscopy my GI said everything looked fine but my z-line was slightly irregular. He bioposied it but said that I could have been born with that. Anyways, 2 weeks later I got a phone call saying that I had Barrett's from long-time GERD. I didn't even know what GERD was. I was just told to take PPI's despite having no symptoms. I requested another endoscopy with a bravo study in 6 months.

So I just got my 2nd endoscopy/bravo done. I am walking around with this monitor and am really confused. The info I have found on the internet is not helping. Pretty much my ph level is staying between 6 and 7. It dropped to like 5.5 once or twice. But what is freaking me out is that it shot up in the 8's and 9's and even said 'hi' when I was sitting in the car. I had no feeling on reflux or burning. One web-site said that could mean bile but I have no symptoms of bile reflux (stomach pain, vomiting, etc) I know I have to wait for the results, but I am just really worried at why those numbers shoot up a few times. The doctor said everything looked fine during the endoscopy. Any info on the ph scale would be great. Just looking for the basics, and the internet is providing way too much info. Thanks.
Posted 7/21/2010 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HW,
The number tell you how much acid is flowing into your Esophagus. High numbers mean alot of acid is there. Low means little acid.
Unless you mean the moniter said "hi" in a loud voice- :) The "hi" means the number was too high for the computer to register. Where you very tense in the car? It could mean you made a lot of acid at that particular moment.

My doctor said my z line was enlarged during my EGD. He said my acid levels were not that bad, but then he didn't make me stop my meds during the test. I had the surgery 7 months ago and am feeling great. My only GERD symptom was a nasty cough.

Joy
Posted 7/21/2010 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
the ph level of the stomach is 1-2. your esophagus where they put the bravo monitor or when you have a 24 hour ph test should be about 7. So if you are staying around 7 or higher that is good. I had the 24 hour test with the tube down my nose and my acid reflux was so bad that my esophagus was constantly bathed in acid, it read about 1-2 all the time. I had my surgery 8 weeks ago and am doing well, no more reflux for me.
Posted 7/21/2010 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
thanks for the comments. my doctor said if it didn't go blow 4 a lot (meaning acid) that was good. It only went under 4 make 5 times for only about 15 seconds and my doc said that was all normal and to expect that. I am still waiting for the results. There is very little research about what it means when the monitor goes above 8. Some say bile, but with bile comes all these symptoms that I do not have. Plus, with bile, there would be inflammation in my stomach and duodenum as well as visual bile during the endoscopy. My biopsies of those regions came back fine and the overall appearance was fine.
I just wish I would get the results already. How long does it usually take? I handed in the monitor last Thursday right in the morning.
Posted 7/21/2010 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
Just got the results. no gerd what-so-ever. doc said that the high numbers can be triggered by a number of things and does not always mean bile - which i do not have. thanks for the comments and support.
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