Manometry and Ph 24hr on Monday, Terrified, cant sleep.

Hi all, I am in for my manometry on Monday and am so scared! I have a pretty savage gag, and was in a lot of pain with my nasolaryngeal scope last fortnight, so I am a total wreck with this! My throat already feels like it is closing off, so I am dreading having something else down there!

Can anyone give me any reassurance?

It'll be okay! It'll be over in no time :)

Hi Zeldagoblin,
You will survive. You will do just fine. As Sirkit said, it doesn't last that long. I can assure you that they do these tests all the time, and it has been my experience that the staff doing the procedure always have a very skilled person who knows just how to help you through it.

Try to will yourself to relax...go to your "happy place" as Joy said. If you can do slow counting..."breathe in, 2, 3, 4, out, 2, 3, 4, in, 2, 3, 4, out, 2, 3, 4...if you can focus on your breathing, it will help you to relax. Actually the nurse/tech counted breathing for me when I had the manometry.


Try not to psych yourself out. It's not pleasant, but it will provide critical information.
Good luck, and remember...RELAX!
Denise

That's a great idea Sirkit has. I used those when I was in labour and needed to push but wasn't allowed to. Concentrating on squeezing those took my off what was happening.

Hi Zelda,

When I had my manometry, they had a big glass of water with a straw ready for me. I drank as they moved the probe down past the gag reflex, which made it a LOT easier. If they don't have this waiting for you - you might ask.

Sharlene

Best wishes Zelda -

For those of us with horrible gag reflexes this is not fun, but it's truly necessary to go through it. This is the most important test - measures the length of your esophagus and how well you swallow - so they get the wrap right and you don't have problems later.

The tube for this is tiny compared with the scope. I'll bet you won't have near the trouble.

Mine was silent and it picked mine up.

Ok so I got through the manometry. Here's how it went.

I got in there and they wouldn't let my husband come in, which unnerved me to start with. They asked if I had any questions so I mentioned my horrible time with my laryngoscopy, and they reassured me that gel would be given. I forewarned them that I have a very strong gag, and they made light of it. Well, that was until they started the test hehehe! After the tech's 5th attempt the Doc said..."You're right, you DO have a bad gag!" Well we got past it by me constantly sipping water, the only problem being that I had to stop to breathe! Also, I do believe that there is something odd about my right nostril. She went in through my left, and it was very quick, and not painful at all.

So after the tube was done moving I stopped needing to gag. They reclined me slightly and she moved the thing every so often while I had to take some sharp inward breaths. Then she had me swallow water then wait ten seconds. This wwas repeated a few times, and finally it was done. The gag returned when the instrument was near the top of my oesophagus.

Well, next she had to insert the wire for the PH monitor. She went in through the right nostril, and there was the pain I remembered. Also, it took a lot longer for the thing to get out of my nose and into my throat. That is the wrong nostril for me, let me tell you! It is very uncomfy to wear, and when I talk I want to gag. Worst of it is, I am not refluxing. This thing will probs not read anything!

Thanks to everyone for being so supportive. It wasn't easy, but I managed better than I thought I would.

Liz x

Post Edited (zeldagoblin) : 9/27/2010 5:24:48 PM (GMT-6)