Major Anxiety About Upcoming Manometry & Ph Study

So I'm getting really nervous about my upcoming manometry and 24 hour ph study. Even though I have never had issues with breathing, I read that intubation could cause vocal cord spasms and I guess I'm just looking for a few kinds words of wisdom from those of you who have already been through these grueling tests.

As some of you already know, I have major anxiety and my LPR gave me a slight choking phobia =( ....Would you guys mind sharing your experiences with these tests and/or tips suggesting how I should go about handling these them?


Thank you sooo much =)

Dave,

Thank you so much for both your support and quick reply. Did you feel like you were choking at all? I read horror stories about these exams online (which I definitely shouldn't have done). Also, did you have the ph study?

Double swallow give a misread. The screen that the shows the test looks like a doplar radar screen. The deeper the red the stronger the esophagus muscles are the lighter yellow the weaker. Everytime you swallow it shows up, they want to see one big swallow at a time. If you keep your tongue stuck out it keeps you from wanting to swallow and you don't feel the tube as much in the back of your throat.I never felt like i was choking. As for the PH study i haven't had that done. The manometry was my last test, Upper endoscopy, upper gi w/barium & manometry. Just relax it's not that bad. Best of luck

Dave

I had both tests and did not find either to be much of a problem. The manometry is short as long as you follow directions. I had no problems with the tube. The pH test tube is much smaller than the manometry one, and did not bother me too much. You can feel it there, but it does not impact breathing, drinking or eating at all. I found the fact I had to always lug around the computer on the other end of the tube to be more annoying.

I have read the horror stories and feel like I had a completely different test than them. It really was not that bad. Before you know it the 24 hours is up.

Hi

Had this test done twice.

For me, the worst bit is the discomfort as it goes into ur nose.......but once it is in......although it feels odd it isnt too bad.

 

If you fight it it will feel worse than it is. I fought mine because I wasn't well informed on what it involved.

1. They squirt numbing gel into your nose and have you snort it up good.
2. They give you a glass of water with a straw to sip on as they insert the tube into your nose. The swallowing of the water helps it go down easier.
3. They lay you back in an incline position and position the tube. Tape it in place.
4. The doctor directs you when to swallow. If you swallow only when he says after ten perfect swallows they remove the tube.

My test took about 30 minutes.

I didn't do the 24hr wire test. I did the BRAVO capsule. It worked just fine for me and didn't hurt at all.