Rough Manometry Experience

Had my manometry yesterday - and boy do I hope I never have to do that again!

It was not horrible, but I'm very glad to have it behind me. I'm generally pretty tolerant to pain and discomfort so I was not expecting it to be too bad. I watched a video of the procedure in advance, and it seemed uncomfortable, but not unreasonably so. I was prepared for what would happen, and thankful it would be over quickly.

I think what made it rough for me is that the numbing agent did not seem to work very well, and the first attempt on one side did not work. We tried one side about 4-5 times before giving up and trying the other nostril. It took a few tries there, too, before the tube would emerge out into my throat.

I've used a neti pot before and did not expect to be too weirded out by something in my sinuses, but I don't think anything can really prepare you for the kind of violation you'll experience. The worst part for me was getting it down past my throat/larynx area. I gagged and coughed every time it moved, but things were fine as long as the tube was not moving up or down.

The swallowing itself was not too bad (just really, really weird), and once the stress of getting the tube in place was over the test itself was pretty uneventful. Getting it out again was pretty stressful, though brief.

My sinuses feel so raw and torn up, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I don't get a sinus infection. I had blood and mucus and lube pouring out of my nose for quite awhile afterwards.

For those of you facing a manometry, don't freak out too much in advance, but do be aware that it's not pleasant. I think some things that would have helped me a little more:

- I wasn't told until after several uncomfortable attempts that keeping my chin down would help. It made insertion a lot smoother.
- I don't think the numbing gel that was used in my case was very helpful. They applied it with a cotton swab, and I don't think this method of application allows the gel to get everywhere it needs to go. The videos I've watched show a topical anesthetic being applied by spraying it up into the nose forcefully, and it will drain back into the throat. I didn't have any drainage of the numbing agent into my throat and felt almost everything :(
- If I had to do this again, I would ask if I could take an ibuprofen and a decongestant prior to the procedure, to help get ahead of the sinus issues from having everything irritated afterward.

Oh, that sounds awful! I am so sorry you had such a bad experience. I wish I hadn't seen this thread though lol because I am having a manometry tomorrow afternoon and a 24 hour impedance test. I have been anxious about it all week. I have tiny nostrils and I also have a sensitive gag reflex so I hope I can tolerate the procedure and be able to go through with it.

Thanks for your tips Brianala. I will definitely encourage them to use an anesthetic spray and I will keep my chin down. I hope you recover easily!

Are you doing the 24 hour impedance test as well?

Hi Brianala, I am glad you are feeling almost back to normal now. Why do some doctors do the Bravo test and some do the 24 hour impedance test? The Bravo was not even offered to me just the wired 24 hour test.

Brianala said...
Hey reason I fouHayleybw2, how did your manometry go?

I'm really not sure why some places do the Bravo and others don't.

Hi Brianala, for some reason I found the manometry much easier than the 24 hour impedance test which I am suffering through right now. My doctor was impressed with how well I managed the manometry. He doesn't yet know how I am struggling with this 24 hour impedance test though. It's brutal. My throat is raw and I could only fall asleep for 90 minutes last night. I'm exhausted but working out now just to try getting a normal routine recorded. I plan on taking it out soon. He said I was fine to remove it around 11 am though 24 hours won't be finished till 3:30 pm today.

Thanks for checking in and hope you are well.

diaba said...
is the impendence test the same as the Restech, the one that's supposed to show LPR? Stinks that tests to help us diagnose causes for damaged throat problems cause more throat pain...

I'm sorry I don't know. I googled it to see if it was but I cannot tell from the pics. I'll ask my doctor when he calls me with the results if I remember. All I can say is it really was terrible and wouldn't you know it but my worst symptom of chest squeezing didn't happen the whole time I had the tube in me but 2 hours after I took it out you guessed it. The chest squeezing happened and is still happening. Murphy's Law. It never fails.

OMG Alcie, that's awful and IMO abusive of them. I am so sorry you went through that :(
I hope you are feeling better!