questions about impedence & pH tests with LPR

Hi Diaba,

The impedance test is one wire that goes down your nose and down into your oesophagus and then your stomach, which is taped to the side of your nose and connected to a pack which you wear for 24 hours and press it every time that you have a symptom

It has sensors all the way up, so that all gas, liquid, gas and liquid, acid and non acid reflux are all detected.

A basic PH test is no use for LPR you need the impedance test.

You will need a manometry done first which will test both the functions of your upper and lower sphincters. The impedance probe is passed down once you have had the manometry.

I hope that this helps.

All the best,

Pink

oh ,i was thinking the impedence test was the manometry test. so the impedence test is the24 hour ph test? How does it diifer from the standard pH test? not sure what type my order is for.

so both are done at the same time then, one right after the other?

thanks for your help

Hi Daxter,

You would normally get a multiple channel impedance test, which is capable of sensing the bolus movement down and any reflux coming back up, and each catheter usually has multiple sensors on it.
If your consultant is able to see that you are swallowing excessive amounts of gas but your gas coming back up is normal it does sound as though you are having the correct impedance test.

What I will say however, is that your PH study is just a snapshot, a moment in time, and it just depends on how much reflux you are having on that one day. I have now had 5 ph studies and they are all different. The first one showed nothing as it was not an impedance. The second two showed normal DeMeester score but with high reflux events of 91 and 94, with 20 and 22% going into my throat. The 4th showed 10% going into my throat, and the last one showed none in my throat, but all had excessive non acidic or weak reflux events.

Unfortunately I do think you have LPR, you have too many symptoms for it to not be suspicious, I would say that if you are swallowing a lot of air, that some will come back up and probably bring acid and pepsin with it. Are you a mouth breather? I can only recommend you repeat the test and eat as much acidic crap as possible to set it off.

DIABA,

Hi, yes the impedance test is the ph test, it differs from a basic ph test in that it will pick up gas and mixed gas and liquid and non acidic reflux such as pepsin and bile and other gastric contents which are caustic and can burn your throat which will not be helped by ppi's.

Yes the manometry is done first, and then when that is finished the ph probe is passed down.

Hope that helps,

Pink

GC1pink said...
Hi Daxter,

You would normally get a multiple channel impedance test, which is capable of sensing the bolus movement down and any reflux coming back up, and each catheter usually has multiple sensors on it.
If your consultant is able to see that you are swallowing excessive amounts of gas but your gas coming back up is normal it does sound as though you are having the correct impedance test.

What I will say however, is that your PH study is just a snapshot, a moment in time, and it just depends on how much reflux you are having on that one day. I have now had 5 ph studies and they are all different. The first one showed nothing as it was not an impedance. The second two showed normal DeMeester score but with high reflux events of 91 and 94, with 20 and 22% going into my throat. The 4th showed 10% going into my throat, and the last one showed none in my throat, but all had excessive non acidic or weak reflux events.

Unfortunately I do think you have LPR, you have too many symptoms for it to not be suspicious, I would say that if you are swallowing a lot of air, that some will come back up and probably bring acid and pepsin with it. Are you a mouth breather? I can only recommend you repeat the test and eat as much acidic crap as possible to set it off.

DIABA,

Hi, yes the impedance test is the ph test, it differs from a basic ph test in that it will pick up gas and mixed gas and liquid and non acidic reflux such as pepsin and bile and other gastric contents which are caustic and can burn your throat which will not be helped by ppi's.

Yes the manometry is done first, and then when that is finished the ph probe is passed down.

Hope that helps,

Pink

Thank you! Yeah I am a bit of a mouth breather admittedly. :p