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Bravo pH Readings

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 10/8/2015 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hey there! I had the Bravo pH capsule implanted yesterday, and I read a bunch of threads on here, but couldn't find what I was looking for. I had been on Omeprazole twice a day, she had me go down to once a day a week before the test, and to continue once a day throughout the test. Did anyone else stay on the medication during the study? What were the numbers like and what did the doctor say?

I can't eat very well, had some soup yesterday, couldn't get down dinner as it was too painful passing the capsule, but then had some chocolate ice cream (yes, a purpose trigger food since I was hardly eating) but most of the time my pH is reading 8.5 and higher, but after the ice cream last night, and some yogurt earlier today, it dropped down to 5, and 4.something

So I was just wondering if the medicine could be keeping the levels that high, or if it's a bile reflux thing going on. I do usually have severe ongoing stomach pain, excessive belching, hoarseness and when it's really bad no voice and coughing for 2 weeks until it settles, and none of the classic burning feeling. The doctor also took biopsies of, I guess excessive, mucus he found yesterday during the endoscopy. Everything else appeared normal and my previous level 1 lesions of my esophagus had healed.

I have to wait 2 - 3 weeks to hear anything so I'm just looking for some experience from other people. Thanks!
Posted 10/8/2015 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum.

It's pretty unusual to be taking a PPI during the Bravo test. I had to be completely off for 10 days + the days of the test. (I was miserable!)

Your stomach acid readings should be much lower. My reflux read 0 or 1: LES was wide open. If you only get a little reflux it could be 2 or maybe 3 at most. Hydrochloric acid is 0.

If you are indeed having acid reflux, either the PPI you are on is still working, or it may possibly be that the capsule dropped off immediately, if that's the way the readings were to start. pH in the range of 8.5 is the level found in the small intestine. That's what happened to mine when my capsule dropped off after only 1 day. The irritation you feel might just be from where the pin tore loose. (They're actually pinned to the esophageal wall with a metal pin, and the wall weakens and the pin rips off.) My throat was raw for at least a week afterwards.

I'd call the place that put the thing on and ask for an X-ray to see if it's still attached.
Posted 10/8/2015 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
I had the bravo test and in my instance it was the biggest waste of my money. I know people have had success mine was a disaster and like Alcie mine fell off almost immediately. It dropped to 1 shortly after I ate and then rose to 7/8 continually and me having heartburn. As gross as it sounds the capsule was "seen" the next day! Which also confirmed to me the capsule was off almost immediately and worked its way through my system. The surgeon was going to use these results as gospel until I INSISTED on impedance testing which showed my reflux. I agree, in that you should really be off ppi medication to get accurate results which could give high reading or as in Alcie and my case the capsule has already fell off.
Posted 10/9/2015 11:25 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies. I don't think it fell off, I still have the feeling of something caught in my chest. Or if it did I haven't passed it yet because the monitor isn't beeping that it's too far away. This morning it just says P_0 but I think it's just because the test is over.

It certainly would suck if it did detach, I definitely don't want to repeat this.

The PPI must be doing something, as my esophageal lesions had healed but I've been having breakthrough symptoms, which is why they guest upped the dose, which made my stomach pain worse I think, and then scheduled this test.

Or something else all together is causing all these symptoms.
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