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Esophageal Manometry Round Two and Scared

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Posted 3/30/2016 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
Well my first go at this this didn't go well at all back last fall so next week I am giving it another go. I am really nervous. I wanted to have it done elsewhere but my gastro is insist that I try it at her facility one more time. This will be with the same doctor who had zero bedside manner and also still with zero numbing gel in nose or spray in throat. The only difference is my gastro says she will be in the room with me. I am hoping for it to go ok because I really need to figure out what is going on, I haven't ate solid food since August if 2015 and I am starting to feel the effects and have lost a lot of weight. Anyways wish me luck everybody. I got tips last time but if anyone has any other tips or advice they have please feel free to share.
Posted 3/30/2016 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
I have my manometry on Monday. I have watched a couple of YouTube videos, and the one suggests to focus on breathing. I am going in there with the mindset that it may suck, but at least it will be over quickly. Just a small hurdle to jump in order to get the surgery that will quite possibly change your life for the better. Good luck!
Posted 3/30/2016 7:32 PM (GMT 0)

stoey said...
I have my manometry on Monday. I have watched a couple of YouTube videos, and the one suggests to focus on breathing. I am going in there with the mindset that it may suck, but at least it will be over quickly. Just a small hurdle to jump in order to get the surgery that will quite possibly change your life for the better. Good luck!

Thank you so much. Please let me know how it goes. Good luck with your test.
Posted 3/30/2016 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
Euuughh i feel your pain. I'm off to have my 4th manometry too on Monday. The only advice I can give you is the same as you have already had, as difficult as it is and it is an effort but it easier to deal with if you force yourself to relax as much as you can really focus on your breathing and try to take your mind to a really happy relaxed place. Lots of luck, I hope your experience is a lot better this time.
Posted 3/31/2016 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
LAWCHICK,
I'm pulling for you and I KNOW you can do this!

You know how important this test is and just think about how you will feel when it's over. You won't have to dread it anymore! That test is critical for a proper diagnosis, so just concentrate on relaxing your shoulders and breathing.

I know it's NOT comfortable, but you will get through it! It's really good that your gastroenterologist will be there as he/she can read the scope and be able to tell if you have a motility problem.

Hang in there and let us know about your diagnosis.
Posted 3/31/2016 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
+++ on relax, breathe and when they tell you to, swallow. When I had mine done it took 3 tries - I gagged on 1 try and they didn't have it moving down correctly on another try.

It is was not much worse than have an NG tube put in and is over with pretty quickly.
Posted 4/1/2016 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
I had my second manometry done last week. The first one was so uncomfortable and I was told that my nasal passages are very small which does not help. I explained my concerns and anxiety to the doctor and technician and they were very helpful. My nose was numbed and the whole tube was lubed a lot. Once it was through the nose I did not feel any discomfort for the rest of the test. Perhaps you can get the same preparation as I had. Every doctor should have the numbing agent for the nose so I don't know what the big deal is giving it to the patient for relief.
Posted 4/1/2016 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
Lawchick:

I hope everything went well with your manometry, I can't understand why any doctor would want to do the procedure without using the numbing gel.

Sharon
Posted 4/2/2016 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
Insist on the numbing agent in the nostril. Try contacting the doctor who'll lead the manometry ahead of the procedure -- call and ask to speak with her directly and request the numbing agent specifically. It can't hurt to do so. As one of the physicians told me post-op a few weeks ago, doctors work for patients! They work for you and you shouldn't have to tolerate being uncomfortable.

It's not a "fun" thing but the numbing agent should help a bit. I was not offered a throat spray. My test was annoying and uncomfortable, but I just breathed through it, relaxed, tried to keep my focus on happy, relaxing thoughts and in 15 minutes, it was done.

You can do it!
Posted 4/3/2016 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone. Yeah I don't know why the DR is so against numbing my nose, I have no idea what the big deal is. Everyone I have discussed this with has gotten the numbing nostril agent so I just don't get it.

Anyways my test was cancelled because the machine broke. This is second time my retest was delayed because if this issue, I was really psyched up for it too now I feel like I'm just not meant to have it.
Posted 4/19/2016 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
LAWCHICK,
I'm distressed to learn that your test was cancelled twice, yikes! Perhaps go somewhere else?

I don't see how you can get your life back until you have this all-important, critical test to find out what is wrong and rule out motility problems.

Hang in there and don't give up!
Posted 4/20/2016 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hey lawchick,

I just had that test done today. I had it done in South London, UK and they didn't even ask me if I wanted numbing gel, they just gave me it. It was quite tough when they were inserting the tube, a lot of gagging and retching when the tube reached my throat. The trick is not to panic, just take deep breaths, keep swallowing when they tell you to swallow. Once it's in place then it's ok. It doesn't take long. Ten good swallows of water and then the tube comes out. It takes about 10- 15 minutes. I'm glad it's done and over with though. I now have the bravo ph capsule in my chest for 48 hr ph test.

Good Luck chicky
Posted 1/29/2018 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, I’m
In the Uk , I spent all yesterday researching Esophageal Manometry and to be honest this was pretty much the only site I could find with info ( aswell as you tube videos ) today I went for my Esophageal Manometry , the doctor managed to successfully get the first tube in , but after about 15 seconds I literally could not breath and urged him to take it out immediately . I’m now EXTREMELY Sore ( 10 hours later ) with darting pains around my stomach even after 2 zapain and I’m now getting worried some damage has been done . I’ve been suffering for 12 months now , had everything - scans , endoscopys all clear apart from finding a narrowed celiac artery after a ct scan checking my pancreas , I’ve eben undergone physchology assessment and even tried accupunctre . My condition is not food related at all just a constant pain right at the top of my stomach almost between my breastbone . I’m never sick but it literally winds me . Losing hope and very very sad and teary 😢 help anyone 😩
Posted 2/1/2018 7:24 AM (GMT 0)

ducky007 said...
Hello, I’m
In the Uk , I spent all yesterday researching Esophageal Manometry and to be honest this was pretty much the only site I could find with info ( aswell as you tube videos ) today I went for my Esophageal Manometry , the doctor managed to successfully get the first tube in , but after about 15 seconds I literally could not breath and urged him to take it out immediately . I’m now EXTREMELY Sore ( 10 hours later ) with darting pains around my stomach even after 2 zapain and I’m now getting worried some damage has been done . I’ve been suffering for 12 months now , had everything - scans , endoscopys all clear apart from finding a narrowed celiac artery after a ct scan checking my pancreas , I’ve eben undergone physchology assessment and even tried accupunctre . My condition is not food related at all just a constant pain right at the top of my stomach almost between my breastbone . I’m never sick but it literally winds me . Losing hope and very very sad and teary 😢 help anyone 😩

Ducky, I wouldn't worry about the soreness...Very unlikely that damage was done. If you have bad nausea, vomiting, fever, etc., that would hint at a perforation/damage, but perf's just dont happen after a manometry.

My first manometry was similar to yours - she got it in, but I couldn't tolerate it from there. There was a specific feeling that was completely intolerable. Every time you would swallow, you would feel it - I just cant describe how awful it was. It didn't get more comfortable when it was all the way in (which is what she said would happen), it just got worse.

With that said, you just have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Instead of thinking that you can't take it, just think about how great you'll feel when you tell your family members that you finally completed it...or when you go out with them to a nice place to eat, celebrating your accomplishment. Just close your eyes, and follow their instructions - It will still be horrible, but you need to get it done, and you can and will get it done. You can gag if you need to - eventually the gagging feeling will lessen a bit, because when you gag a lot, the urge to gag will decrease, and you can move on.

In summary, it sucks, but you have to get it done. Not everything in life is pleasant - some things are hard. But sometimes you just do what you have to do.

Good luck!
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