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Give me your play by play experience with 24 hr ph test please

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 1/24/2010 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
I'm totally terrified of this test.  The surgeon here in town said he gives no meds durning the test whatsoever.  Not even numbing.  It upset me so bad that I faxed my pulmonologist in Pittsburgh (2 hrs away) and was extremely depressed,

He called me back and said when I was ready he had a Dr for me who would preform the procedure under general sedation and also numb me.  And I'd be staying overnight in the hospital.  This is the difference between a small city hospital and large city teaching hospital.

But please tell me everything.  And how did you manage not to gag and rip it out once it's down?  And what would happen if you threw up with the tube in?  Did you get any type of medication?  My gag reflex is severe.  I know a lot of people say it but really, mine is very bad.

Posted 1/24/2010 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Okay, here it goes. I wish I had been sedated some. I'd probably gotten through it better.
No food or water before the test.
1. They shoot your nose full of lidocane gel (others use a spray).
2. They very gently feed the tube through your nose. It feels a little odd at first.
3. You will feel a slight tickling sensation as it starts down your throat. They'll have you start sipping water to help it go down. This is the part where you start feeling like you're gagging.
4. Once they get it almost to your stomach, they'll have you recline some and the gagging sensation lessens greatly. They will start the computer that reads the swallows you'll make.
5. They'll make a couple of adjustments to it and tape it to your nose.
6. They held my hands very gently to help me control my impulse to grab it.
7. You are told not to talk. You can't swallow until they tell you to do it. You'll want to swallow because it will be a tickling sensation in your throat. If you swallow off cue it feels weird.
8. They will give you sips of water to hold in your mouth and swallow on cue. You must do ten perfect swallows.
9. After the test is complete they will quickly pull it out and let you rest for a moment.
10. I felt a little dizzy afterwards and laid there about three minutes.
11. They had me blow my nose to get the leftover lidocane gel out and wash my face.

It was hard not to choke on it, but I really had to focus on getting through it fast so it would be over quicker.

Since you're getting sedated some it won't feel quite as stressful.

Joy
Posted 1/24/2010 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
Joy-
Ummm you are describing the manometry not the ph study. LOL!

First our you having the wired PH study done or the Bravo? The wired is usually more accurate. Anyway, if it is the wired usually they do it after a manometry which Joy explained quite well. This is because it needs to be placed at an exact location above the LES to be accurate. This is why the Bravo isn;t as accurate unless it is placed right after a manometry and the measurement taken of the LES by pressure. Anyway, the wired one is sent down your nose like the manometry, but is WAY smaller diameter and put at the predetermined spot above the LES. It is taped to your face so it doesn;t move and is connected to a box. You are supposed to go about your normal routine so they get an accurate daily reading of what goes on. If you are staying at the hospital you probably won't get true reading because you won't be doing your normal routine.
If it is a bravo they usually place it during and EGD, hence the sedation. I did have one wired placed during an EGD also. The wired one is so small in diameter you won't have a problem with gag reflexes once it is in. I have never had any issues gagging with three of these, but they can be annoying because they do move in and out of your nose a small bit when you swallow. And sticky food tends to pull on the wire until you drink something.
I have had the PH and manometry done at both small tow places and a large teaching hospital and the only difference between the 2 for me was the teaching hospital used the numbing gel in my nose where the small town place didn't. This is the first I have heard of being admitted to a hospital for a PH study. Like I said before it kind of defeats the purpose of having accurate reading of what is going on during your normal activities.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 1/24/2010 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
Bill,

Well I really have no choice but to stay in the hospital as it's a 2 hr drive.  And as for a normal routine..

sit on couch

turn on tv

get on computer

that's about it.  I will be able to leave the hospital and go/do anything I'd like to do.  I will just be able to come back and sleep there so I don't have to try and find a hotel along with this tube sticking out of my nose and a big square Darth Vader thing hanging from my neck. lol

Posted 1/24/2010 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
blush blush blush blush blush blush blush blush blush blush blush


Oooopsss!



Sorry, brain lock.... (kick, kick, kick) there I just had to knock it a few times to get it going again. tongue



Stormie,

I don't remember my test. I had sedation, an endoscope, and BRAVO inserted in one procedure. I wore the monitor for two days and kept a record of reflux behavior. I didn't feel the BRAVO excepted when I turned my head I felt a slight tug.
Posted 1/25/2010 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
Stormie-
I can relate to the long drive and such. The last one I had before my redo was just shy of 3 hours away. As much as I hate the wire out the nose and carrying the box around, I had to do it. It was my daughter's birthday and we stayed at a hotel and we hung out at the pool and went out to eat. Sure you get some stares, but who cares. They probably aren;t worth worrying about. God luck with the tests.

Joy- I thought you might have had some brain lock or something going on. LOL! We all do try our best to forget those tests.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 1/25/2010 5:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Stormie I had the test and its NOTHING to worry about once the probe is in place which is a SLIGHT irritation then all you feel is a slight feeling of the probe .GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOd luck you will be fine
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