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Having the Tests - Couple of questions please ?

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 2/14/2011 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hey all

Well the day for my manometry and 24hr PH study is here, had the manometry test (My lord that was horrible), anyway now have the 24hr probe machine all hooked up - that is not that much better.

Anyway basically they said the manometry looks good, my doctor was at the hospital doing rounds and put his head in and checked it all out - all was good he said. So now with this 24hr PH thing - what happens if I don't get any heartburn ?? Now I am worried I wont get it while I have this bloody thing in ?

I ate white bread for lunch which normally sets me off, nothing ??? All last week I had acid burn all the time, then for the last few days it has been really good - what gives ? Of course it had to happen while I have the machine in !!

Anyway from what little I understand the manometry being good is a good sign that IF I wanted to go for surgery I can - but what if this PH study does not show anything ? I will keep eating all the bad stuff and see what happens - I want it now and it wont come !! haha It is like when you need a policeman you can never find one, but if you don't need them they are all around !!

Thanks all ! Heartburn is not my normal symptom, it is more reflux and an acid burning taste at the back of the mouth that goes on all day everyday just about ! Apart from that nausea a lot !

Cheers
Chris
Posted 2/14/2011 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
sorry, should add that when I had the camera down the throat that my L.E.S. was "wide open" but in the manometry test today they said it was acting reasonably well - it was opening and closing apparently ?
Posted 2/14/2011 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
All of my tests came back normal but they found severe acid erosion during a scope.
Posted 2/14/2011 8:30 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the reply, how "Murphy's Law" I have had all my symptoms daily for months and months and months then the day I have a device to monitor it all - I get the best day I have had in a long while !! eyes

I actually had acid burn for a while looked at the monitor and sure enough it was 2.5 (Which anything below 4 is acidic according to the nurse). So who knows, I did read somewhere that someone was having a good reflux day and they still did not get good results and they ended up having surgery.

Don't get me wrong I don't want to go under the knife - but I don't want false results with my doctor thinking it is good when it usually is not !

Anyway thanks again, may I ask Michelle how you got to having the camera down the throat if they did not find anything wrong with these tests I am now having ? And was your surgeon not that great the first time around - is that why you have had to have a couple of fixes ?

Cheers
Chris
Posted 2/14/2011 1:34 PM (GMT 0)
The scope was the first test I had. They didn't find the erosion until after my second nissen. I was still having symptoms so my gastro wanted to make sure the wrap was still intact. That's when all my tests were normal. My monitor didn't have numbers, just a button to push when I was having symptoms. It would have been interesting to see the numbers.

My surgeon did a floppy wrap but it was too loose. He was afraid of making it too tight and giving me swallowing problems. He said it is probably because I'm so small that the "normal size" floppy wrap wasn't tight enough.
Posted 2/14/2011 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
I had erosive areas with my scope. That was the 2nd test for me, after the barium swallow. The manometry was normal. Tried the 24 hr probe but only tolerated it about 4 hours. Since I kept vomiting, probably from a hyper gag reflex, they invalidated the results, 241. So, I had the 48 hr Bravo done. The first day was one of the best ever. But that 2nd day was one of my worst. If you want to bring on the reflux, try physical movements that tend to cause it. Exercises like push ups or crunches or just laying on your stomach or bending over may do the trick.

Peggy
Posted 2/14/2011 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Chris,
Hey, don't feel bad. I had what seemed like horrible and painful reflux during two of my 24hr PH tests, and they both came back that I wasn't having significant reflux. You can't win. When I had my last one (post surgery) they had some strict rules about what I could eat. They didn't allow me to eat the normal trigger foods.

I do think Murphy's Law kicks in during these times, and if you're going to have a great reflux-free day, it'll be the day you're wearing the monitor!

Don't worry too much, though. It is as it is, and it's unlikely that it won't show something. The question is, will the GI doc think it's significant enough for any corrective action?

They tend to recommend surgery on only those people who have constant reflux of acid and food--or a those having enough to erode the esophagus. Those of us who suffer greatly, but don't fit in those categories have to wait a lot longer and be a lot more persistent to get them to take notice.

I'm sure you'll be very happy to get your little monitor friend pulled out tomorrow. The maddening thing is that they don't tell you immediately what it shows. There's the wait, wait, wait, until you can go back to hear about the results. What's with all the mystery? I don't understand it.

Good luck with the test! We'll be waiting to hear what you find out.
Take care,
Denise
Posted 2/15/2011 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks heaps all !!

Denise you are SPOT on !! I got the device pulled out this morning and I was so glad to see that go and be able to go home and have a shower !! Now I have to wait 4 weeks to get the results !

For me none of the medication stuff worked, gaviscon is the only thing that helps a little and that last less than an hour tops ! Annoys me so much that I had probably the best 24hrs that they could have tested, woke this morning and had the burn, checked the read out and it was 2.4 which indicates reflux so I pushed the button - but only had that twice so at least now I know that I am not imagining it !! If the read out said 2.4 and anything below 4 was acidic then I know when I feel the burn and sickish feelings that it is acid. So I have proven it myself really !

So I have to wait 4 weeks to see my doctor, so I will see how I am between now and then and might even try to take a diary of how often I have symptoms so I can show him to tell him to average. Least then he might say well this is the options I can give you and then I guess wait another month or two before I get to the next stage ???

Thanks again talk soon !
Posted 2/15/2011 6:46 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Chris,
If you have a good surgeon, he/she will look at your whole file (history, symptoms, and other tests) and then base his/her decision on the whole evidence. I remember my 24hrs test showed reflux, the score remains a mystery entirely but when I spoke with my surgeon he confirmed that I had an ineffective LES valve and this mainly is what he looks for to proceed with surgery. I had a full nissen 360 wrap and hiatus hernia op only 13 days ago and so far I'm pleased with my results. Hang on in there, go with the flow and let them know all your symptoms and you should get the right response. Good luck.
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