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48 hr Bravo study ph trials

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 10/5/2012 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
I'm currently doing the 48 hr bravo study probe because I still have reflux feelings after my tif 8 months ago. To get to point I've been laying down flat in all different positions to try and get my ph to spike, but it's staying around 6.7. I even went as far as putting my legs on top up of my bed and trying to make acid rush down my esophagus.

Also I ate a large pizza today to test things out. These are things I would have never dared to do before, but I wanted to see if my ph would go down. The biggest drops I've seen was eating an apple. I was at 4.0-4.4 for 2 mins until I washed it down with water. Also, I was at 4.8 when I drank aloe vera juice...wasn't expecting that, but I looked on my container of aloe vera and it said it contained citrus acid.

I remain confused about my condition. We'll see how the night goes...I was wondering if it could be provoked by undiagnosed sleep apnea? or possibly nerve issues... Either way, I'm off to run and lift weights.
Posted 10/5/2012 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
My ph test was pretty steady in the numbers. The barium swallow and manometry test were the big deciders for me.
Posted 10/11/2012 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
Just got back from going over my results from my 48 hour bravo and my 24 hr ph test position in my throat. The bravo came back with an exposure % of 5.8 on day one and on day two it came with a % of 0.0. Day one I ate a cheese pizza for lunch and bagels/lettuce for dinner. Day two I ate potatoes, carrots, celery and gravy for lunch, then for dinner I ate bagels, English muffin, jelly, honey, popcorn. The average of the two days was 2.9 %. He said I was within the normal range.

My ent 24 hour probe indicated the I was negative for reflux of 5.0 Ph or lower during the day, but I was positive for reflux while in the supine position at night...or in my case chair position. Ent doc put me on ppi once daily, while the GI doc said I was fine and that it's something else causing the problem. He prescribed me ampitriptyline 25mg to try. He said my esophagus could be hypersensitive to reflux.

My main problems right now are athma like condition, which makes sleeping horrible. Pain in the throat, globus sensation, hoarse voice, sinus problems.

There seems to be disagreements between ENT and GI doctors on how to treat people with different symptoms. I'll try out this hypersensitivity theory, but also contact my ent on his further opinion because my problems are mainly throat related. Also, I'm thinking of having a sinuplasty done because my GI doctor said that it helped him out with his sinus problems. This may alleviate my post nasal drip and constant congestion.
Posted 10/12/2012 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hi TheSixness,

Sorry to hear you're struggling and didn't find a satisfactory resolution with your testing.  I can tell you that I totally identify with your experience.  Like you, my reflux was creating unhealthy lungs, and like you, I had a low DeMeester score--at one time, just 4--and my GI doc said with authority, that my reflux was not causing my lung issues.

Fortunately, my PCP did not accept that opinion, and although it took several years during which my lungs were in horrible shape and I was taking unhealthy amounts of steroids to keep breathing.  My asthma doc says that GI doctors only look at how reflux affects the health of the esophagus and pretty universally don't have any idea that a very small amount of reflux can create havoc with the lungs. 

I suspect your ENT is more keyed to the more atypical affects of reflux, which is why he/she is treating you more aggressively.

This is not going to be an easy road for you, but don't give up.  Hopefully you can find a healthcare advocate who is knowledgeable about the harmful affects that of small amounts of reflux have on the lungs.  After my lungs continued to deteriorate, I finally (with the help of my PCP and asthma docs) got a GI doc to take my condition seriously.  Keep in mind that I never had more than a borderline DeMeester score.  <14 is normal, and my worst was 14.8. 

Those of us with atypical symptoms face a lot of resistance as we seek help from GI docs.  I ended up with having a Nissen surgery, and it healed my lungs.  I have allergy-induced asthma, but it is now in control...my steroid inhaler dose is a fraction of what it was prior to my surgery, and my lungs are doing great. 

A GI doc once explained their reluctance.  Their fear is that they may recommend surgery and the surgery won't help.  It's a tough call.  I understand that.  Still it's really discouraging when you're trying to find a solution to some serious symptoms and aren't getting any help.

You have my sincere sympathy! 

Hang in there...don't give up!  There is help out there for you.

Good luck,

Denise

Posted 10/12/2012 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
Sixness
Positional reflux---http://rd.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00268-012-1537-9

Interesting information. Regards. Bumper
Posted 10/15/2012 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
Just to update. Just got back from a follow up visit with my ENT doctor. My results from my 24 hr reflux study was negative during the day, but was positive at night. He said I refluxed over 100 times during the night and was considered normal during the day.

He suggested the best thing to do right now is to get a sleep study done. This is because I have a long tongue and a narrow neck, which he said could be causing sleep apnea. Also, he mentioned that although my 24 hr tests was negative during the day because of my night time reflux I could still be having respiratory problems with normal levels of reflux.

Well, the pulminologists is backed up like a month and a half right now. I'll have to see how things workout when I get my sleep study done and potentially get my cpap.
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