Posted 10/28/2014 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
They could tell you something right away, but that won't happen. Usually you get the results at your next gastro doc visit.
There should be a readout on the meter you wear that connects electronically with the "pill" in your esophagus. You are already going to write down when you eat, sleep, etc., so just look at it and write down the numbers too. You can tell how acid your esophagus is all by yourself.
If the pH is below 7 it's acid, but it only really counts if it goes below 3 or 4, depending on your doctor. Mine ran 0 to 2 until the thing fell off after only 24 hours. Then it read 7 or 8 (alkaline), meaning it was in the small intestine. I was told by the nurse that I'd have to do it all over again because they got no readings. I pointed out that I'd been taking readings myself and there was 24 hours of data. My LES was wide open all the time because of a "giant paraesophageal hernia" (GPEH) - stomach in my chest because of an accident. Doc said I didn't really need the test because a GPEH doesn't get better by itself.
You're not likely to have extreme acid all the time like I did. Just read the gadget every half hour or so and every 15 minutes after eating, and you'll know if you are refluxing acid.