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Esophageal manometry and upcoming surgery...very scared!

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Posted 6/24/2015 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
Hi! I have the esophageal manometry test scheduled for tomorrow morning and I am so nervous!! I can handle shots and I.V.s (even though I don't like them, I'm not scared of them). But I am scared knowing I'll be awake and have no control. I dread tomorrow!!

I'm scheduled for acid reflux surgery that can hopefully be done laparoscopically on July 2. I'm looking forward to no longer having this awful acid reflux that wakes me up in the middle of the night.

Any info or encouragement you can provide is very much appreciated!!
Posted 6/24/2015 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hi tracey, i had the ph and monometry last october. Both test are not great fun , but they arent as bad as some have made them out to be . The problem i had getting through the manometry test was swallowing when i wasnt supposed to . After some frustration i remembered reading a thread somewhere and the guy said the only way he got through the test without swallowing was to stick your tongue out and force the back of your tongue to the roof of your mouth. This sounds silly , but i will say its what got me through!! Its un comfortable when they insert the tube but it only last a few seconds . Mainly just relax and stay calm and you will do fine , best of luck yo you !!!
Posted 6/24/2015 2:15 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you! I'll try to remember that tomorrow! It sounds like a good trick to use to keep from swallowing at the wrong time.
Posted 6/24/2015 11:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Tracey. I hope by the time you read this, you'll be home and the test will be over. I went in for the manometry test several months ago. I was nervous too, but the technician (who told me that this was what she did all day!) was very calming. She told me to keep my head down and follow all of her instructions. It wasn't too bad getting the tube in and down my throat - not the most pleasant sensation - but certainly not the worst thing I've ever done. My issue came when she realized she couldn't get the tube past my hiatal hernia - she tried but it was too difficult. At that point I panicked and she had to remove the tube - so my test was never completed. I ended up having a modified barium swallow so that they could observe my swallowing functionality. I am now scheduled for a Nissen Fundoplication wrap on July 13th.

Best of luck - and health to you!

Robin
Posted 6/25/2015 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi! Thank you for your kind and encouraging words!
When I went in yesterday, although I was nervous, I felt a lot better about the procedure. I had been thinking positively about it and felt like it would go quickly and smoothly.
I had a very nice nurse. I wish they could use a lidocaine spray like they do in my ENT's office when they do a sinus scope. That ENT procedure is nothing to fear, by the way! :) The spray plus the gel might make a difference. Anyway, as the tube started going down my throat I started gagging and panicked. I think possibly because when she checked my vitals when I came in and my Bp was 165/105 (I don't have high Bp; it usually runs 117/78 or so), she decided not to try anymore with me. I hope my dr can do an alternate test and if it involves a tube down my nose, I'll be sedated and maybe he can wake me once the tube is in place to do the test.

I'm hoping my surgery will still be on for July 2. I'll be thinking about you and hope your surgery goes smoothly. I'm sure you are ready to get it over with so you can start feeling better. I know that's what I'm looking forward to! Decreased meds and no more reflux....yay!!!
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