Anyone done a BRAVO PH study?what was it like for you?

Hi everyone, I have been a longtime sufferer with GERD for probably 6 or more years and I'm only 21. I've been on everything under the sun and now am on Nexium/zantac. I've now had 2 upper endoscopies, my second one was today. I also did the cathetor free Bravo ph study today, when they place a small capsule that measures your stomach acid levels in your esophageas.

I was wondering if anyone else has had this procedure done?

I'm having pain swallowing anything now, even just saliva and it kinda radiates up my esophageas into my chest too. the nurse said that this would happen, but I heard and read that it isnt supposed to be painful just a feeling as if "something is there" when you eat. I am really afraid that this is gonna last for another 7-10 days before the capsule falls off.

I would be interested in hearing any experiences people have had with this study. And if I can be any help to anyone with questions feel free to ask.

Post Edited (bittersweet603) : 5/3/2006 3:49:35 PM (GMT-6)

thanks hearty.. yes I have had this probably before I was 15..maybe I underestimated. I was dxed with Fibromyalgia and migraines very young, as well as an anxiety disorder which caused me to take many medications and NSAIDs. I also took lots of antibiotics which I think screwed up the good bacteria in my system causing this in the long run. I'm trying to correct it now myself through research, diet and herbs. Doctors dont do a thing except throw us more meds which in turn cause more problems. PPI's arent supposed to be used long term and in fact can cause worse gerd problems, which I think is another one of my issues.
its all been hell and torture but I have the tenacity to try and get through and come out healthy. I have hope, and I think theres hope beyond conventional meds.

Thanks for the reply again Hearty, I like to hear what other people have to say that go through the same thing. I wish someone else here could relate to the Bravo too.

The antibiotics definitely do it, and are so over used by doctors no wonder why so many people have digestive problems. Probiotics and digestive enzymes are good for helping to correct that problem..but permanent diet change is pretty much the route to go.
Right now I am on 40mg of Nexium and zantac 75 at night. I was taking 80mg Nexium and 2 zantac not too long ago..along with antacids and everything else holistic. I cut down to half that and altered my diet to a Candida special diet with no yeast/no sugar (well low sugar, no sugar is nearly impossible) and it seemed to help alot for a week but I cheated (darn female sugar cravings) and had to have this procedure done which messed alot up so the pain and burn is back with a vengence. Right now I cant take any antacids while I am doing this 48 hour monitor so its been tough.

I also started using ginger-fresh extract, crystalized and ginger tea- and it seems to help alot.

I also have been taking more magnesium supplements, about 700mg a day. Another thing I need to work on that many others do as well is stress and anxiety. It contributes alot to GERD, and I can varify that with the Ph monitor I have on now. WHen I feel anxious the PH drops (more acid in esophagus), and when I am relaxed it gets higher.

Post Edited By Moderator (~Jennifer~) : 5/8/2006 10:10:06 AM (GMT-6)

Hearty..you sound like you are going through the same thing I am. I also was in the process of graduating and accepting a fulltime job but had to put it on halt because of these problems.


If you take a look at the site I posted, it says to extract the ginger juice either with a juicer or by hand and take a tablespoon in the morning before you eat or drink anything and wait 30 minutes to an hour before you eat anything. It can be diluted with water, and when you first start it, its very poten like 300 proof alcohol but I got used to it. It will burn for a while and then diminish. You can also boil a chunk of ginger in water and steep for 5 minutes or so and drink that, but its not as potent. I am also using Aloe Vera juice for my gerd and leaky gut..it has helped alot! you should be able to buy it at a local pharmacy or you can get it online. I'm not sure where you are located but my local walmart sells it too. You can drink 4-6 ounces inbetween meals and when you feel heartburn.
One other thing to use is DGL licorice root, chew them and mix with your saliva before swallowing, or drink some licorice tea. Its known to help with gerd and heal stomach ailments.

Does ginger ale help? I have heard it does.

My gastro doc just did the bravo ph today with me.  I constantly feel like I have to clear my throat.  Do you know what the normal levels should be???

Hi sillylilly! Thanks for the reply. Do you know what a normal ph is? It has been 4 days and I still feel like it is there! It is so annoying! What is a manometry test?

Your PH is measured abnormal when it is below 4 a significant percentage of the time.  Anything below 4 is very acidic by the Demeester scale that they use. They also measure how long your PH is below 4, i.e., how many minutes you are refluxing then they arrive at a percentage of the time you are refluxing.    Your GI will explain all the particulars to you when you get your results.  Remember to ask him how significant your score is on a scale of 1 thru 10 in laymens terms, 10 being the worst.   All these results are confusing because the numbers won't mean very much to you. So get him to explain the results so you can understand it.   

My GI said my score was remarkably positive for acid reflux.  I had a score of 21.6 on day one and 25.6 on day 2, the norm being 14.72.  So I did have a positive test for acid reflux.  Then I ask a surgeon if this was really high and he said not so high.  He had seen some people's score of 100. But then he said that if I was in a room of 500 people with acid reflux, I would probably be the worst.  He was trying to give me a visual I could understand.   

Hope this helped a little...best to you.

Hey there,

Successful diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), its effect on esophageal symptoms, and the choice of subsequent clinical management are dependent on the sensitivity and accuracy of systems used to detect reflux. Recent advances in technology often circumvent the limitations of still widely used catheter-based pH systems, which monitor esophageal acid exposure up to 24 hours. The wireless Bravo  pH system improves acid reflux detection by extending the pH-monitoring period to better capture day-to-day variations and improve acid reflux-symptom association. Multichannel intraluminal impedance combined with pH monitoring shifts the paradigm of GERD diagnosis further by detecting events other than acidic and isolating swallow-related drops in pH.

pH < 4 in the distal and the proximal esophagus indicates acidic as someone so wisely posted.

Take care

Kitt

I'm in the midst of the Bravo PH Test right now. I turn the monitor thingie in today by 4:00. I have been one of those "lucky" ones that really has pain when swallowing ANYTHING. The first several hours after it was put in, I had pain in my chest constantly where it must have been attached. Just like someone else said on another thread, I swallow and 1 or 2 seconds later, I can feel when it hits that transmitter and "owie!" I have even experienced pain when singing in church, trying to talk too long without taking a breath, burping and coughing. Because of this, I haven't been able to eat normally either. The first day and a half, I was only able to eat soups, bread and stuff like that. Last night, I finally got so hungry, I wolfed down a big mac and some fries, despite the pain, but boy, did it hurt! I had oatmeal this morning though. I wish I would have read this thread before they started me on this test because I would have been trying to eat a lot more normally despite the pain so it would be a more accurate test. Now I'm afraid I may have gone through all this only to get abnormal results for me. So, I'm trying to make up for it in the few hours I have left today, though. Drinking coffee, etc. Anyway, I will be SO glad when I can start taking my Omeprazole again AND when this thing finally decides to drop out of my esophagus and get on down the road!! I hate to say it, but it's been one of the most miserable experiences in my life! Will post again when my results come in.

  Hi there - this is my first posting here.  I saw your message and I had to answer as I started the Bravo 24hr test 5 days ago now.  The only discomfort I really had was  on the first day.  Just felt pressure in my chest just after I would swallow food.  From then on, no problems.  I wish I would have eaten more bad foods during the first day as I didn't really have any bad acid episodes the whole time the data was being collected and I'm guessing I'm going to hear there's nothing wrong with me - but I know better.   Will be interested to hear what you get from your results.  I wonder how long it will be before I actually find out anything.  Well, I hope the capsule falls out soon and you get some relief.  I have no idea if mine is still in or not?  Good Luck

 

I have had a chronic cough for 5 years but only in the upright position.  I don't cough when I am laying down.  Yes I've had the Bravo pH test done twice, it's negative, all my testing was negative.  I've done drug therpy for GERD and Acid Reflux, nothing.  I've had allergy testing, lung testing etc and NOTHING. But my cough is consistant lasting up to an hour before I get a brief relief. 

I had a CT scan which shows I have a deviated septum.  I don't know if this may be a cause but I hear a new technology has been cleared by the FDA in 05 for the balloon sinuplasty.  I see a doctor who I think has experience in this proceedure 2 weeks after Thanksgiving.  I'll see if it gets approved.

Allerx was the only medication prescription that actually helped but after taking it for years it no longer works.  All other medications did NOT work, i.e. GERD, Acid Reflux, Allergy etc.  Nothing.

Any suggestion to drying up PND is appricated.  I've taken all kinds of test so if you need to know if I've done it and how it went let me know.

Also, when you go under for exploratory surgery or whatever.  If the nurse offers you a cookie when you come out of it, DON'T DO IT.  I've been under so many time and did find, tired but fine.  Once she offered me a cookie and an hour later I threw up.  Okay, didn't need that sensation.  So don't eat or drink.

JGMC

Welcome to HealingWell and the GERD/Heartburn forum.  I am so glad you found us.  You will find the members kind and caring and very wise.

Please know you are family here. Let me know if you need anything.

Again, welcome.

Kitt