24 hour PH probe test - any experience?

[13lucky]

Hi there, I have just returned from a paediatric appt at the hospital with my dd who has hypotonia and hypermobility. She suffers from what the consultant thinks is reflux although this has not been confirmed. She has had a barium meal test but this hasn't proved anything. The paediatrician now wants to refer her to have this 24 hour PH probe test which involves putting a tube up her nostril into her oesophagus which needs to stay in place for 24 hours to test PH levels etc etc. This procedure sounds horrendous and fills me with dread! Does anyone have any experience of this please? Dd is nearly 8. Thank you in advance.

Hi 13lucky, yes my son had this when he was a toddler. It really isn't as bad as it sounds, honestly (although I agree it sounds horrible).

My son already had an NG tube in when he had his done. The tube for the pH probe is much thinner, and they surprised me by putting it in the same nostril .

It is apparently a bit of a funny/uncomfortable feeling when they put it in, but once taped down (to the cheek) and not moving, they can't feel it.

When my son had it done, the end of the tube was attached to an ipod size box which recorded the pH levels in his oesophagus over 24 hours. I'm not sure if now (5 or so years on) this would be even smaller.

If it reassures you at all, I have a doctor friend who said during their training, they had to practise putting NG tubes down their own nostrils and throats, and it is apparently just a funny / slightly unpleasant feeling, rather than painful. (This helped me when we were reinserting NG tubes the whole time when DS was little. I hated it.)

Good luck. I hope it goes smoothly for your DD. My DS was found to have severe reflux but we had very good results with Omeprazole.

Thank you Latin for your reassuring reply. My dd is not very tolerant of anything slightly painful so I am dreading the inserting the tube bit! Thanks again.