how the fuck does anyone cope with the 24hr ph test?

[ThatVikRinA22]

im wibbling and being a proper baby.

ive had the pressure test first and am right this minute in the throes of the 24 hour ph test.

i was a dreadful patient during the pressure test - i upchucked lots.
and then couldnt stop swallowing when he told me to, so he couldnt get the readings. it took ages.

now i have the smaller tube in but i cant talk, its tugging at the back of my throat and is just the most horrible feeling, and its stinging my nose where its gone in and every swallow makes me want to gag.

i came home and phoned straight back up and said i couldnt cope with it - but they said if i had it out i would have to have it repeated (over my dead body) so im gritting my teeth and trying to bear it.

really really struggling with this. Anyone whose had it care to do a bit of talking me down....before i pull the sodding thing out myself....

You're doing great. You are presumably at least 4 hours into the 24 hour test. Soon, you will sleep and that will be another 8 hours. Half-way.

In the morning, you can start counting down.

You can do this.

i had the second tube put in at about 3pm so its 7 hours in.....but with each hour its getting more and more irritating.

the GI blokey took pity on me when i phoned back up whining so he said i can go back early at 10 and have it taken out instead of at 2pm....but i have no idea how im going to sleep.

i have zopiclone so am thinking of necking 2 of those in an attempt to comatose myself for 8 hours or so.....

i am really struggling with this.
i have had babies. i would rather do that again than repeat this. i am particularly squeamish about anything going down my throat and vomming so this is just the pits....

Lay on your side when you sleep - unless you have been given instructions on how to lay. It will stop the tube falling against the back of your oesophagus.

i will try that thanks lougle
i can feel the tube all the bloody time, my throat is now sore, its pulling whenever i swallow, my nose is stinging and i hardly dare move or talk because its worse when i do - im normally not much of a morning person but tomorrow my alarm will be set and i will fly out of the door to get this tube out....

not doing this again. ever.

thank christ thats over with. Diagnosis very firmly confirmed and i am a good candidate for surgery - never want to do that again.

Just seen this.

I have utmost sympathy! I lasted until 4am in the morning when I woke up eyes streaming, nose swollen and red and the tube still taped to my face but my stomach was trying to push it out

I gave in and took it out!

The guy said I was a baby as newborns have them in and tolerate them

I had the manography, a barium swallow and an endoscopy and the ph test was far worse!

i managed to knock myself out and practically leapt out of bed and into the car this morning to get the bloody thing out.

never again. i managed 20 hours.

What have the diagnosed or is that too nosy?

DS2 had this done a couple of years ago when he was seven. I have never seen him as widely as when it came out. He couldn't stop saying thankyou to the nurses.

Very unpleasant test (though he did last the full 24 hrs ).

The guy said I was a baby as newborns have them in and tolerate them

That guy has clearly never been in NICU/SCBU. Most babies spend every waking minute trying to yank them out. I lost count of the number of times DD had to have hers replaced. What a dick.

chesty ive had problems with reflux for about 16 years but put off having the tests as i suspected what they entailed! however, i have a dreadful barking cough, i get laryngitis and chest infections frequently due to aspirating acid into my lungs.
i had a endoscopy which confirmed a hernia, then had an ENT appointment which showed the acid is damaging my vocal chords, surface changes only at present but consultant said in 10 years it could be something much worse which prompted me to get further tests done.

saw the GI consultant who wanted to refer me for surgery (fundoplication) but had to have oseophageal pressure test and 24 hour ph test first....which is, i have to say, the single worst thing i have ever had, and i dont say that lightly. i have undergone completely natural childbirth and had a tattoo on my foot....nothing compared to this! i hated every single second of these tests and i threw up on the poor GI bloke during the pressure test 4 times.....(now i know why you cannot eat or drink for 4 hours prior!!) test involved various tubes up nose and down throat....

so the tests are done and it confirmed severe acid reflux - a normal score is 15 or less, i scored almost 42.
Now i can be referred for the surgery as the tests showed i am a good candidate for it.
the surgery involves wrapping the top part of the stomach around the oesophagus (sp!!) to form a new sphincter - but it can only be done is the pressure test shows you can swallow well to get food past it. its like a stomach stapling job, but should stop the acid refluxing back up to damage my airway.
ive been on increasing amounts of medication for the past 8 years but the meds dont work anymore - and im on copious amounts now, too many for my liking really. (5 different meds taken up to 4 times daily) and now the damage to my vocal chords is so bad that i get spasms of the air way where i cant breath for choking.

i also wake up during the night with last nights food / drinks dripping back out of my nose.....its not a good look.

so i bit the bullet and had the tests with a view to the surgery. the surgery doesnt phase me at all....the tests prior to it did!

luckily my GI consultant who did the tests had had the tests himself and was very kind....

Poor you Vicar!

How is the foot these days?

Hope you are feeling well soon and back to work ASAP.

You are very brave having it done. Having a tube down there is my worst nightmare. I'd much rather have a full sized TV camera shoved up my arse than have a tube down my throat. (shudders at the thought of it)

Oh, that sounds horrendous! On the plus side - at least it showed up the "right" result and a course of action!

Oh yes the pressure test was awful...having to swallow chunks of bread with the widest tube I've seen shoved up your nose and down your throat

run the guy was awful. Also gave me a long lecture because I'd had a flap jack after tea. "Normal adults do not need supper".

vicar hope surgery works well for you
I have oesophageal dysmotility, basically upper oesophagus is a "dead" zone.

My treatment was......" Live with it"

you did better than me. I managed 6 hours and went back to the hospital and had them take it out
Luckily it showed such bad reflux it was ok. They are talking about the fundoplication but I'm such a big baby although a friend who has had it done said her life is now free of carrying rennie and gaviscon everywhere. I've had 20 years of horrendous reflux

Oh god DS2 has had this twice, once at 6 months and again at 18 months. Judging by what you have said he did brilliantly as hardly complained at all!

Glad the test wasn't in vain vicar and that you have a plan.

cheers all.

I did not anticipate it being quite so horrible, but its over and done with now and at least it showed the result i had anticipated, surgery itself does not bother me and after the last chest infection DH said i have to get something done - i get spasms of the windpipe now which are frightening and horrible, and i cant breath when that happens, DD panics because i end up on the floor gasping for breath. DH was here last time that happened and urged me to go for tests. If surgery stops the chest infections and cough then i will gladly have it done.

its probably a good thing i didnt know too much about the tests....else i wouldnt have gone.

My son had his fundo 6 weeks ago for persistent chest infections and he has not coughed once since surgery! He's sleeping and recovering well, it's been a life changing event for us as a family and he's 5 years old. Fwiw he lasted 15 hours before he pulled the tube out in the middle of the night.

Hi thatvikrina22

Did you get the operation done???

Thanks
Wendy