Ph Bravo Test

[jojo92]

I had the pH Bravo test done last week. I have to be honest and tell you that it was not the pleasantest of experiences for me though hopefully it will be just fine for you. The insertion itself was a breeze as you are knocked out, its just once you are awake again the feeling of the probe sewn into your esophagus is quite uncomfortable. I found it very hard to swallow and each swallow caused spasms of chest pains radiating out to my back so eating was not much fun. Its pretty much the same sensation as having a large gumball stuck in your throat. The funny thing is that they tell you to eat normally - well that's a joke, and the probe itself caused a lot of belching to relieve the pain and pressure which is recorded by the pager device. I don't normally belch anywhere near as much so I'm sure it must affect the results. I found I was OK as long as I wasn't swallowing so luckily sleeping was OK. The test is over in 48 hours but the bad news is that the probe can take much longer than that to detach. In my case it took 7 days which felt like forever, I was beginning to worry that it might never come out but I can't tell you how wonderful it felt when I swallowed and finally realized it wasn't there.
I'm sure its less inconvenient than the 24 hr monitor but at least with that one when the test is over its over. All in all its probably worth getting it done just so as you know, and its not that bad but I think its better to be prepared for an extended period of moderate discomfort.

[LELE31]

Originally Posted by jojo92

I had the pH Bravo test done last week. I have to be honest and tell you that it was not the pleasantest of experiences for me though hopefully it will be just fine for you. The insertion itself was a breeze as you are knocked out, its just once you are awake again the feeling of the probe sewn into your esophagus is quite uncomfortable. I found it very hard to swallow and each swallow caused spasms of chest pains radiating out to my back so eating was not much fun. Its pretty much the same sensation as having a large gumball stuck in your throat. The funny thing is that they tell you to eat normally - well that's a joke, and the probe itself caused a lot of belching to relieve the pain and pressure which is recorded by the pager device. I don't normally belch anywhere near as much so I'm sure it must affect the results. I found I was OK as long as I wasn't swallowing so luckily sleeping was OK. The test is over in 48 hours but the bad news is that the probe can take much longer than that to detach. In my case it took 7 days which felt like forever, I was beginning to worry that it might never come out but I can't tell you how wonderful it felt when I swallowed and finally realized it wasn't there.
I'm sure its less inconvenient than the 24 hr monitor but at least with that one when the test is over its over. All in all its probably worth getting it done just so as you know, and its not that bad but I think its better to be prepared for an extended period of moderate discomfort.

Hi Jojo92

Did you get results from your PH Bravo test?

I feel so nervous that this thing won't come out of me.

I feel it bad.

Let me know if you got results - I probably won't know til after holidays--so sick of waiting for test result.

thanks
lele

[CharBerry]

I took the Reglan in the beginning only at night. By this time I was so sick to begin with I didn't think it could get much worse. My stomach issues did seem to get better but when they tried to put me on Reglan 4 times a day.....I was like a zombie. Even cutting in half and I had bad side effects. Some people take it just fine and I'll admit after awhile it wasn't quite so bad but the zombie feeling never left. I read the side effects of long term use and that scared me. I also took Propulsid and did very well on it but wouldn't you know they took it off the market. It didn't give me any side effects at all and seemed to keep everything down. They give babies Reglan all the time for reflux and it seems to be a miracle drug for them.

I do think it's such a joke for Dr's to hook you up to all these things with tubes up your nose, taped to your face telling you to go about your normal activity. My boss said I better not show up those 2 days! LOL.

Charla

[jojo92]

Lele31

I did get my results and apparently they showed normal acid levels - go figure! I've been off all PPI's since 3 weeks before the ph bravo test so its been almost two months that I've been off PPI's. I'm only on Zantac once a day now. Initially for about 5 weeks after I came off the PPI's I was really careful to continue to eat reflux friendly foods and foods that are known to help digestion and they really worked - I felt almost back to normal. Since I got the results though we've been away on a longish vacation where it was impossible to stick to my careful diet, we were staying with people and eating very rich and spicy foods and I have felt the reflux come back tho' not as bad as it was when I was on the PPI's. I'm back home now and starting to eat carefully again as I would prefer to control my diet than go back on those awful meds if I can possibly help it. My GI has not given me a follow up appt as he pretty much said he thought that the problem was mostly due to anxiety even though the first endoscopy definitely showed erosive esophagitis and a that time I had tested positive for H Pylori and gastritis too. I did take treatment for the pylori and I now test negative for it. He says the second endopscopy didn't show any erosion - I guess I have to take his word for it or get a second opinion. It is nice to feel better though and not be on so many meds.