Endoscopy - How Are You Supposed to Swallow Tube if You're Asleep?

[Katie G]

Originally Posted by Lia813

To Katie G. OK I see why you had to have the manometry and the fundo. I don't think any of that is my problem. Mine is probably esophageal spasms according to my GP. The manometry will supposedly tell the tale. Being involved with the test will take care of the worrying alright, be too busy concentrating on that ! Thanks for that info. Acording to everything I have read esoph. spasms are difficult to treat. They can try Calcium Channel Blockers but I have been taking one Adalat CC ( Nefedipin ) for 10 yrs for high blood pressure and I got this mess while on it so obviously that won't work for me. Also sublingual nitroglycerin for the acute episode. But since it is with each swallow of food, pills or water I'd have to take one all day long, so you know that won't do. And then there are endoscopic injections of botox into the distal esoph. wall that relieves 2/3rds of patients BUT is temporary .Lasts 3 to 9 mos . and if eventually I had to have a myotomy then supposedly these injections make it more technically difficult and less effective. Sigh. Then there is balloon dialation that requires multiple sessions and results in esop. perforation in 40% of cases . It is temporary too , 2 to 5 yrs . Then finally myotomy if a patient is a good surgical risk which I don't know what is considered there. It is either done thru the abdomen or throat and they divide the muscle between the lower esophagus and upper stomach or something. It is a major surgery and I don't know how I would ever get thru it. Goodness this is long and probably waaaaaaaaay more than you wanted to know ! I guess I just needed to talk about it . Lia

Wow lia, you've really done your research! But that's good because then you can make an informed decision about future treatment. Please keep me posted on your manometry results and what treatment options you decide on.

You're in my thoughts/prayers,
Katie G

[Lia813]

Thanks Katie G ! Yes I have done my research. I don't like surprises. Whatever it is, good or bad I want to know what to expect. I will be calling my GP late next week I guess as it will be 6 weeks since I doubled the PPI's , etc. The relief is very slight. I am kidding myself if I say different. I guess then he will schedule the manometry. I don't want it. I don't want to have this , not whatever this ailment is nor any of these tests, but then none of us do. I just have to buck up and do it. I don't see anyway to live with it indefinitely and am fearful what damage it will all do and all these pills too if I just do nothing . It's been treated for 4 mos. now and I am only marginally better. Sigh. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers and I will let you know when it is scheduled. Lia

[Lia813]

Hi Terri48 , I'm so sorry they have postponed your endoscopy. I know what you mean about gearing up and getting ready to face it and then them changing the plans. They have no idea how hard that is on us anxious ones. I'll be thinking about you. I am near to having to schedule a manometry and I am putting off that call ! I have to talk myself into doing it. Lia

[terri48]

Lia, thank you so much for your thought. Could you tell me again what your symptoms are and why you need a monometry?

[Lia813]

Terri, starting Jan. 1 I began to have hard chest pain upon swallowing. Not heartburn, no burning and no acid backing up in my throat , just a hard , slamming pain. The pain would spread to behind either or both breasts, into my back and shoulders, to my neck and jaw and ear. The Dr gave me Aciphex . I did not get better. I had a Barrium Swallow that showed a large ulceration or mass. I then had to have an Endoscopy , that was in Feb. The endoscopy showed nothing wrong ! Now where was the mass that the barrium swallow showed? They don't know , either it was a shadow or had healed already. Well if it healed then why do I still have the pain?? 5 weeks ago the Dr had me take 2 PPI's per day instead of one, I did that for 3 weeks, no change. I then added an H2 Blocker and 3 magnesium tablets per day. I have a FEW better days, not good , but a tiny bit better. Today it is pretty bad again. I feel like I have a knife sticking in the right side of my throat and the pain on swallowing is behind the right breast. My pain moves around. Now they suspect esophageal spasms and say if I am no better next week they will have to schedule the manometry. How I am going to get thru that I do not know. I'm scared as you are. The endoscopy scared me to death too but it was easy , really it was and I am a big chicken. This manometry is not so cool , not from what eveybody says. We just have to do it , somehow, we can't live like this. I believe all mine was brought on by 18 months of Fosamax, I rue the day I took that . Lia