18th July 2006
If your doctor recommends you get a 24 hour PH and you are having problems with suspected reflux, I would recommend you get it.
My primary reflux symptoms are belching and a chronic cough. Since January 2002, I have been on taking allergy meds, asthma meds and acid reflux meds to try to get rid of the cough--those are often causes of chronic cough. (When it flares up, the cough is a dry cough that is constant. I can't catch my breath, I sometimes bend over double, I pull stomach muscles and sometimes vomit.) After trying a variety of medication combinations and watching my diet, I ended up on Allegra, Singulair, Flonase, Astelin, Advair 500/50, Albuterol, and Protonix for about 2 years. Last February, my cough really flared up again. Because my lungs sounded ok, my doctor suspected it was the reflux that was the main trigger but wasn't sure because I was already on reflux meds and the symptoms hadn't let up. (By that time, I had used Pepcid AC, Prilosec, Nexium and Protonix.) She finally had me see a GI specialist for an Endoscopy. The test came back clear. I was frustrated because I was worn out by the constant coughing. The next test the doctor recommended was a manometry with the 24Hr. PH. I was glad I went in for it because the test confirmed that yes I did have a problem. My esophageal sphincter was not closing properly and I had reflux in my esophagus about 35% of the day--even though on the day of the test I was still on a diet avoiding the troublesome foods. I have been on Prevacid 2x per day since April and was given 11 refills. I still have some belching, but the cough has improved--really helping my quality of life.
About the test: It wasn't the most pleasant thing I have done, but I expected much worse. I would do it again if I needed to. I went in in the morning after fasting from the night before. They did the manometry first. First they sprayed something in the back of my throat to numb it--it tasted across between bananas and gasoline--then they put a numbing gel in the nostril of choice which should be the least stuffy one. After they had a few minutes to take effect, they took a special sensor tube which was hooked up to a computer and put it up my nose. They had me taking sips of water from a straw to help the tube go down OK. It was a bit uncomfortable, but not too bad. Next they moved the tube up and down my esophagus while swallowing air or water. When they found the esophageal sphincter, they had me swallow at intervals so they could measure how well it was working. When the techincian had the readings they needed, he pulled out the tube. Next was the PH probe. This tube was about 1/3 the size of the first one. It went down the same way but was a bit more uncomfortable as it went down. I asked the tech about it and he said it was a bit stiffer than the first probe. Anyway, it had some marks on it that corresponded to marks on the first tube and told him how far to insert it because he knew where my esophageal sphincter was. Once it was inserted, he wrapped it behind my ear and taped the tube down to my nose and cheek. Then he took the other end of the sensor and attached it to a computer about the diameter of a softball. The computer could be hung around my neck or attached to my belt. When you use the computer, you have to putch a button to indicate if you are upright or laying down. You also have to push a button when you eat. There are numbers on the probe that allow you to see what the PH is throughout the test. The other thing I had to do is to fill out a log every time I ate, took medications or had any symptoms. By the time this was finished, I was very hungry. I stopped on the way to work (they want you to carry on a regular day) and picked up a muffin. The first bite I took was very uncomfortable because it caught on the tube. Everything else I ate during the day--chicken, rice, salad, etc... was good though and it wasn't that uncomfortable. I was worried about sleeping with the wire and computer because I can be a restless sleeper, but I had no difficulties at all. The worst part of it all for me was not being able to shower the next morning. (A sponge bath just isn't the same.) After my 24 hours was up I just had to go back to have it removed. I asked the day before if I needed an appointment, but they said the receptionist would know why I was there when I entered the room. Sure enough, the receptionist called across the room when I entered and asked if I was ready to get it out. It only took a second to remove. I had some difficulty getting the adhesive off my face though. I used alchohol wipes, took a shower, etc.. and still had residue for 2 days. I was worried my nose would continue to be sore from the tube after that, but I didn't have any problems.
I know this is long, but I hope it helped.
My primary reflux symptoms are belching and a chronic cough. Since January 2002, I have been on taking allergy meds, asthma meds and acid reflux meds to try to get rid of the cough--those are often causes of chronic cough. (When it flares up, the cough is a dry cough that is constant. I can't catch my breath, I sometimes bend over double, I pull stomach muscles and sometimes vomit.) After trying a variety of medication combinations and watching my diet, I ended up on Allegra, Singulair, Flonase, Astelin, Advair 500/50, Albuterol, and Protonix for about 2 years. Last February, my cough really flared up again. Because my lungs sounded ok, my doctor suspected it was the reflux that was the main trigger but wasn't sure because I was already on reflux meds and the symptoms hadn't let up. (By that time, I had used Pepcid AC, Prilosec, Nexium and Protonix.) She finally had me see a GI specialist for an Endoscopy. The test came back clear. I was frustrated because I was worn out by the constant coughing. The next test the doctor recommended was a manometry with the 24Hr. PH. I was glad I went in for it because the test confirmed that yes I did have a problem. My esophageal sphincter was not closing properly and I had reflux in my esophagus about 35% of the day--even though on the day of the test I was still on a diet avoiding the troublesome foods. I have been on Prevacid 2x per day since April and was given 11 refills. I still have some belching, but the cough has improved--really helping my quality of life.
About the test: It wasn't the most pleasant thing I have done, but I expected much worse. I would do it again if I needed to. I went in in the morning after fasting from the night before. They did the manometry first. First they sprayed something in the back of my throat to numb it--it tasted across between bananas and gasoline--then they put a numbing gel in the nostril of choice which should be the least stuffy one. After they had a few minutes to take effect, they took a special sensor tube which was hooked up to a computer and put it up my nose. They had me taking sips of water from a straw to help the tube go down OK. It was a bit uncomfortable, but not too bad. Next they moved the tube up and down my esophagus while swallowing air or water. When they found the esophageal sphincter, they had me swallow at intervals so they could measure how well it was working. When the techincian had the readings they needed, he pulled out the tube. Next was the PH probe. This tube was about 1/3 the size of the first one. It went down the same way but was a bit more uncomfortable as it went down. I asked the tech about it and he said it was a bit stiffer than the first probe. Anyway, it had some marks on it that corresponded to marks on the first tube and told him how far to insert it because he knew where my esophageal sphincter was. Once it was inserted, he wrapped it behind my ear and taped the tube down to my nose and cheek. Then he took the other end of the sensor and attached it to a computer about the diameter of a softball. The computer could be hung around my neck or attached to my belt. When you use the computer, you have to putch a button to indicate if you are upright or laying down. You also have to push a button when you eat. There are numbers on the probe that allow you to see what the PH is throughout the test. The other thing I had to do is to fill out a log every time I ate, took medications or had any symptoms. By the time this was finished, I was very hungry. I stopped on the way to work (they want you to carry on a regular day) and picked up a muffin. The first bite I took was very uncomfortable because it caught on the tube. Everything else I ate during the day--chicken, rice, salad, etc... was good though and it wasn't that uncomfortable. I was worried about sleeping with the wire and computer because I can be a restless sleeper, but I had no difficulties at all. The worst part of it all for me was not being able to shower the next morning. (A sponge bath just isn't the same.) After my 24 hours was up I just had to go back to have it removed. I asked the day before if I needed an appointment, but they said the receptionist would know why I was there when I entered the room. Sure enough, the receptionist called across the room when I entered and asked if I was ready to get it out. It only took a second to remove. I had some difficulty getting the adhesive off my face though. I used alchohol wipes, took a shower, etc.. and still had residue for 2 days. I was worried my nose would continue to be sore from the tube after that, but I didn't have any problems.
I know this is long, but I hope it helped.