PH Test: Share your Experience

[karie]

I am scared of this test that involves wearing a tube through ones nose for 24hrs. With all the extensive tests I have had over the years. This does not sound good. Would much prefer the camera pill. But G.I. doctor wants to find out why my stomach is still causing problems.
IF you had this test what did it show for your doctor ?
Thanks

[jujuatom]

A related discussion, ph was started.

[Moppet]

I had this test and after they put the tube in I couldn't stop gagging and asked them to remove it.   I missed out darn. Meanwhile I suffer.

[kajo]

did you have the ph test? how did you do? i had mine wed. and taken out on thurs. throat and ears hurt since the tube came out but they said to give it a few days.... hope yours went well.  maybe now we can both get some real answers????

[kajo]

hi, it's me. i am currently sitting here with this p.h. probe sticking out of my nose. you're going today, right? not too too bad. alittle uncomfortable and hard to swallow once the tube is in. alittle hard to sleep too. i am going to get mine out in a few hours. i am relieved that it will be over and hope we get the info. we need. good luck to you. be strong, sometimes we just gotta do these things and you will get through it.it's hard to eat and drink but it's really important so they get an accurate reading. i had 2 cups of coffee which usually kill me, but i wanted to bring on all these miserable symptoms. let us know how you made out. best of luck!

[kajo]

I DON'T THINK THERE ARE ANY SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS FOR THE TEST. THEY SAY YOU CAN REMOVE THE TUBE YOURSELF IF IT GETS TO BE TOO UNCOMFORTABLE, JUST PULL IT OUT. BUT THE WAY I LOOK AT IT, IF YOU ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE DISCOMFORT OF GETTING THE TUBE PUT IN (THIS IS THE HARDEST PART), THEN YOU MAY AS WELL LEAVE IT THERE SO THEY CAN GET AS MUCH INFORMATION ON YOUR CONDITION AS POSSIBLE. I HAD IT 5 YEARS AGO. IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT CONSIDERING WHAT MOST OF US LIVE WITH EVERY DAY...????? I GO FOR THE TEST ON WEDNESDAY. JUST TRYING NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH. JUST WANT IT TO BE DONE AND OVER WITH SO MY DR. AND I CAN DECIDE WHAT MY NEXT MOVE IS.JUST THINK, 5 DAYS FROM NOW WE WILL BOTH BE RELIEVED TO BE DONE WITH THIS TEST.

[kajo]

IF I WERE YOU, I WOULD GET A NEW DR. HE SOUNDS LIKE A JERK. GERD CAN MANIFEST ITSELF IN MANY WAYS. I HAVE ALOT OF ATYPICAL SYMPTOMS SUCH AS CHEST PAIN, COUGHING, SINUS PROBLEMS, OCCASSIONAL LARYNGITIS, PAIN IN LEFT SHOULDER BLADE. IT IS NOT JUST HEARTBURN!!!!!! AND IF THE MEDS ARE NOT HELPING, KEEP PUSHING, THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS. I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO THE ENDOCINCH PROCEDURE. THEY USE AN ENDOSCOPE AND GO DOWN YOUR THROAT. THEY THEN SEW LITTLE PLEATS IN THE LOWER ESOPHAGEAL JUNCTION TO TIGHTEN UP THE AREA AND HOPEFULLY STOP THE REFLUX. THERE IS ALSO THE NISSEN SURGERY WHICH OF COURSE IS A LAST RESORT BUT NONETHELESS, IT BEATS THE DISCOMFORT AND THE SIDE EFFECTS OF SOME OF THESE MEDS. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!

[karie]

My Ph test is Thursday and I will take the day off work.
Any precautions and can we remove ourself.
How about allergies ?
First I will have a esphogeal motility manometry test ?

[emmy]

When I first went to my Dr. for my cough, I also had no voice. He said it was post-nasal drip. I knew it was more than that and went to an ENT. He put a scope down my throat and said my vocal chords weren't moving at all. It took 6 weeks for them to get back to making an audible voice. What worries me now is that after all these months on Aciphex, I still cough all day. Now I also feel like I have a chronic chest congestion. There is a sharp pain from my chest up into my right ear. No one seems to know what is going on. It's ruining my life. My doctor said to be glad I don't have anything worse (meaning fatal).

[kajo]

I, TOO, COUGH JUST ABOUT ALL DAY LONG. IT IS WAY WORSE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND RIGHT AFTER EATING. IF YOUR DR. SAYS THAT COUGHING IS NOT A SYMPTOM OF REFLUX THEN HE DOESN'T HAVE MUCH OF A CLUE. OTHER LESS OBVIOUS SYMPTOMS ARE SORE THROAT, CHRONIC HOARSENESS, EVEN SINUS PROBLEMS!!!!

[emmy]

I had the 24 hr. test and found it uncomfortable, but not as bad as an N-G tube. It made my nose run and it hurt to swallow. I sure wouldn't want to do it again! And I definitely would not go to work that day. I crawled into my room with a book and stayed there. My Ph levels showed "moderately severe" reflux (dr's words). I had several episodes lasting more than 20 minutes and the acid was all the way up in my throat. (I had a double probe monitor).

I would like to know how many reflux patients have a chronic cough. My Dr. says it is very unusual and is not sure the reflux is the cause of my cough. He says the Nissen won't help if the cough is from something else.

How many of you have a cough from your reflux? How bad is it? Does it interrupt your whole day every day or just sleeping? Mine is a constant problem, night and day. It started with a virus last July and has been bad every day since. If you have a cough, does it bring up anything?

[karie]

Thank you so much for the replys
I am scheduled for a endoscopy and the Ph should be called in today. Waiting is no fun.
So what medications helped you ? nothing here and that has me concerned that it is not acid.
Do you suffer when your stomach is empty or your trying to rest ?
Do they give you anything before inserting the tube for the PH test ?
Anxiety does not help ones heart and CNS stay calm

[toy drive]

Dr's do not know why this started. Yes you can remove tube they say.They told me that out of 300 hundred people who had it done where i did nobody ever removed it. so you will be fine.I thought the same way, i was going to go crazy w/this. It is a very thin tube. I felt throat was a little soar during test. They w/also test motility of muscle that w/ show spinter muscle that is. my level was around 5.0 my dr told me levels 14 and above normal and any level under 6.0 needs surgery. if you have any more questions you can ask me or email me at ***@****
good luck

[karie]

Do the doctors have an idea why this started ? The pain and Gerd?
Do you suffer with a stomach ache and pain with the associated heartburn with eating small bland meals ?
Can you remove the Ph tube on your own if need be ?
What besides acid does it help the doctor in your diagnosis?
Thanks

[toy drive]

any ph level under 4.0 is considered acidie. I had 225 acid refluxes in 21 hrs 10 lasting more than 10 mins also 5.4 on motility test. getting surgery in 2wks have been on nexium for 15 weeks 80mg a day hope that helps

[karie]

Thank you so Much , You are all such help to the sufferers who come to this board.
Do you suffer with chronic stomach aches, sour constant.Pain in the stomach as a severe flu.
Did you have your enzyme deficiency test?
Or a stool and blood test :  leaky gut, parasites, minerals,vitamin profile,
How does your stomach feel on a daily basis?

[Sat]

I am sitting here with the tube down my throat, did anyone have a severe sore throat?

Any idea what a good pH count is?

My symptoms are excessive salavation and feeling like there is a lump in my throat and feeling like I need to cough up sinus drainage UGH.
I guess my symptoms are not typical.

[kajo]

HI, I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND TAKING THE DAY OFF WHEN YOU HAVE THE TEST. I PLAN ON NOT LEAVING THE COMFORTS OF MY HOME FOR 24 HOURS. DON'T REALLY WANT TO BE SEEN WITH THIS THING HANGING OUT OF MY NOSE. I HAVE HAD AN U.G.I. SHOWED MILD REFLUX. I HAD A GASTRIC EMPTYING TEST 5 YEARS AGO AND AM HAVING IT AGAIN THIS WEEK. IT WAS ABNORMAL 5 YEARS AGO. SHOWED THAT THE STOMACH EMPTIED ALITTLE SLOWLY. THIS IS THE TEST WHERE YOU EAT A GROSS MEAL, I HAD DINTY MOORE BEEF STEW MIXED WITH THESE TINY RADIO OPAQUE PELLETS. YOU THEN LIE ON THIS SCANNING TABLE AND THEY CAN SEE HOW FAST THIS **** EMPTIES FROM YOUR STOMACH. THEY SAY THAT IF THE FOOD SITS IN YOUR STOMACH TOO LONG IT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO REFLUX. IF THIS IS THE CASE, OF COURSE THEY RECOMMEND MORE DRUGS TO SPEED UP THE EMPTYING. I HAVE ALREADY DECIDE THAT I REFUSE TO TAKE THESE ****** DRUGS. FIX THE REFLUX, I SAY. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAD THE SURGERY, WERE YOU EVER OFFERED AN ALTERNATIVE INTERMEDIATE, LESS INVASIVE PROCEDURE???? I AM CURRENTLY CHECKING OUT THE STRETTA PROCEDURE TO FIX REFLUX. IT'S ALMOST LIKE HAVING AN ENDOSCOPY. THEY GO DOWN YOUR THROAT WITH A SCOPE AND THEN USE A TYPE OF LASER TO "BURN" THE LES IN ORDER TO TIGHTEN UP THIS MUSCLE. I LIVE IN CONN. AND HAVE FOUND A G.I. GROUP IN FAIRFIELD. MY DOC. DOES NOT DO THIS BUT SEEMS TO BE WILLING TO FIND OUT SOME MORE INFO. FOR ME. I AM SCARED TO DEATH OF THE NISSEN SURGERY. THIS STRETTA HAS BEEN USED ONLY FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS, BUT THE RESULTS SOUND PROMISING. ANY INPUT FROM ANYONE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS

[toy drive]

I am getting that surgery on march 4 after 24hr ph came back bad. Can you please let me know about surgery: side effects, recovery time, etc. That would be great.I am glad you are doing well. Thanks

[katec]

Hi,
I had the test done a little while ago.  It was uncomfortable, and I took the day off work.  Its important to eat your trigger foods to ensure an accurate result.  Once the tube is down, its bearable, I would recommend trying to avoid sneezing!
The test, for me, gave my gastro doctor all he needed in order to figure out what I had and how to fix it.  I just had nissen fundoplycation two weeks ago, and am as good as cured.  I had had all the other tests at least twice before, but the PH told them all they needed to know.
Good Luck!
Kate

[toy drive]

I had the 24 hr test done 3 weeks ago . not to bad once tube is down in stomach you can handle it.This is this test to tell if you need surgery or other treatment.Good luck

[jaspur]

Ihad the nissan fundolplication done in Boston in 1995 besides severe reflux my G>I> Doc did an endoscospy and it showed possible Barretts...that was enough for the surgeon to do the procedure. Why is this test necessary ??  You know your symptons it seems that an endoscopy would show much clearer any damage that has been done..Good Luck

[karie]

You are a strong patient.
Oh how did you cope at work?
Conclusively: Does this test show what is wrong.
I had read about the test: Scintigraphy Where you eat a egg with a injection and they are able to detail how one digests.
My problem is with eating , No relief with a PPI.
Did you have any other tests ?

[kajo]

hi! i had this gruelling test 5 years ago and i am scheduled to have it again in 2 weeks. a long thin probe is placed into your nose and it travels into your stomach. it stays there for 24 hours, fun, and it records acid flare ups in correlation with your symptoms. when i had the test, you had to try to eat and drink normally with this tube in your throat and then keep a log of your symptoms, i.e., heartburn, chest pain, coughing etc. somehow when they evaluate the test they are able to tell if your symptoms are consistent with acid reflux. it is not a pleasant est, getting the damn tube in is the hardest part. after that, it's just alittle uncomfortable trying to eat drink and sleep with this thing. however, it is the most definitive test when trying to pinpoint symptoms. i am dreading having it again but my dr. says that no surgeon would even look at me without current results. the results 5 years ago were abnormal and he thinks they may be slightly worse now. so, if i want to move to the next level of fixing this damn reflux i have no choice but to do it. i am seriously considering the stretta procedure or the laporoscopic fundolplication as a total last resort. so, my advice to you is that if your dr. orders this test, just get it over with. maybe then you can finally get on the right road to just feel better.good luck