24 Hr PH test for GERD - question for those who have had this done

I've had it done twice, ........ and while I'm sure you can drive yourself home, I think it would be better if someone else did the driving. I think you would be more comfortable. I would ask someone to go with me just in case it made you feel a little queasy. (I was fine and you will be too, but take a driver).

Thank you. After reading about the procedure I thought I might be a little freaked out afterward and at least need to sit awhile before I attempted to drive home. My husband was going to be out of town but can cancel that and drive me if need be.

It's not a bad procedure ----- but there's something about it that makes you kind of want to maybe not be alone driving. You will be able to eat and drink normally so it's not a scary situation but yes, have someone go with you.

Is National Jewish doing the procedure???? I've not been there -- I had it once in Tulsa, Okla ------- and again at Mayo's in Rochester

No. I'm having it done at Medical University of South Carolina. I live in Charleston. I wish NJH would've done it while I was there for the extensive appointment. That would have at least settled the question. Although my NJH doctor is absolutely certain GERD is what is causing my issues. But then again they seem to be absolutely certain GERD is causing everyone's issues there. But I am skeptical by nature. Hence the 24 hour test. 🙂

My primary care in Tulsa was insistent Gerd was my problem too ---- and even when the impedence test there said "no"...... he was still insistent. That precipitated my trip to Mayo's (10 hour drive). Mayo's had more info with their test. They were able to say I had 150 coughing episodes during the night...... but that it did not correlate with gerd. There was some reflux but did not coincide with the coughing spells. They ruled it out. Just saying........ they said just bronchiectasis. My primary care in Tulsa wanted me to have the new magnetic ring put in the bottom of my esophagus. It supposedly opens when you swallow and then closes back to keep the reflus from coming up the esophagus. It is a new procedure and there was only one doctor in this area doing it and he had not done many. So, I went to Mayo's to see if they concurred and thought if so, I would have it done there. But...... they said "no".

Wow! And to think if you listened without questioning you would have had an unnecessary surgery.

You're right...... I'm glad you're going to check that out. Probably National Jewish is right but..... it's really good you're going to find out before you do something that might not help. Is coughing your problem?

@auntnanny I had NTM and have cavitary lesions and bronchiectasis. I don't really cough anymore now that the NTM has been cleared up but the lungs are still damaged (although my breathing scores are very good and I feel fine). My doctor at National Jewish has discussed surgery to remove a section of the lung that has one of the lesions because she thinks it will become reinfected. So, I figure my first step is making absolutely sure GERD is an issue. If it is, then perhaps surgery for GERD would be a better solution than cutting out part of my lung. If it's not then we'll go from there. Although I am really not interested in having part of my lung removed when I am feeling fine. That's a conversation for another time.

I just looked up the procedures (I guess there are two of them) I am having and one is ESOPHAGEAL MANOMETRY WITH IMPEDANCE. Did you have this? Apparently they watch you swallow water while the tube is in your stomach. Takes about 30 minutes.

Yes, I had that in Tulsa. It's a little bit more difficult than just the normal impedence. They did it first -- and then followed it with the 24 hour tubing. At Mayo's they just did the regular impedence but they did have my results of the manometry and they didn't consider doing it over. You will be fine. Where I was in Tulsa the tubing for the manometry was a little larger and felt a little bit harder to do but the nurse doing it had it done to herself every year just so she could remember each thing to tell the patient and she was very good. It is a smaller hospital than where you will be going and probably the equipment where you'll be will be newer. So...... be sure and let me know how you felt after you do it. You'll at least be glad you did and I hope they are able to do as Mayo's did with the overnight impedence and will be able to correlate any problem with reflux. I'll be anxious to know.