Re: Scared about esophageal manometry or esophageal motility test!?

[Guest guest]

Hi, i know what you're thinking. I was absolutely not looking forward to this,

but it was not like anything i imagined. I had this done recently and it was not

painful at all. I did not gag. There wasnt even a hint of any gagging

sensation. It was no big deal.

The procedure is a little uncomfortable but tolerable, and the worse part is the

boredom. I don't think mine lasted an hour or close to it but it drags on. Once

it's underway you quickly adjust and every now then are asked to swallow at

little water. I really did not feel the wire pass down and I was honestly

amazed at how they have figured this all out, but they have. I would not worry

about it.

The person who administered my test was wonderful. She was full of good humor,

had seen it all before and quickly put me at ease.

Best

Pat

On Apr 11, 2012, at 11:18 PM, " spiderfan108 " <spiderfan108@...> wrote:

> Has any one had this done before, if you have, what was it like. From what I

know, the doctors anethesize your nose, then put a tube down your nose into your

esophagus while you are awake. I heard it is painful and there is a lot of

gagging! The doctor said it would take one hour!? Why would it take an whole

hour!? It seemed more like a 15-20 min. test! Is this true? I am so scared and I

am going to have it done this Friday!!!!!! (The doctor thinks I have achalasia

due to evidence from an barium swallow and an endoscopy)

>

>

[Guest guest]

Lol! You betcha. Virtually everyone here has. Uncomfortable? You betcha.

Painful? Not. Partly depends on how relaxed you are. If you scare yourself to

death before, prolly won't be as much fun as if you don't. Plenty of peeps live

with NG (nasogastric) tubes for years. My nephew had one (from three to five

years old: he had liver cancer and would have starved to death without it).

Mine took an hour and a half because she was having a hard time (never did

succeed) in getting the probe down past the LES. I was very uncomfortable, BUT:

in that hour an a half my blood pressure fell more than thirty points!

Chances are you'll do just fine. And welcome to the group. Do you have a name?

/WV

>

> Has any one had this done before, if you have, what was it like. From what I

know, the doctors anethesize your nose, then put a tube down your nose into your

esophagus while you are awake. I heard it is painful and there is a lot of

gagging! The doctor said it would take one hour!? Why would it take an whole

hour!? It seemed more like a 15-20 min. test! Is this true? I am so scared and I

am going to have it done this Friday!!!!!! (The doctor thinks I have achalasia

due to evidence from an barium swallow and an endoscopy)

>

[Guest guest]

As everyone with achalasia can tell, you are describing the much maligned

manometry test, aka the " gold standard " in diagnosing achalasia.

 

Speak to a hundred people and you will get all kinds of responses from the

" worst experience ever " to " not as bad as I thought. "   Some people are so

difficult to deal with that they have to be put out first, then woken once the

tube is properly positioned for the test to begin.

 

The amount of gagging might depend upon two factors - how sensitive the patient

is to having a tube stuck up the nose and thru the gag reflex area, and how

skillful the doctor/technician is in administering the test.

 

I would venture to say that it is more uncomfortable than painful. 

 

When the doctor says it " would take one hour " he might have been saying from

start to finish, where the actual testing time might be half that. The patient

has to be prepped, the anesthesia for the nose has to take effect. In doing

tests of this sort there are always the " intangibles " which cause the actual

duration to take much longer than one would expect.

 

Try to get yourself on clear liquids for a period longer than advised by the

doctor in advance of the test. They don't like dealing with the food you ate the

day before when performing the test.  Don't let them give you the " bum's rush "

when they start the test. Ask all the questions you need to feel more

comfortable about what is going to be done and the reason for it.

 

I had it done in 1985 by a nurse/technician who botched it so badly that they

did not have the heart to charge me for it.  Not such a bad trade-off.

But, you should be given an answer to the question as to either how many of

these manometries he has performed or how often he does it. Experience does

matter in a big way.  Its a " learning curve " that the more they have done it

the better they become. Better for them, better for you.

 

Also, as some others might tell you, going in " stricken " with fear will probably

just tense you up more and make the test more difficult to do. So, take several

deep relaxing breaths before you get started.....and of course, good luck and

hope for a negative result.

 

 

PS: For most people the worst part is getting past the gagging reflex. Once that

is done, the worst is over. Just stay warm and calm.

________________________________

From: spiderfan108 <spiderfan108@...>

achalasia

Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2012 11:18 PM

Subject: Scared about esophageal manometry or esophageal motility

test!?

 

Has any one had this done before, if you have, what was it like. From what I

know, the doctors anethesize your nose, then put a tube down your nose into your

esophagus while you are awake. I heard it is painful and there is a lot of

gagging! The doctor said it would take one hour!? Why would it take an whole

hour!? It seemed more like a 15-20 min. test! Is this true? I am so scared and I

am going to have it done this Friday!!!!!! (The doctor thinks I have achalasia

due to evidence from an barium swallow and an endoscopy)

[Guest guest]

I remember getting this done and it wasnt that bad except for the part

where they wanted me

to take sips of water as they were putting the tube in, well the water

wasnt going down and i

gaged and all the little sips came back up. thats when i got a bit angry

and told the tech to just

push it in without which seemed easier for me.

the person said that they were not supposed to put it in without the sips

to insure it went down

the right way, i knew it was down far enough at that point.

I am sure it only took 20 mins but i managed to do all the swallows without

swallowing again

so they could get a clear reading each time, i think there were 15 or 20

swallows total.

As a note me saying that it wasnt bad really means something i gag at the

dentist!

once its in its easy..

[Guest guest]

Ospiderfan108 wrote:

>

> ... I heard it is painful and there is a lot of gagging! The doctor

> said it would take one hour!? ...

>

People are not all the same. Some find it a difficult test others find

it easy, no big deal. The gag reflex varies from one person to another.

Some gag very easily from such things others don't. Gaging won't kill

you. The pain, if there is any won't kill you. It will at least be

uncomfortable. It is ok to gag. It is ok to feel some pain. That is

normal. They are nothing that needs to be feared in this context.

Doctors and others that do these tests are doing them everyday. Allow

yourself to be ok with it and realizes that you are there by choice to

get the results it provides. See the probe and the person behind the

probe as under your control. If you allow it, and the gaging and the

discomfort, and let it feel however it feels and don't be worried by the

feeling, then you control it and it will probably be much easier for

you. Ever wonder why you can't tickle yourself? It is because you are in

control. Pain is somewhat similar to tickling. What you can handle

depends on your being in control and trusting yourself.

notan

[Guest guest]

Mine took about 15 minutes and was great. Only gagged once, was real easy, never

painful. The GI doctor did it with a nurse. At the end said I had classical

Achalasia. Done at UCI in Irvine CA 4 years ago.

I decided to have nothing done, found out how to MANAGET it, but I am retired so

spent a lot of time on this site and did much research, it takes time!

Ray CA OC

>

> Has any one had this done before, if you have, what was it like. From what I

know, the doctors anethesize your nose, then put a tube down your nose into your

esophagus while you are awake. I heard it is painful and there is a lot of

gagging! The doctor said it would take one hour!? Why would it take an whole

hour!? It seemed more like a 15-20 min. test! Is this true? I am so scared and I

am going to have it done this Friday!!!!!! (The doctor thinks I have achalasia

due to evidence from an barium swallow and an endoscopy)

>

[Guest guest]

This is the one test that WILL tell if you have achalasia...it's a must do

test!!!  Having said that, it's true that many of us find this test

uncomfortable but not painful...I've had it done twice.  This test will confirm

many things and help you to receive proper treatment.  It really doesn't take

an hour, probably 20 mins or so...but they have reports to write and questions

to ask...please let us know how it goes and keep coming back to this board

because it's a goldmine of information on a very rare disorder!  

 

Good luck Friday! 

 

Julee in Oregon

________________________________

From: spiderfan108 <spiderfan108@...>

achalasia

Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2012 8:18 PM

Subject: Scared about esophageal manometry or esophageal motility

test!?

 

Has any one had this done before, if you have, what was it like. From what I

know, the doctors anethesize your nose, then put a tube down your nose into your

esophagus while you are awake. I heard it is painful and there is a lot of

gagging! The doctor said it would take one hour!? Why would it take an whole

hour!? It seemed more like a 15-20 min. test! Is this true? I am so scared and I

am going to have it done this Friday!!!!!! (The doctor thinks I have achalasia

due to evidence from an barium swallow and an endoscopy)

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I've had it done three times over the course of 2 decades and

am faced with fourth one. Fifth, if you count the one I had to keep

the tube in for 24 hours....PH test I think. One was in a foreign country with

primitive but effective testing equipment. Personally, I found the manometer to

be painful. I have a terrible tag reflex. All of the techs in the USA were very

patient and the MD overseas was kind and patent as well. That helps. But, no

need to worry. What ever starts....ends. Some people do better. I will agree,

you need to relax and it will be better. you will do fine. Try placing your

mind somewhere else and meditate before and during. Good luck.

Sent from my iPod

On Apr 11, 2012, at 22:18, " spiderfan108 " <spiderfan108@...> wrote:

> Has any one had this done before, if you have, what was it like. From what I

know, the doctors anethesize your nose, then put a tube down your nose into your

esophagus while you are awake. I heard it is painful and there is a lot of

gagging! The doctor said it would take one hour!? Why would it take an whole

hour!? It seemed more like a 15-20 min. test! Is this true? I am so scared and I

am going to have it done this Friday!!!!!! (The doctor thinks I have achalasia

due to evidence from an barium swallow and an endoscopy)

>

>

[Guest guest]

>the much maligned manometry test, aka the " gold standard " in diagnosing

achalasia

It is considered the definitive test, but it's not always needed.

We were fortunate that our primary care doc, both surgeons we saw, and one of

the two gastroenterologists we saw all felt my SO's diagnosis was clear from her

barium swallow and endoscopy. She did not want to go through manometry and they

supported her.

One of the GI docs (a big shot at a major teaching hospital) insisted it was

needed to be " 100% sure, " but we felt he was simply going by the book without

much thought; he even pointed out that his resident would fail the question on

her boards if she did not call fro manometry before achalasia surgery. I told

him we knew that, but my SO wasn't a board question. I asked if he agreed with

the other docs that her diagnosis was at least 95% sure. He answered that he

could not put a number on it, but he wanted it to be 100%, which he said modern

high-res manometry can provide. My SO was not prepared to go through this test

for a miniscule chance of finding something new. We would not go back to this

doc.

I'm don't doubt that manometry is useful, even necessary in some cases. But not

all, as long as the docs involved use their judgment, listen to the patient, and

don't simply follow the standard of care rigidly.

>

> As everyone with achalasia can tell, you are describing the much maligned

manometry test, aka the " gold standard " in diagnosing achalasia.

>  

> Speak to a hundred people and you will get all kinds of responses from the

" worst experience ever " to " not as bad as I thought. "   Some people are so

difficult to deal with that they have to be put out first, then woken once the

tube is properly positioned for the test to begin.

>  

> The amount of gagging might depend upon two factors - how sensitive the

patient is to having a tube stuck up the nose and thru the gag reflex area, and

how skillful the doctor/technician is in administering the test.

>  

> I would venture to say that it is more uncomfortable than painful. 

>  

> When the doctor says it " would take one hour " he might have been saying from

start to finish, where the actual testing time might be half that. The patient

has to be prepped, the anesthesia for the nose has to take effect. In doing

tests of this sort there are always the " intangibles " which cause the actual

duration to take much longer than one would expect.

>  

> Try to get yourself on clear liquids for a period longer than advised by the

doctor in advance of the test. They don't like dealing with the food you ate the

day before when performing the test.  Don't let them give you the " bum's rush "

when they start the test. Ask all the questions you need to feel more

comfortable about what is going to be done and the reason for it.

>  

> I had it done in 1985 by a nurse/technician who botched it so badly that they

did not have the heart to charge me for it.  Not such a bad trade-off.

> But, you should be given an answer to the question as to either how many of

these manometries he has performed or how often he does it. Experience does

matter in a big way.  Its a " learning curve " that the more they have done it

the better they become. Better for them, better for you.

>  

> Also, as some others might tell you, going in " stricken " with fear will

probably just tense you up more and make the test more difficult to do. So, take

several deep relaxing breaths before you get started.....and of course, good

luck and hope for a negative result.

>  

>

>  

> PS: For most people the worst part is getting past the gagging reflex. Once

that is done, the worst is over. Just stay warm and calm.

>

>

> ________________________________

> From: spiderfan108 <spiderfan108@...>

> achalasia

> Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2012 11:18 PM

> Subject: Scared about esophageal manometry or esophageal motility

test!?

>

>

>  

> Has any one had this done before, if you have, what was it like. From what I

know, the doctors anethesize your nose, then put a tube down your nose into your

esophagus while you are awake. I heard it is painful and there is a lot of

gagging! The doctor said it would take one hour!? Why would it take an whole

hour!? It seemed more like a 15-20 min. test! Is this true? I am so scared and I

am going to have it done this Friday!!!!!! (The doctor thinks I have achalasia

due to evidence from an barium swallow and an endoscopy)

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Interestingly (well, to me, lol!), my gag reflex is HUGE. For instance, I have

a helluva time getting dental Xrays done. With 8 months of pernicious vomiting

with my first pregnancy, my trigger got so sensitive, that even a cough was

enough to start the whole process. I've wondered if that wasn't what made the

regurgitation my primary symptom with the Achalasia. So I approached the

mandatory manometry with a fair amount of reasonable dread.

And, Notan, you are so right about being in control! I had a couple of

half-gags during the manometry, but breathing *very carefully and thoughtfully*

stopped them from turning into full gag mode. As I said before, I was not

comfortable, but it *was* very handleable.

Having an excellent tech no doubt helped enormously, also. By the time I had

it, I was a member of this board, and courtesy of Mer and others, was taking

magnesium to relax the esophagus -- I wonder if that didn't help also?

> >

> > ... I heard it is painful and there is a lot of gagging! The doctor

> > said it would take one hour!? ...

> >

>

> People are not all the same. Some find it a difficult test others find

> it easy, no big deal. The gag reflex varies from one person to another.

> Some gag very easily from such things others don't. Gaging won't kill

> you. The pain, if there is any won't kill you. It will at least be

> uncomfortable. It is ok to gag. It is ok to feel some pain. That is

> normal. They are nothing that needs to be feared in this context.

> Doctors and others that do these tests are doing them everyday. Allow

> yourself to be ok with it and realizes that you are there by choice to

> get the results it provides. See the probe and the person behind the

> probe as under your control. If you allow it, and the gaging and the

> discomfort, and let it feel however it feels and don't be worried by the

> feeling, then you control it and it will probably be much easier for

> you. Ever wonder why you can't tickle yourself? It is because you are in

> control. Pain is somewhat similar to tickling. What you can handle

> depends on your being in control and trusting yourself.

>

> notan

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Great way to put it Notan. I had mine done two years ago and remember it like it

was yesterday.  I was hesitant about posting my experince  because I didn't want

to scare anyone but for me it was hell.  But I think you hit the nail on the

head.  If you allow it to beat you it will.  I realized that its going to be

like this for the rest of my life, I have to be in control of this disease and

not let it control me.  All in all, it was for the best! Good luck!

Sent from on Android

[Guest guest]

I had two.  Yes it is does have some discomfurt and you do gag a little bit. 

Once the tube is in place the it's not to bad.  Mine only took 20 minutes.  If

your doctor said it take an hour for him then he does not know what he is doing.

 

Suzanne

From: spiderfan108 <spiderfan108@...>

Subject: Scared about esophageal manometry or esophageal motility

test!?

achalasia

Date: Wednesday, April 11, 2012, 11:18 PM

 

Has any one had this done before, if you have, what was it like. From what I

know, the doctors anethesize your nose, then put a tube down your nose into your

esophagus while you are awake. I heard it is painful and there is a lot of

gagging! The doctor said it would take one hour!? Why would it take an whole

hour!? It seemed more like a 15-20 min. test! Is this true? I am so scared and I

am going to have it done this Friday!!!!!! (The doctor thinks I have achalasia

due to evidence from an barium swallow and an endoscopy)

[Guest guest]

Also when you are having the test consentrate on  breathing not what is going

on.

 

Suzanne

From: spiderfan108 <spiderfan108@...>

Subject: Scared about esophageal manometry or esophageal motility

test!?

achalasia

Date: Wednesday, April 11, 2012, 11:18 PM

 

Has any one had this done before, if you have, what was it like. From what I

know, the doctors anethesize your nose, then put a tube down your nose into your

esophagus while you are awake. I heard it is painful and there is a lot of

gagging! The doctor said it would take one hour!? Why would it take an whole

hour!? It seemed more like a 15-20 min. test! Is this true? I am so scared and I

am going to have it done this Friday!!!!!! (The doctor thinks I have achalasia

due to evidence from an barium swallow and an endoscopy)

[Guest guest]

Hello Achalasians,

The manometry test is NOT painful, and actually(somewhat)fun. The catheter was

inserted nasally after attempts to swallow the thing made it repeatedly coil up

in my twisted, mega-esophagus. Getting the catheter through the LES takes a few

tries and may feel strange.I believe I had the manometry after a marathon of

dilations and endoscopies from my esteemed gastroenterologist " cardinal team " .

Compared to the last dilatation with the largest dilator available very

painfully ripping open my LES (a procedure I'd NEVER have again), the mamometry

test is a piece of cake.

The best outcome is having objective data that the LES hyper-pressure and

spasms are real, and not some psycho-somatic disorder.

I don't recall being anesthetized for it, and if I were, it probably wouldn't

have much of an effect on me.

Steve

>

> From: spiderfan108 <spiderfan108@...>

> Subject: Scared about esophageal manometry or esophageal motility

test!?

> achalasia

> Date: Wednesday, April 11, 2012, 11:18 PM

>

>  

>

> Has any one had this done before, if you have, what was it like. From what I

know, the doctors anethesize your nose, then put a tube down your nose into your

esophagus while you are awake. I heard it is painful and there is a lot of

gagging! The doctor said it would take one hour!? Why would it take an whole

hour!? It seemed more like a 15-20 min. test! Is this true? I am so scared and I

am going to have it done this Friday!!!!!! (The doctor thinks I have achalasia

due to evidence from an barium swallow and an endoscopy)

>

>