Esophageal Manometry

[Dream4tc 192]

I want to say right off, that I am not writing this to scare anyone at all. I am writing my personal experience and would like to share that so that in case others have this test, they may be better prepared. Everyone may experience this differently. This is informational.

I had lap band placed back in Nov 2011, started having problems with reflux in November 2014. I went to my surgeon and he ordered an upper GI and esophageal manometry to rule out slip, or prolapse and to figure out why my food kept coming back up. I even had food that would come up 3 days later!!!!

The reason for an esophageal manometry is to show how bad the reflux is and they also measure pressure and esophageal function. And considering my reflux was bad, this was information needed for my surgeon to document a problem. I wanted the band removed.

Upper GI was no problem, you drink some barium and they take pictures while you are drinking, which was pretty cool to see those blurbs of barium sliding down to your stomach in real time. However it showed severe reflux into my thoracic inlet which was pretty bad. In other words, it was going straight back up my esophagus mid chest.

I then went for my manometry (not the same day). This manometry test is performed by an RN. I am an RN and questioned the nurse before the procedure a ton of questions. She told me that she went to special school for about 2 weeks. Her and her fellow students, practiced this procedure on each other. She said she had done over 500 manometry ' and had been doing these for 8 years. She was the only RN that actually performed this procedure in a well know hospital system consisting of 5 large hospitals in the Saint Louis area.(which I won't mention because I work for that system.) I could have refused this test but I needed documentation. I had my BFF come with me and so glad she did.

The procedure goes like this: first she had me sit in this chair in 90 degrees, and she explained what she was going to do several times before she did anything. She sprayed my throat with a numbing agent and then my nose. She took this long tube resembling an NG tube (nasogastric tube), but this tube had these black rounded resembled flat balls (sensors), not sure how many of them were on there but there were a lot. She then started placing the tube down my nose and kept telling me to swallow sips of Water which helps get the tube down. I felt every one of these sensors. I have a bad gag reflex. It was easier said than done. She had to stop often because after about 20 seconds it became painful and I was crying. Finally after the tube was down which probably took about 10 minutes...I had a box of Kleenex on my lap and my BFF was wiping away my tears. The RN proceeded to feed me liquids 12 swallows, then applesauce 12 swallows, then Jello 12 swallows. Every swallow that I took, she was measuring pressures within my esophagus. I cried with every swallow. It was painful and I even asked her to add a little bit more of the throat spray ,but all she said was " let's just get this done". That was really inappropriate. This test is supposed to take about 25 minutes from what she told me, however 47 minutes later I finally was done. I could have stopped the test and refused any more torture but I needed this documentation. I needed to know if that band was causing these problems. I cried for 47 minutes. It was probably the worst test I have ever experienced and will never have one of those again. I actually have a new found respect for my patients with NG tubes. Another physician actually reads these pressures and then a report goes to the surgeon. In the end, the lap band overall had caused me to have induced vomiting and caused esophageal dilation causing extreme heartburn and reflux. Yes, the band was helpful and I lost 80 pounds, but I am glad to finally have relief due to recent removal 8/10/2015. I no longer have heartburn or reflux and was able to drink a small glass of orange juice for the first time in 4 years without any problems. Yay!!

When I went to my new surgeon and initially wanted a sleeve, he was going to have me do that test again to determine if I still had reflux issues after band removal!!! No way!!! I told him my awful experience and he said he could do EGD and another upper GI instead. However, for people who are bands before sleeves, he said sleeving after banding would make reflux worse. After my removal, we discussed options again and he recommended bypass. I am choosing that route because I can't go through the horrible daily non stop heartburn again. Plans for bypass in late October/early November.

So, if your surgeon orders this, there is probably good reason, and the information that this test provides may give you answers and may help diagnose a problem. Make sure you research and gather all info needed. Some people may tolerate this test better than I did. I hope that others have a better experience.

[Debbie3sons 1,936]

So sorry you had to go through all this , but the band works for some people & some it doesn't but this is good information for people who are struggling with not being able to keep food or drinks down & have major heartburn or reflux that won't go away , I on the other hand have had NO problems at all but good to know , hopefully things are better for you when you get the other wls you want .

[Knitchic 97]

I had that test as well and it's HORRIBLE. So sorry you had to go through that. It seems like there should be a better way. I know I hope I NEVER have to do that test again.

[lisacaron 5,075]

You know when I had to go in for tests on my band my Dr. put me out. They ran all those tests and I was not aware of it. I also had a colonoscopy while I was out. Rotto Router both ends, but don't torture me!!

[rhya2k 31]

I have a dilated esophagus and last week had half a cc put in and guess what, coughing and reflux and throwing it back up at night. I'm gonna have the Fluid removed next week from band but I just can't get my band any tighter, I can't handle it and will prolly have to have it removed and go another route. I am 4 years out and 75 lbs lighter. Makes me sad

I am also very sensitive and can't enjoy any food at all, not even tiny bites or drinks, always have to run to bathroom. All the info helps

[Dream4tc 192]

I have a dilated esophagus and last week had half a cc put in and guess what, coughing and reflux and throwing it back up at night. I'm gonna have the Fluid removed next week from band but I just can't get my band any tighter, I can't handle it and will prolly have to have it removed and go another route. I am 4 years out and 75 lbs lighter. Makes me sad

I am also very sensitive and can't enjoy any food at all, not even tiny bites or drinks, always have to run to bathroom. All the info helps

Sounds like you are too tight. You need some fluid removed for sure. I too had dilated esophagus. I was so worried that I was causing permanent damage.

After speaking to my current surgeon, he suspects that my band was placed too high to begin with. When he did an intra operative EGD, he said my esophagus looked ok, thankfully.

My fill level never passed 5.25.

It was ideal at 4.85 cc. My friend had the same previous surgeon and she was at 7.5!!!

I wish I had never gotten the band. It caused me to have so many problems. Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful of the 80 pounds that I lost, but vomiting all the time is not my idea of a fun life.

I had mine removed just 3 months ago due to slip. I am revising to RNY scheduled for 11/30. I should have done bypass in the beginning, but hey I learned my lesson.

[crustymouse23 4]

Welcome to my life right now. I'm getting my band taken out on dec. 2 due to a dilated esophagus & it's taken a complete emotional toll on me. After viewing all these complications of what a lapband cans do, I know it's for the best. The surgeon says I can't get the sleeve until a year, but we'll see how my esophagus looks like in a month.

[crustymouse23 4]

I have a dilated esophagus and last week had half a cc put in and guess what, coughing and reflux and throwing it back up at night. I'm gonna have the Fluid removed next week from band but I just can't get my band any tighter, I can't handle it and will prolly have to have it removed and go another route. I am 4 years out and 75 lbs lighter. Makes me sad

I am also very sensitive and can't enjoy any food at all, not even tiny bites or drinks, always have to run to bathroom. All the info helps

Welcome to my life right now. I'm getting my band taken out on dec. 2 due to a dilated esophagus & it's taken a complete emotional toll on me. After viewing all these complications of what a lapband cans do, I know it's for the best. The surgeon says I can't get the sleeve until a year, but we'll see how my esophagus looks like in a month.

[gail10 17]

All sounds too familiar! I've been banded since 2010 but in 2013 I started having problems so had all the Fluid taken out, put back on all my weight and more! In March this year I decided to try again and started getting fills, everything was going great and 47lbs lighter I was feeling really positive. Then, for no reason I started getting reflux to the point I was vomiting all the time (just the acid) and it varied in colour from brown to black! Attended bariatric nurse and got some fluid out, symptoms didn't improve so I got all fluid removed. I'm in the UK and although I paid for my band privately I went to my GP and asked for an X-ray to make sure everything is ok........just waiting in the results of that fingers crossed all is ok and I just needed a rest. My fear is putting weight back on!! X

[Hoven 33]

I just had the esophageal manometry completed about 4 weeks ago. They didn't do any numbing because they said it would interfere with how my esophagus would work during the test. The worst part is the gag reflex when they insert the device through your nose and down your throat. Mine did take about 30 minutes. I also then had the 24 hour impedance test. Thats where they insert a thinner catheter through your nose and down your esophagus for 24 hours and you have to wear a monitor receives signals from the catheter. It records when you eat and when you sleep as well. The manometry showed that my esophagus is fine, but the Impedance test showed that I had acid in my esophagus 70+% of the time. Its worse when I lay down.

I had the vertical sleeve in April 2015. I control the acid reflux with prilosec twice a day and a zantac at night. The surgeon recommended by pass surgery. It has a 95% success rate of getting rid of acid, mainly because it takes away the acid producing part of the stomach. He also said I could a new procedure called stretta. (google it for an explanation).

I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet. I have an appointment with my primary care doctor at the end of November and will discuss with her. At minimum if the meds are working I don't really have to do anything. I know when I'm not on meds its pretty bad. He also recommend a yearly endoscopy to check on my esophagus, so that they can catch it if it turns into Barrats or cancer. Which sounds horrible too.

[Dawnie Doo 184]

I want to say right off, that I am not writing this to scare anyone at all. I am writing my personal experience and would like to share that so that in case others have this test, they may be better prepared. Everyone may experience this differently. This is informational.

I had lap band placed back in Nov 2011, started having problems with reflux in November 2014. I went to my surgeon and he ordered an upper GI and esophageal manometry to rule out slip, or prolapse and to figure out why my food kept coming back up. I even had food that would come up 3 days later!!!!

The reason for an esophageal manometry is to show how bad the reflux is and they also measure pressure and esophageal function. And considering my reflux was bad, this was information needed for my surgeon to document a problem. I wanted the band removed.

Upper GI was no problem, you drink some barium and they take pictures while you are drinking, which was pretty cool to see those blurbs of barium sliding down to your stomach in real time. However it showed severe reflux into my thoracic inlet which was pretty bad. In other words, it was going straight back up my esophagus mid chest.

I then went for my manometry (not the same day). This manometry test is performed by an RN. I am an RN and questioned the nurse before the procedure a ton of questions. She told me that she went to special school for about 2 weeks. Her and her fellow students, practiced this procedure on each other. She said she had done over 500 manometry ' and had been doing these for 8 years. She was the only RN that actually performed this procedure in a well know hospital system consisting of 5 large hospitals in the Saint Louis area.(which I won't mention because I work for that system.) I could have refused this test but I needed documentation. I had my BFF come with me and so glad she did.

The procedure goes like this: first she had me sit in this chair in 90 degrees, and she explained what she was going to do several times before she did anything. She sprayed my throat with a numbing agent and then my nose. She took this long tube resembling an NG tube (nasogastric tube), but this tube had these black rounded resembled flat balls (sensors), not sure how many of them were on there but there were a lot. She then started placing the tube down my nose and kept telling me to swallow sips of Water which helps get the tube down. I felt every one of these sensors. I have a bad gag reflex. It was easier said than done. She had to stop often because after about 20 seconds it became painful and I was crying. Finally after the tube was down which probably took about 10 minutes...I had a box of Kleenex on my lap and my BFF was wiping away my tears. The RN proceeded to feed me liquids 12 swallows, then applesauce 12 swallows, then Jello 12 swallows. Every swallow that I took, she was measuring pressures within my esophagus. I cried with every swallow. It was painful and I even asked her to add a little bit more of the throat spray ,but all she said was " let's just get this done". That was really inappropriate. This test is supposed to take about 25 minutes from what she told me, however 47 minutes later I finally was done. I could have stopped the test and refused any more torture but I needed this documentation. I needed to know if that band was causing these problems. I cried for 47 minutes. It was probably the worst test I have ever experienced and will never have one of those again. I actually have a new found respect for my patients with NG tubes. Another physician actually reads these pressures and then a report goes to the surgeon. In the end, the lap band overall had caused me to have induced vomiting and caused esophageal dilation causing extreme heartburn and reflux. Yes, the band was helpful and I lost 80 pounds, but I am glad to finally have relief due to recent removal 8/10/2015. I no longer have heartburn or reflux and was able to drink a small glass of orange juice for the first time in 4 years without any problems. Yay!!

When I went to my new surgeon and initially wanted a sleeve, he was going to have me do that test again to determine if I still had reflux issues after band removal!!! No way!!! I told him my awful experience and he said he could do EGD and another upper GI instead. However, for people who are bands before sleeves, he said sleeving after banding would make reflux worse. After my removal, we discussed options again and he recommended bypass. I am choosing that route because I can't go through the horrible daily non stop heartburn again. Plans for bypass in late October/early November.

So, if your surgeon orders this, there is probably good reason, and the information that this test provides may give you answers and may help diagnose a problem. Make sure you research and gather all info needed. Some people may tolerate this test better than I did. I hope that others have a better experience.

I recently had an esophageal manometry, and much like you, it was by far the worst test that I've endured! There were minor differences...I had 10 swallows instead of 12. The numbing spray wore off half way through the test, which was painful. My test lasted for about 1 hr 15 mins because I couldn't get 10 consecutive sips and swallows without the intermittent swallows by nature. Smh I felt like I was choking the entire time! My RN was extremely nice and considerate, which helped, a little. Yet and still, like you, I will NOT have that test again! I'm currently awaiting results to determine whether or not the sleeve or bypass would be most appropriate.

Dawnie_doo

Edited April 5, 2016 by trinity33