thank-you everyone... it meant a lot to come on here to find all of these comments.
I actually had 2 tests done today which I didnt know. I had a motility test and am still doing the Ph gastric test. The motility test is a thicker tube put down your nose. First they put a wire thing in and spray 4 times and tell you not to breathe. This is supposed to be a local anaesthetic which by the way tastes very bad... very bitter. Then they dip the tip in another anaesthetic lube and make you sit as upright as possible on a stretcher and hand you a glass of water with a straw. It helps to drink the water while they are doing it as it tricks your stomach into thinking it is food. I got nautious when I didnt drink and almost threw up and not because of the gag reflex. Then they measure your acid and motility of stomach and esophageal muscles.
Then they give you a syringe of water and tell you to swallow and alternate it with do not swallow for about 40 seconds... then they take it out after about 1 hour.
Then they do the same thing with the thinner tube. Pretty much the same process only they tape it to your face and nose and put box around you - like you would a purse cross ways. You have to monitor everything. I will take a pic to show you. I get it out tomorrow at 8 am.
Dex, you are right. It is difficult to eat but they encourage it and they encourage you to eat everything that gives you issues... chocolate, coffee, etc...etc... not allowed any fruit juice, alcohol, etc., as it would be measuring the juice and not your acid reflux. You are also not supposed to eat lettuce as it tends to get wrapped around the tube and makes it difficult. Eating is difficult in general. It tends to pull on the tube when you swallow. Its not really painful just uncomfortable and sort of scary sensation. It really does look worse than it is. Its not comfortable by any means but it isnt that painful once in... and you do get use to the tugging on the tube with every swallow...whether eating or not... I scared a little toddler coming out of the hospital - she was pointing at me and she just looked scared. I also encountered people in an elevator in my building..once I got in it got very silent and then as soon as I stepped off, they just started chatting like nothing happened. I was with really supportive people all day so they were making me laugh and they just pretended like it was just very factual...which was good ... nobody made me feel like a freak or anything so I was grateful.
Here is a pic. I liked the hat idea as it was easier to hide my face when I was embarrassed. Funny how the people in my life encourage me to stop hiding ...
thanks again everyone... I really appreciate the emails. Made me smile when I logged on
![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Almost done
![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
which means closer to answers.
oh..forgot me mention that after awhile, once the anaesthetic wears off... you have (or it feels like) you nostril is constantly running... ha...and I think it actually might be (I keep putting a kleenex to it...)