I prepared for the GERD tests on Tuesday by setting a 6:45am alarm for Nexium and going the first half of the day without eating or drinking. (I have to say, no water makes fasting a helluva lot harder.)
Both tests involved shoving catheter tubes into the nose; I chose to subject my left nostril to the torment. The esophageal manometry involved drinking several cups of salt water, some while laying flat on my back. The purpose of that test was to measure the function of the esophagus. The second procedure, ambulatory pH, used a smaller catheter tube connected to a Digitrapper monitor to record acidity levels over the course of 24 hours.
Keeping a tube in my nose for so long was definitely uncomfortable. While eating, it often felt like I wasn’t chewing properly. I was heavily reminded of leftover mackerel pieces being stuck in my throat. Over time, I was able to get somewhat used to the odd feeling and even managed to get a decent amount of nightrest. (According to AutoSleep: 9h45m in bed, 9h10m asleep.)
I dropped off the Digitrapper catheter tube system on Wednesday (in and out of the hospital building took 9m29s). The full results have yet to return and I was told to ask for (self-described) “middle-aged balding man” nurse Garrett if nothing arrives within two weeks.
