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From: sharon
Date: 06/06/01
Time: 22:33:56
Hi-
The manometry is a test that takes about 45mins to an hour in which a flexible tube a bit smaller around than a standard pencil is inserted up your nose and down into your esophagus to measure the strength and motility of your swallowing mechanism and lower esophageal sphincter. It can also tell if you are having spasms.
This is a test where the thought of it is way worse than the actuality, although it isn't a test I would be thrilled to do again. It is painless --they spray your nasal passage and throat with novacaine type substance and then insert it up your nose and ask you to swallow and it basically just goes on down your throat.Both times I did it, I did not gag, although plenty of folks do. I just kept swallowing like crazy to get it down. Then you lie down, and they give you periodic little sips of water and measure on a computer how quickly the water went down, how the LES opened, how many swallows to get it down, etc. They slowly pull it back up an inch or so at a time and ask you to swallow the water again, in an effort to see how the whole esophagus is doing.
My first time I was petrified ! The second time, post op, I was much calmer and we got it done in short order because I wasn't constantly swallowing when I wasn't supposed to be. The test showed that I only complete my swallow 80% of the time and that my swallowing is weak. I also had a very weak lower esophageal sphincter, that was fixed with the surgery.
I NEVER felt like I was swallowing in a weak manner--and still don't. I swallow everything just hunky dory. However, a couple of times when the reflux was really bad I too would get that sensation that something was stuck, about mid-neck when I ate, and my doctor told me that sometimes inflammation at the LES junction will actually give the sensation that the swallowing problem is higher up. Hope this helps! good luck! sharon