Manometry and

[Guest guest]

Hi, ,

     All the answers about the manometry test are right because all of us react

differently.  And another aspect concerns how much sagging your esophagus

has suffered. When I had my manometry, I couldn't have the spray anesthesia

because I am extremely allergic to lidocaine, so they had me swallow some

water and down went the tube.  Mostly, I found it all very annoying and I did

gag on and off, which also annoyed me.  But once I asked the nurse to slow

down or just not move the tube further for a few seconds so that I could

catch my breath, she was a real partner in the process and very kind, too.

(I had mine at Cedars-Sinai, Ca.)

     And one more thing:  I did much better when I got to see the on-camera

results as they were coming in.  Dr. Conklin did the test and he

was so sympatico, just pulled up his chair and the mobile screen and as

I swallowed, I got to see the results in live time.  THAT part of the experience

really helped me to relax by way of knowing what was happening and I could

also see how far we'd gone and in that manner I could judge how long it

would take.  It did go on longer than I had imagined so I do think that it's

a good idea to ask about timing, " are we half-way? how much longer, do

you think? " .  I always do better on tests if I know what's happening.

      As for going back to work, it's really individual, I think.  I am a

freelance

person, so afterwards I went back to my home studio, took a nap (I was

a bit stressed out from the test), then got up and worked just fine.

      It's a fascinating test, I think.  And I do have a habit with like

situations,

if I pretend I am a part of the medical team, that I actually know what I'm

doing, somehow the physical annoyances don't matter all that much.  I do

the same thing with small airplane flights in rotten weather: I shift mentally

to thinking I am now the pilot and I never get rotten turbulence upsets

any more.  It's amazing how the mind can shift over.  Like pretending

you're in Hawaii.  I think that's capital!  Whatever it takes to remain calm

and part of your own team!

      It's a really interesting test.  Really cool medical stuff!

Deborah, wishing you all the very best!