There are some specific symptoms that indicate that you may be suffering from a health condition related to your esophagus, especially if you have trouble swallowing or have heartburn or other chest-related pain or concerns. Any of these symptoms can indicate a problem with your esophagus, but luckily, there is a solution that can confirm whether you need further treatment. At Bay Area Gastroenterology Associates in Trinity, FL, we offer this solution, and it’s a treatment called esophageal manometry.
How Is an Esophageal Manometry Performed?
Esophageal manometry is a simple test that measures the pressure output from your esophagus. You will not be sedated during the exam. Instead, the entire exam is performed on an outpatient basis. For that reason, you don’t need to have any anxiety or concern about the test and treatment process. It’s simple, effective, and will give you the answers you need to take the next steps to finally be from your symptoms and achieve optimal health.
Your Initial Consultation
The first step in this treatment process is a consultation here at our office. During this consultation, we will review your symptoms and learn more about your medical history. We will ask you whether you suffer from any diseases, are allergic to any drugs, or have a heart or lung condition.
Then, once we confirm that you are a good candidate for this exam, we will schedule your appointment. We will provide you with pre-treatment instructions so that you know how to prepare and want to avoid before your appointment.
Pre-Treatment Preparation
Before you arrive at your appointment, you will need to follow some pre-treatment instructions. Following these instructions will ensure that you are adequately prepared for the treatment. We require that patients abstain from eating and drinking for six hours before their scheduled appointment.
Avoiding food and beverages will allow your esophagus and stomach to be adequately prepared for the test. With this in mind, it’s important that you schedule your appointment accordingly so that you can plan around breakfast and lunch as needed.
Avoiding Certain Supplements and Medications
Additionally, we ask that patients avoid taking calcium channel blockers 24 hours before their treatment and avoid sedatives including alprazolam and diazepam 12 hours before their appointment. Additionally, for 48 hours before your scheduled treatment, you need to avoid opioid analgesics.
During an initial consultation, one of our experts will review your medical history and any supplements, medications, or herbal remedies that you are currently taking to ensure that you can abstain from the necessary supplements and medication as needed.
The Numbing Process
Once we prepare for your treatment, you will be ready for the actual test. When you arrive, one of our experts will situate you in a treatment room. The treatment process itself begins with a numbing solution. One of our experts will apply a topical numbing solution to your nostrils to numb the area so that you can maintain comfort throughout the entirety of the exam.
The insertion of the treatment tube into the nostril doesn’t necessarily cause pain. Still, by numbing the area before the beginning of the treatment process, we can ensure that there’s no discomfort so that you can remain relaxed and calm during the testing process. This first step is designed to keep you comfortable, not eliminate pain.
The Tube Insertion Process
Once your nostril area becomes numb, one of our technicians will insert a four mm tube made of flexible material into your nose. This tube is attached to a machine designed to measure the pressure output generated by the esophageal muscles. This specialty tube is more than just a medical tube because it has sensors designed to measure the pressure put out by the esophagus muscles.
Additionally, the tube is designed to test both the function and strength of the muscles in the esophagus, which provides us with a better idea of your lower esophageal sphincter strength. This tube will gently pass through your nasal passage into the esophagus until it reaches your stomach. This entire process only takes approximately 60 seconds to complete. After your technician inserts the tube, you will be situated on your left side.
The Exam
The final step in this treatment is the exam itself. The exam itself begins once the tube is inserted and you are situated on your left side. We will provide you with water which you will drink primarily to create a contraction and force the flexing action of the esophagus muscles. Every time you swallow the water as directed, the tube sensors will record information about your esophagus, including its strength and coordination during that swallowing action.
Once we record the necessary information, the tube will be removed, and the test will be complete. While this may sound like an involved and complicated process, in reality, the treatment only takes about 15 minutes to complete. It’s quick, painless, and efficient, and it will help achieve the results necessary to help us move forward in helping alleviate your symptoms and treating your condition.
Post-Treatment Care
Once your treatment is complete, you won’t have to plan around any downtime. You can resume your normal daily activities. You won’t have any limitations but instead can go about your day and wait for your results. Our technician will provide you with any directives post-treatment as well as recommendations as to which drinks or supplements you should use to comfort your throat post-treatment.
What Are the Treatment Benefits?
This treatment has multiple benefits, and when you schedule it at our office, you will be treated by experts who will walk with you through each step of this treatment process. You can trust the experts at Bay Area Gastroenterology Associates to use precision and accuracy during the testing process and help you feel comfortable throughout the entire treatment process.
It’s a Quick Treatment
Patients don’t realize just how quick this treatment is until it’s over. It seems involved, but it only takes about 15 minutes to complete. And, even better, you won’t need any anesthesia or medication aside from topical numbing medication to make it through the treatment. You won’t have to schedule an appointment that monopolizes your entire day but instead can undergo this quick treatment that will help you get more concrete answers about your health and body.
It Doesn’t Require Sedation
One of the many benefits of esophageal manometry is that it doesn’t require any sedation. Many medical tests require sedation, even if they only take a few minutes to complete. For that reason, you can drive yourself to and from your appointment and won’t be limited from any activities post-treatment.
It’s a Painless Treatment
Not only is this treatment quick, but it’s painless. The topical numbing solution isn’t meant to minimize pain but instead minimize discomfort. A tube inserted into the nostril isn’t the most comfortable experience for some patients, so to alleviate any discomfort, we apply this numbing solution to make the process painless and very manageable.
It’s an Effective Treatment
This treatment is also very effective. The tube and device used to measure the strength and function of your esophagus are accurate and precise. It will perform the necessary diagnostics to help us determine more about your body and your condition. Then, we can move forward and help you determine the next steps that will help you achieve optimal health and wellness and help your body heal.
Am I a Candidate for an Esophageal Manometry?
Men and women suffering from any form of irritation or discomfort in their chest or esophagus make good candidates for an esophageal manometry. Specifically, those who have experienced chronic heartburn or have difficulty swallowing may benefit from undergoing this treatment to determine the cause of their symptoms.
Once we determine the cause of your symptoms, we can help you get on the right track and move towards optimal health, wellness, and recovery. Additionally, patients who may be suffering from esophageal spasms, achalasia, and scleroderma can undergo this treatment to confirm whether or not these conditions are affecting their bodies.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
If you are suffering from symptoms that may indicate an esophagus-related condition, there is a way to put your mind at rest and take the next steps to seek out treatment if necessary. The experts at our office are ready and willing to help you undergo this test to get answers and do what you need to heal. Contact us today at Bay Area Gastroenterology Associates in Trinity, FL, to learn more about this treatment and schedule your consultation.
