Mayo Clinic - Day Four. Bravo Test

Today was day two of my Bravo pH test. I have to keep a log of all of my pain, nausea, vomiting, food intake, etc. It is very similar to the Smart Pill test that I had earlier last year. When they went in for my endoscope yesterday, the doctor attached a small capsule to my esophagus. This capsule measures the acid and reflux that my body produces to determine whether or not I really do have acid reflux. When the capsule is finished after three days, it falls off.

This is the Bravo pH log that they gave me to keep track of everything:

This is the receiver that they gave me. I have to wear it for the next two days:

The test is a bit miserable because I can only drink water in between meals. I can't sip it, I have to actually drink it at once. I can only have pedalyte, soda, and other things like that to drink with my meals. I have to eat normally, like I would if I didn't have Gastroparesis which is a bit hard for me. I am scared I am going to vomit and vomit this capsule loose. If that happens, I have to call the doctor at Mayo and let him know.

I go back to consult with Dr. Bouras before I leave tomorrow. I'm a bit nervous as to what he'll have to say. I was kind of hoping they would hospitalize me to give me fluids because I'm still very dehydrated and sick. I guess I'll wait and see what he says and waiting is always the hardest part.

Smart Pill

I got up and was at the doctor by 7:30am this morning in order to ingest my Smart Pill. The nurse sat me down in a room and told me to ingest a block of fiber. It tasted like a really dry granola bar. It was a small block of granola with some cranberries. So, I ate the block, which made my mouth tired from chewing, and sat there. The nurse came back in with my Smart Pill. What the nurse doesn't tell is how big the damn Smart Pill is!

The edge of it was sharp and metal. So, as I swallowed the pill, it cut my esophagus ALL OF THE WAY DOWN! Ouch. My eyes watered and I could taste a bit of blood. The nurse just told me to keep drinking water. Eventually, it stayed down but it gave me this weird feeling like it was stuck. I still feel like the Smart Pill is stuck in my stomach.

I have to keep a diary of everything for the next five days. It's going to be hard for me document everything. I can't take ANY anti nausea medications. That's going to suck because I'm really nauseated. I haven't really eaten anything so I haven't vomited. The doctor DID confirm that I've lost 24 pounds since my last visit with my weigh in today. That should prove that I've been ill. I haven't lost this weight on purpose. I actually have cheek bones again. I didn't want to starve myself to lose weight though.

The nurse said that I should document my food intake as well but I just have not been hungry. That block of stuff I ate this morning is still sitting in my stomach and it burns. I hope they'll be able to see a correlation of when the burning started and what part of the digestive process it coincides with. I guess I should make myself eat but I just can't bring myself to.

I can't take anything that may affect motility or my test. The Smart Pill will give readings to the data receiver I wear in real time to give the transit times of my digestive system. It will confirm that I have delayed gastric emptying or may show other issues as well. Despite what some people may think, it does not take pictures.

I forgot to ask the nurse if my muscle relaxers were safe but they probably affect motility times as well. I'm not sure how I'm going to get to sleep tonight. The pain of my stomach plus my knee is indescribable.

Also, you have to keep the receiver with you. It's like carrying an old cell phone from the 80s or an over sized pager. It cannot be more than 4 to 6 feet from your body at all times, even when you shower. I have a belt clip for it. The nurse gave it to me with a lanyard earlier but Jesse made her give me a belt loop so it wouldn't constantly hit my stomach as I walked. I did almost vomit up the Smart Pill in the car ... that would have ended badly.

I do not look forward to that because:

A. The Smart Pill is huge
B. It has sharp metal edges that hurt going down

Well, I guess I'll keep you updated on my progress.

I meet with the doctor for the results on Friday at 8:20am. Below is the Smart Pill and the data receiver I have to wear until Friday.