You are watched closely for any disturbances in your normal heart-rhythm patterns. Do not drink any alcohol for 24 hours before test. You may be asked not to take this medication before the test. You may gag or cough. Lubricant on the catheter may have a bad taste.
Discomfort disappears when the test is finished.
Swallow the tube with a pH electrode attached as soon as it is passed through your nose into the back of your throat. If pH remains normal, tube is advanced into the stomach. A small amount of hydrochloric acid is injected into the stomach. The catheter is raised again above the sphincter to repeat the recording of the pH of the esophagus. Catheter is removed.