@californiazebra I weaned myself off PPIs before the second endoscopy. I had been on omeprazole for four years and by happenstance had a blood test that showed I had chronic kidney disease stage 4. Magically the CKD barely disappeared after I stopped PPIs, so I am pretty sure it was a side effect of the drug. I do not trust the GI practice in my area; for example the first doctor who gave me an endoscopy four years earlier got me set on taking PPIs forever without telling me to come back for a follow-up. I have no plans to return there, I need to find an alternative, which is difficult when I don't have someone who will accompany me for a scope that requires anesthesia. I may look for an ENT who does a scope via the nose and then goes down. I am sorry to hear about your brother passing. I wish you well in your journey.