I have a medical condition which will be tough to treat, and it means the end of radio (for now)

FFS quit taking sleeping pills when you have a breathing issue--you gonna die Man! I agree you need to get your heart and arteries checked out NOW so you can quit stressing and move forward with your commitment to a healthier lifestyle. Just sayin.....

Is this a level too? Fuck yall.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Mumbles, it sounds like you didn't have LPR, but rather traditional heartburn. I believe that, aside from dietary changes which are constant for both, the effective LPR treatment is different.

“Traditional heartburn”, if caused by gastric reflux, means that the irritation from the gastric juices are limited to the bottom of the esophagus. LPR is when the reflux has been so bad and untreated long enough that gastric juices reach and pass out of the top of the esophagus, with some splashing back past the epiglotus, the valve in the upper GI tract that closes of the pathway to the larynx and upper branchial tube. The treatment for LPR is simply more complex than lower esophagal irritation, but the underlying cause is the same: gastric reflux.

And as mentioned before, I did experience throat burning from alarmingly violent gastric reflux, both times waking me from a dead sleep on almost back-to-back nights. Unlike in your case, I didn’t develop the severe LPR condition you are suffering from because I took immediate action the second night to address both the short term and medium term causes of the gastric reflux and my upper GI and epiglotus’ exposure to the gastric juices from it, as I already had experience addressing when that happened but in milder cases, something you weren’t aware of when the gastric reflux was repeatedly attacking your upper GI and larynx at night before you started takimgnsteps to get it under control.

Gaviscon doesn't prevent your stomach from producing acid, but rather blocks the acids from moving up and irritating your throat, which is what has been happening to me. Some with LPR have said it's the "only thing that works".

But despite the slick graphics that marketing departments may cook up to ahow how their oroduct supposedly protects the esophogus, a single dose of Gaviscon doesn’t coat your esophogus for long, as the mucous membrane of the esophogus eventually flush it into your stomach. Then, unless the gastric reflux is not lessened, more Gaviscon is needed to repeatedly recoat the esophogus. And because Gaviscon is alkaline (basic), as it drains into the stomach, it raises the pH of the stomach stew, fooling it into producing more of the nasty stuff in gastric juices, which pertuates the condition for gastric reflux unless other steps are taken to lower the stomach’s production of gastric juices

But, never fear. There is a cheaper and more natural solution to repeatedly dosing with Gaviscon and/or alkaline water:


I believe my problem is due to pepsin in my throat. What is pepsin?

Quote:

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LPR is caused by a combination of acid and the stomach enzyme pepsin.

The job of pepsin is to digest proteins in the stomach.


If you have LPR, pepsin gets up into your throat and airways.

This is poorly written and implies that LPR *causes* the pepsin to get there, where it causes damage. That implication is false as it implies causation in the wrong direction. Instead, LPR is *caused* by gastric reflux that has been so severe and untreated/undertreated that the exposed tissues of the larynx, which aren’t protected by mucous membrane like the esophogus, are repeatedly exposed to gastric juices, which includes pepsin

There it goes on with its job: digesting. It’s just that pepsin now digests the cells of your airways. That does not sound good, does it?

Pepsin is highly influenced by the presence of acid.

The acidity is expressed by the pH. A pH of 1-2 is about the level of the empty stomach and is very acidic. A pH of 7 is neutral. Everything above is alkaline.

Usually, the pH in the throat is about neutral. Pepsin becomes inactive in such an environment. However, each time pepsin comes in contact with acidity, it becomes reactivated.

The lower the acidity is, the higher the damage potential of pepsin:

https://www.refluxgate.com/wp-conten.../4-768x565.png

---

So Gaviscon suppoedly creates a foamy coating and prevents the pepsin from moving into the throat.

Alkaline water, which I'm now drinking (bought it last night) will permanently deactivate the pepsin it comes into contact with in my throat, which could otherwise sit there causing damage for as long as weeks.

[So will saliva from chewing sugarless gum, which also addresses the dry-mouth symptoms that you mentioned apparently due to taking the Nexium[/b]

However, it will NOT prevent the reflux from continuing and shooting new pepsins into my throat, so that's where the Gaviscon comes in.

There is cheaper and more natural way to address this: regularly chew sugarless gum. Doing so stimulates your mouth to produce saliva, which is mildly alkaline/basic and will help to protect your esophogus from the acidity of gastric reflux, as well as lower the acidity of your mouth and upper throat from eating acidic foods.

Why do I say this? Because I forget to mention that I chew sugarless gun quite frequently during the day, during which I frequently sip/drink energy drinks and sugarfree sodas, both pretty acidic. And also after every time I snack or eat a meal. Or immediately upon being surprised at night by a gastric reflux spasm, which has only happened a few times of late, thank goodness

I'm hoping that between the two of them, this problem will end, once my throat heals.

There are some who believe that alkaline water itself will not be effective enough to deactivate the pepsin, and that you need sodium bicarbonate to do it (baking soda). Those people suggest drinking baking soda water instead of commercial alkaline water. However, that solution can bring on high blood pressure, which I already have (mostly genetic), because you're ingesting tons of sodium. So I'd prefer to avoid that.

Definitely avoid the commerical alkaline water and baking soda water. Chewing sugarless gum will usually give you the acid-reducing effect you are looking for without the extra cost of both nor bump to your blood’s sodium level of the latter.

Also, chewing gum helps reduce stress, which seems to be rather heightened for you at the moment.

I am not drinking soda or orange juice anymore. They are both very acidic. This will be hard to stop but I have to because this is miserable.

---

Hot Dog on a Stick shares plummeted today on the news that Druff would no longer be able to eat them for 4th meal.

Mumbles, why do you say I shouldn't drink commercial Alkaline water?

I understand why to avoid the baking soda water long term (due to the sodium), but why the alkaline water?

I was able to sleep last night, and then again today (I had to get up in the middle to take Benjamin to school).

Both times required some effort to fall asleep (I used to fall asleep almost instantly), but I did not take any sleep medications this time. The goal is to, at the very least, be able to fall asleep naturally long term, even if this persists. That will make this whole thing more manageable.

So far, I am not seeing any kind of clear healing of my throat, which is concerning. The Gaviscon came in the mail today, so I will be trying that after meals, and seeing if that helps, but again, this will be a long term thing because it will simply be preventing new pepsins from getting up to my throat (maybe), and won't do anything to help the current irritation.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Mumbles, why do you say I shouldn't drink commercial Alkaline water?

---

one reason, regardless of effectiveness, is that your tap probably already gives you fairly alkaline water. The MWRA, our local water company around me, treats the water to a pH of ~9.5, because acidic water is far more likely to leach metals and toxins from the pipes, but alkaline water will not.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crowe Diddly

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Mumbles, why do you say I shouldn't drink commercial Alkaline water?

---

one reason, regardless of effectiveness, is that your tap probably already gives you fairly alkaline water. The MWRA, our local water company around me, treats the water to a pH of ~9.5, because acidic water is far more likely to leach metals and toxins from the pipes, but alkaline water will not.

---

That would be a financial reason not to do it, but not a health reason.

I am at the point with this that I don't care what this costs.

If I could make this disappear forever for $500,000, I would snap agree to do it. Not even joking.

Here is a website containing a bunch of suggestions on how to beat this, though even if it works, the cure will be slow:

https://chrisaram.net/the-lpr-cure-e...g-ive-learned/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crowe Diddly

one reason, regardless of effectiveness, is that your tap probably already gives you fairly alkaline water. The MWRA, our local water company around me, treats the water to a pH of ~9.5, because acidic water is far more likely to leach metals and toxins from the pipes, but alkaline water will not.

---

That would be a financial reason not to do it, but not a health reason.

I am at the point with this that I don't care what this costs.

If I could make this disappear forever for $500,000, I would snap agree to do it. Not even joking.

---

Danny boy, if you care to search your own site I said almost the exact thing in my Les Pain thread.
Money would be no object to make this go away and I was thinking esophagus problems.
I think I said 500 hundred but we're in a socialist country
So what's stopping you from getting you arteries looked at?
When symptoms of angina are so closely related to heartburn what in the world
would prevent you from checking out the heart possibilities.
You said you have high blood pressure.... guess what causes that,
arteries narrowed by cholesterol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by limitles

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

That would be a financial reason not to do it, but not a health reason.

I am at the point with this that I don't care what this costs.

If I could make this disappear forever for $500,000, I would snap agree to do it. Not even joking.

---

Danny boy, if you care to search your own site I said almost the exact thing in my Les Pain thread.
Money would be no object to make this go away and I was thinking esophagus problems.
I think I said 500 hundred but we're in a socialist country
So what's stopping you from getting you arteries looked at?
When symptoms of angina are so closely related to heartburn what in the world
would prevent you from checking out the heart possibilities.
You said you have high blood pressure.... guess what causes that,
arteries narrowed by cholesterol

---

Things happen in 3's and I applaud you on your efforts to get him to check out the obvious. For someone who has not exercised and ate crap forever, surely it could not be happening in his 40's!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crowe Diddly

one reason, regardless of effectiveness, is that your tap probably already gives you fairly alkaline water. The MWRA, our local water company around me, treats the water to a pH of ~9.5, because acidic water is far more likely to leach metals and toxins from the pipes, but alkaline water will not.

---

That would be a financial reason not to do it, but not a health reason.

I am at the point with this that I don't care what this costs.

If I could make this disappear forever for $500,000, I would snap agree to do it. Not even joking.

---

If the cost of the alkaline water isn’t an issue, go for it. Plus, some people don’t like regularly chewing gum.

Now, regarding the Nexium: Unless you are using the generic (esomeprazole), you’re unnecessarily overpaying for an effective PPI. And if you can’t find esomeprazole at the pharmacy, generic Pepsid (omeprazole) is just as effective. (The claim that esomeprazole is better than omeprazole is based on a ridiculously small sample of “extreme condition” subjects, which smells like sample dosing by the researcher in order to show a positive result for thje newer-drug-on-the-block.)

About the side effects you think might due to the Nexium: Frankly, they can be attributed to the severe condition your body is in based on the severity of your gastric reflux. Internal organ pain can propogate some bizarre reactions by the body, including the hot and cold swings in perceived body pain, dry mouth, and shooting pains elsewhere in the torso.

Why? Because, unlike the incredibly detailed mapping of touch sensation in a lot of the human body, the pain mapping for the organs isn’t so precise because there isn’t an evolutionary advantage for such precision for *internal organs*. As such, the central nervous system doesn’t always correctly interpret them, and weird reactions can ensue.

Lastly for now, keep taking a decent PPI (generic esomeprazole or emoprazle) at full strength to keep the worst gastric reflux activity in check until your larynx/throat heals, which should be a few weeks or so, maybe a month. Then talk to your doctor about the possibility of staying on a lower maintenance dose (e.g. one pill every other day versus every day) until you’ve lost enough weight from your new diet and exercise regimen that you don’t need it anymore.

If its a simple irritation issue or a cut then simply time (could take weeks or months) will heal.

you're never gong to lose weight unless you exercise all the time or give up snacking and regular soda. giving up soda for for diet and or zero is super easy. it's not like it tastes like tab anymore

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mulva

you're never gong to lose weight unless you exercise all the time or give up snacking and regular soda. giving up soda for for diet and or zero is super easy. it's not like it tastes like tab anymore

---

I actually am giving up the soda and a lot of other fattening things I was eating/drinking. And I'm doing it a lot quicker and more abruptly than first planned, because of this condition I have.

Between that and a severely reduced appetite due to the meds, I've already dropped a lot of weight -- actually more than I wanted to in a short time (because it's unhealthy).

Let's just say there's a very high chance I will easily exceed my weight goals, whether I want to or not.

On a related note, I am having a lot of bad reactions to the medications I've been taking. I am about to quit them. Sunday night and Thursday night of this past week were two of the worst nights of my life. Though at least last night the worst part abruptly improved around 11:30pm.

They say keeping a serious lie or deception for extended periods of time can cause your body to be affected with the likes of acid reflux etc. just sayin

Seriously though, maybe you just damaged/cut, irritated your throat, takes months to heals, change diet to soft foods easy to swallow low in acids and see.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by limitles

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

That would be a financial reason not to do it, but not a health reason.

I am at the point with this that I don't care what this costs.

If I could make this disappear forever for $500,000, I would snap agree to do it. Not even joking.

---

Danny boy, if you care to search your own site I said almost the exact thing in my Les Pain thread.
Money would be no object to make this go away and I was thinking esophagus problems.
I think I said 500 hundred but we're in a socialist country
So what's stopping you from getting you arteries looked at?
When symptoms of angina are so closely related to heartburn what in the world
would prevent you from checking out the heart possibilities.
You said you have high blood pressure.... guess what causes that,
arteries narrowed by cholesterol

---

I don't have heartburn.

My symptoms are in the same family as heartburn, but there is no heartburn itself.

I am going back to the ENT doctor (actually another ENT doctor in the same office, as the first doctor is leaving early today), and I will get another opinion of what is going on..

My thought at this point is that I am possibly traveling down the unfortunate road of over-medicating, getting side effects, and then trying to medicate the side effects. Vicious cycle, and often cures cause more harm than the malady. I don't want that. I'm always skeptical of medicines, treatments, procedures, and surgeries. When it comes down to it, we are all just a dollar figure to doctors, pharmaceutical makers, and hospitals, and our own individual suffering is inconsequential. They see us for brief periods, and then we suffer by ourselves, out of their view.

One must be an advocate for their own health. You need to straddle the line between hypochondria/overtreatment and stubbornness/doubt.

Last week, my thinking was, "This is awful, I'll try anything to cure it."

A week later, my new thinking is, "I'm very concerned regarding what all of this treatment is doing to me. Maybe I'm better off trying to fight this naturally -- with diet changes, weight loss, exercise, and keeping my bed at a slope, and see if that solves things."

I've never done illegal drugs before, but I felt last night what I believe withdrawal feels like.

Shakes.

Edginess.

Tingling that stretches around half my body, including my head.

An odd hot/cold sensation where my insides are hot and my skin is cold.

I don't want to deal with it anymore.

Would you be willing to fake your own death if that could make the pain all go away?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RealTalk

Would you be willing to fake your own death if that could make the pain all go away?

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Depends who I'd have to fake.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

I've never done illegal drugs before, but I felt last night what I believe withdrawal feels like.

Shakes.

Edginess.

Tingling that stretches around half my body, including my head.

An odd hot/cold sensation where my insides are hot and my skin is cold.

I don't want to deal with it anymore.

---

Even cannabis?

lol at believing a word todd says

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RealTalk

Would you be willing to fake your own death if that could make the pain all go away?

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Depends who I'd have to fake.

---

What if it was everyone on the forum?

Chicken soup and Sprite, problem solved.

Feel better soon man!

Anyone concerned Todd have a doctors appointment hours ago and has not posted since?

Could it be the big C?

Cuntitis

If any of this is remotely true, and I am skeptical, I am thinking this is throat or brain cancer. These things normally don't organically happen in your 40s unless it's some type of carcinoma. Like I said, this story could be fake given the levels recently on the forum, but if its not I'd get some Moderators hired Druff.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tgull

If any of this is remotely true, and I am skeptical, I am thinking this is throat or brain cancer. These things normally don't organically happen in your 40s unless it's some type of carcinoma. Like I said, this story could be fake given the levels recently on the forum, but if its not I'd get some Moderators hired Druff.

---

If he puts his bed on just the right angle he'll be fine.

Doctor's appointment was a follow up with a different doctor, and it was useless.

Basically all of my concerns were dismissed and he already had a preconceived belief about what is wrong.

I do have a new theory as to what is going on, but I will be seeing two more doctors next week before I share anything further.

This isn't a level. I wish it was.

https://www-medicaldaily-com.cdn.amp...g-worst-332316


Nuff said

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Doctor's appointment was a follow up with a different doctor, and it was useless.

Basically all of my concerns were dismissed and he already had a preconceived belief about what is wrong.

I do have a new theory as to what is going on, but I will be seeing two more doctors next week before I share anything further.

This isn't a level. I wish it was.

---

Are you doubting the LPR diagnosis? Or are you talking about these new symptoms? Never heard anything like that with nexium, and it a super common medication. Those sensations almost sound like thyroid, shakes, hot inside cold outside. Wouldn’t be shocked if doctor thought anxiety.

How definitive is the test for LPR? Like with standard reflux they do an endoscope and stick a camera down your throat and show you the pictures of your ulcerated esophagus.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BCR

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Doctor's appointment was a follow up with a different doctor, and it was useless.

Basically all of my concerns were dismissed and he already had a preconceived belief about what is wrong.

I do have a new theory as to what is going on, but I will be seeing two more doctors next week before I share anything further.

This isn't a level. I wish it was.

---

Are you doubting the LPR diagnosis? Or are you talking about these new symptoms? Never heard anything like that with nexium, and it a super common medication. Those sensations almost sound like thyroid, shakes, hot inside cold outside. Wouldn’t be shocked if doctor thought anxiety.

How definitive is the test for LPR? Like with standard reflux they do an endoscope and stick a camera down your throat and show you the pictures of your ulcerated esophagus.

---

They stuck a scope up my nose and looked down my throat with a light.

I do believe the LPR diagnosis, but I think it's not the main thing going on.

I will be approaching this a different way over the next week, and see where this goes.

FYI I'm off the Nexium and everything else, and I have not had any of the shakes, hot/cold issues, etc.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BCR

Are you doubting the LPR diagnosis? Or are you talking about these new symptoms? Never heard anything like that with nexium, and it a super common medication. Those sensations almost sound like thyroid, shakes, hot inside cold outside. Wouldn’t be shocked if doctor thought anxiety.

How definitive is the test for LPR? Like with standard reflux they do an endoscope and stick a camera down your throat and show you the pictures of your ulcerated esophagus.

---

They stuck a scope up my nose and looked down my throat with a light.

I do believe the LPR diagnosis, but I think it's not the main thing going on.

I will be approaching this a different way over the next week, and see where this goes.

FYI I'm off the Nexium and everything else, and I have not had any of the shakes, hot/cold issues, etc.

---

Ok your BS better be on the damn level because I spent 30 minutes on the phone with an Asian pharmacist, LONG DISTANCE BTW, said a prayer for you and know of someone close who suffered with this, so here it is.....also once on this stuff getting off without feeling symptoms again is hard.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DonaldTrumpsHairPiece

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

They stuck a scope up my nose and looked down my throat with a light.

I do believe the LPR diagnosis, but I think it's not the main thing going on.

I will be approaching this a different way over the next week, and see where this goes.

FYI I'm off the Nexium and everything else, and I have not had any of the shakes, hot/cold issues, etc.

---

Ok your BS better be on the damn level because I spent 30 minutes on the phone with an Asian pharmacist, LONG DISTANCE BTW, said a prayer for you and know of someone close who suffered with this, so here it is.....also once on this stuff getting off without feeling symptoms again is hard.

---

I was on it for less than 2 weeks. From what I read, there is much less of a withdrawal effect when getting off after a short time.

It's not a good thing to be on long term because of the reason you stated.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DonaldTrumpsHairPiece

Ok your BS better be on the damn level because I spent 30 minutes on the phone with an Asian pharmacist, LONG DISTANCE BTW, said a prayer for you and know of someone close who suffered with this, so here it is.....also once on this stuff getting off without feeling symptoms again is hard.

---

I was on it for less than 2 weeks. From what I read, there is much less of a withdrawal effect when getting off after a short time.

It's not a good thing to be on long term because of the reason you stated.

---

My brother suffers from what he thought was gerd and then simply turned out to be a badly irritated esophogeus? or something. Any ways he modified what he ate for months, avoided sharp foods, acidic foods and took prilo the whole time. He was told he needed to allow it to front load so not sure if 2 weeks is long enough but ya, use sparingly because when he quite he had that issue even though he was nearly healed.

honestly between the cmoney thing and druff literally starting a story with so im getting my second dinner at hot dog on a stick and its stretched out my stomach and i might be dying, just fucking tip ur cap to pfa this is a first tier forum now todge you have done it

you might want to downgrade to 2nd tier and copy vaughns skatz code so it logs you out after 45 seconds it would make blakes 95 posts a day here not possible but thats just a thought big dog

Good luck with your appointments. But if the other doctors say that it is LPR, ask them about using OMEPRAZOLE, not Nexium, as a PPI. The formulations are similar but different enough to have some different reported side effects, and some different interactions with other potentially prescribed drugs.

Also, if you stop talking Nexium but not start taking omeprazole, the gastric reflux won’t come back for at least a few days, as Nexium has much longer metabolic half-life than Zantac (ratinidine). So you might think that you no longer have gastric reflux if it doesn’t reappear 2 or 3 days after stopping, but then get a nasty acrid surprise in about 5-7 days.

Lastly for now: Do you ratinidine 150 on hand to get quicker relief in case it sparks back up after quitting Nexium?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lol wow

honestly between the cmoney thing and druff literally starting a story with so im getting my second dinner at hot dog on a stick and its stretched out my stomach and i might be dying, just fucking tip ur cap to pfa this is a first tier forum now todge you have done it

you might want to downgrade to 2nd tier and copy vaughns skatz code so it logs you out after 45 seconds it would make blakes 95 posts a day here not possible but thats just a thought big dog

---

you're the one who needs posting limitations in place. chicken hands. peck. peck. peck.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BCR

Are you doubting the LPR diagnosis? Or are you talking about these new symptoms? Never heard anything like that with nexium, and it a super common medication. Those sensations almost sound like thyroid, shakes, hot inside cold outside. Wouldn’t be shocked if doctor thought anxiety.

How definitive is the test for LPR? Like with standard reflux they do an endoscope and stick a camera down your throat and show you the pictures of your ulcerated esophagus.

---

They stuck a scope up my nose and looked down my throat with a light.

I do believe the LPR diagnosis, but I think it's not the main thing going on.

I will be approaching this a different way over the next week, and see where this goes.

FYI I'm off the Nexium and everything else, and I have not had any of the shakes, hot/cold issues, etc.

---

It sounds like anxiety mostly. PPI withdrawal doesn't really do that. Anxiety comes and goes. If you think you're in better control of your health situation , it could be enough to clear it.

I thought i was immune to that, but all it took was month and half of constant pain. The other time i got hit with that was a side-effect of 2 different CNS drugs. The one amplified the others side-effects and that resulted in anxiety and depression. It cleared the day after i stopped taking the other drug.

Anyway if it's anxiety there's plenty of effective drugs for that. And just lowering stress works as well.

All PPIs mostly do the same. Doubt you specifically need Nexium going forward. Oh and i think you can still eat rye bread even if wheat is a no no.

Druff,

If money is not too much of a consideration in your efforts to get healthier over the long-term, here’s some good news about an additional option.

Weight-loss drug lorcaserin found to be safe in new study
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-45319393

Quote:

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A major study has found promising results for the safety of a weight-loss drug available in the US. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, says adults using the drug lorcaserin lost an average of 4kg (8.8lb) over 40 months. It says the drug, which works by suppressing appetite, does not put people at greater risk of heart issues. But experts emphasise the importance of long-term lifestyle changes in achieving effective weight loss. Lorcaserin has been available in the US for several years under the name Belviq, but it has yet to be approved for use in Europe.

...

Tests for heart valve damage showed no significant differences compared to those taking the placebo. This has been a key concern over the safety of other slimming pills. Patients using the drug were also at a slightly lower risk of diabetes. It is not yet known if lorcaserin has any other side effects.

The pill is taken twice a day and costs about $220-290 (£155-225) per month in the US.

---

Weight loss isn't the concern anymore. I have lost 17 pounds already in 2 weeks, involuntarily.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan Druff

Weight loss isn't the concern anymore. I have lost 17 pounds already in 2 weeks, involuntarily.

---

So what do docs say? At a minimum you should have had extensive bloodwork, ekg, and Ct scan of chest and abdomen by now. What has been done?