Hi all,
I've been thinking about you guys alot and praying I can get time to write. Things have been pretty crazy. My relationship of 15 years is really being tested through all this and so there's been a lot of drama. I don't want to discuss it much but to say that my boyfreind was in the hospital for 6 weeks 6 years ago and I never (except work and sleep) left his side. And now, I'm seeing that he couldn't even handle one appointment with me. Oh well, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger as they say. I guess I'm so concerned about getting control of the acid and bitterness that my family is beginning to come first and I'm not worried about my boyfreind's financial situation or paying the rent or anything. If he can't do it on his own I don't know what to tell him. I mean, I've worked 60 plus hours a week for years and sometimes stop home in the afternoon and he's sleeping and then complains of having no money. Again guys, I don't want to talk about this because I have so much to say about stomach issues but as one of my faves on the Animal Planet used to say CRIKES!!!!! I had to get that off my shoulder and now I'm letting it all go just for today. 
Bill, I'm definitely going to write you an e-mail sometime in the next few days. You are going to laugh. I will say this though, I had so many questions etc., and he said, "we have all the time in the world". Nice guy, and his assistant was nice also. Thanks so much for asking. Hey, did your daughter ever have a barium enema to rule out hirshsprings?? Just wondering. Yeah, we're all just lazy and want to be bloated all day right?? 
Anyhow thanks for the info on Miralax. Ya know, the doctor I take care of takes that also and I tried it one day about a month ago but forgot all about it. I did find something natural that works absolute wonders. It's called Slippery Elm and is in powder form. It's made by a company called Nature's Sunshine that is very legit and well known in the area I live in. Thank God. I mean, it's only been 2 days but so far it's like a miracle. We'll see. There's a lady that does colonics in the city that wants me to come and although I think I'm going to skip the colonic, she has alkaline water that's supposed to help. I'm going to try it I mean, what the heck. The chiropractor I think I'm going to drop. He seemed upset when I asked about if he knew about a few other natural people that help others in the area and he was in a big hurry last time I was there. I said I have 2 questions and he said "you're running out of questions". I mean, It's not like he's a miracle worker or that I should bow down on my knees. What a cocky one. Anyhow, he may have just been rushed but he certainly rubbed me the wrong way. Plus, I'm not getting any relief. Okay....I will keep praying for the 18th for you and of course...for every day.
Barb, I'm so sorry to hear about your mom..I mean really sorry..but as you said there's something good in everything that happens and I'm so proud of you. I mean, all you guys are so positive and supportive that you can't help but keep coming back here. Really Barb, you just sound like an awesome person and yes....definitely something wonderful came out of unfortunate tragedy. 
Congrats on the twins!!! Wow, you sounded busy enough as it is...it's gonna be like Grand Central around there. Yea for you and prayers and best wishes to your daughter in law. Question about nexium... It must help with your reflux. I guess that's what worries me is that nothing helped me and if the surgery doesn't help I'll be S O L....I think ya'll know what that means. I am not as postiive as you and that's why it's so refreshing to hear from you. I think so negatively lately but I keep apologizing and asking for forgiveness and then I won't let the whole day be like that. My parents are in real estate and I stopped by one of their clients to drop something off and it was a mother and her daughter in law. They had one shnauzer (dog) and 3 cats and I had an awesome time. I ended up staying a few hours (kept trying to leave) but we just had a blast. I never mentioned anything about my sickness because the mother was crying about her husband who had died a few years back. Funny, how being there made me forget. Also, what's elavil again?? Next...yes defintely keep getting out of your car...even every 2 hours. Good idea. Promise me you'll do that. Okay prayers to you tool Oh yeah...I am a chocolate fiend myself...also have a weakness for macadamia nuts.
Marie...that linx thing is totally cool. Do you think you would wait for it depending on the the doctors??? There is also one in New York calla transoral incisiohnless fundoplication with a less than one hours surgery...etc.etc. I am in the middle of researching this but it's done by a Dr. Marc Bessler at New York Presbyterian Hospital and I am researching it now. I think the site is www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/140637.php Intersting to say the least. All symptoms the same for me and seems like the swallowing during the day getting worse. It's uncomfortable and dry without the gum which the surgeon I just saw said gum is good for what we have even though I had nautral docs say different. But, I have to have the gum. I've had that "pressure/pain" in the rib area acutally on both sides at different times. I'm just ignoring it for now but I wonder also. I am supposed to have the test where they put a tube down to your stomach and you wear in 24 hours. Did you do that yet?? I'm just going along. My work week is kinda busy and I just want to be home. Do you have neck pain also at all?? I do on occassion when I lean forward like when you have a bad headache and you lean forward. Oh well...I gotta keep postive or I'm going to start to bring myself down. thinking of you with prayers
One more thing guys...I heard of this stuff called Heartburn Free by Enzymatic Therapy (health food store). I'm going to maybe try it. But I have to see if I'm going to try meds again first. I know it sounds like I'm jumping around but I really want to try anything before surgery because I'm scared. 
Trac y