Catherine, I have been with the same PCP, GI for 17 years and YEP, they both actually just stopped working to help me. They were both tired of me getting worse, I think I just reminded them, that they aren't perfect and they don't have all the answers. I had 3 digital removals, done by, myself. OMG, these hurt so much. Then 3 months after the GI didn't believe two x-rays, 4 weeks apart, the radiologists, n both, said a partial small bowel obstruction was forming. He wanted a CT, 4 weeks to wait. I was so scared of the digital removal, ate as little food as I could. I drank protein meal replacements and lots of water. So, of course the CT showed scant and fluid poop in me...the GI , took the credit, that he was right and I had no problem.... three months later, still using lots of miralax, I was in so much pain/cramping, I really don't remember much, but my hubby called for an ambulance, I passed out when the paramedic was trying to walk me to the ambulance, I was in ER for several hours, while they were deciding to operate or use the nasal gastric tube to decompress the loops in my small intestine. I got the gastric tube, that is so painful, 3 days in ICU, I was able to go home. I don't know what the balloon dilation is, I will look into it. Why did you have one and why can you have only one more? But for now, I am just too scared of solid poop. I have not had any poops, that even resemble normal for 4+- years. Thanx for the info. ShelleyW