@lacazadora

Hello there! Firstly, not a long share. As for being "paranoid" about surgery: not foolish, rather wise. Literature states that the "aging brain" does not totally recover from general anesthesia. I am the anti-paranoid type of person and I'd be hard pressed to go under. As for twilight anesthesia, no problema. Laparoscopy may be available for certain surgeries and by certain surgeons. I have been battling a severely distended bloated stomach for 2 years now. It is awful. 6 G.I docs later, I have a a large box full of Rx's and non Rx's tried and discarded because either did not work or side effects were too severe. I have had every test and procedure done imaginable. Recently, a 24 hour urine test lab result yielded bad prostaglandin levels. So I am proceeding with starting Chromolyn and thinking about some other OTC inflammation reducers. I cannot eat like I used to. Too many cramps if I stray. I keep simethecone handy. I also deal with constipation so it is a nasty battle and balancing act.
There are a lot of us, in varying capacities, out there. It takes time for these G.I. docs to think outside the box. I circled back to my 1st G I. doc and was pleasantly surprised after 2 years he has done so. That is how he agreed wirh me about treatment for Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS).
Also, those of us who caught COVID, may be suffering from long-COVID symptoms. Literature is now starting to report the staggering numbers of G.I. disturbances from long-COVID.
My latest upper esophageal manometry revealed a "small" hernia. Hmmmm. I'm gonna see how things go with Chromolyn first, and then maybe revisit the hernia thing. This doc is also going to write an Rx for me of low dose Naltrexone (LDN). The literature has some hopeful results for G.I. bloat, etc. with this drug. We shall see..........
Best of luck to you. Keep posting any new developments!

Cheers,
Beth