Acid Reflux, 2 Hernia, Bowel Problems

Help, I'm confused! I have multiple "problems." Recently saw a gastro doc (again) and an otolaryngologist. Had a CAT scan, which showed 2 hernias, horrifyingly enough! I'm 66 and have had bowel problems for years. I've taken several natural remedies for my bowels, which worked fine for 20 years, then stopped. I've been completely sedentary for 3 years, after I broke my ankle, which was just the last straw because of long-time back problems, too. About 5 years ago I stopped ibuprofen and started Celebrex (2 100-mg doses/day), which will probably prove even worse than ibuprofen. I also take 350 mg soma (muscle relaxer). Both of these meds are for muscle spasms/inflammation. I also take ~1600 mgs of acetaminophen/day! Those meds coupled with absolutely no exercise for 3 years has created a frightening scenario for me. Next I begin having puffiness around my clavicle and the feeling that my throat is closing up, as opposed to the typical sore throat sensation. Hence, the scan. GP doc said nothing serious. Gastro doc said he's seen patients with 20 hernias! and mine appeared to be no biggie (his reaction to the radiologists report). It is a biggie to me, however. He says the hiatal hernia is causing the reflux. Of course the otolaryngol doc said everything was fine (throat and puffy clavicle), I just needed to take previcid or something similar and elevate my bed. These docs are amazingly ignorant and arrogant. A dangerous combo of personality traits. I basically pay no attention to doctors' curative recommendations any more. I only see them for diagnosis, and even then their credibility diminishes annually. Trying to make too long story shorter: Bowel problems drive me nuts and basically dictate my diet, which may or may not create problems for acid reflux. Daily diet includes: 1 cup of instant decaf coffee, raisin bran, shredded wheat; chili; veges (spinach, green beans, zucchini, raw tomatoes, primarily); 1/3 banana, 1/2 apple, melon, nectarine slices; wild salmon, tilapia, med rare beef, chicken; few pieces of hard candy. I drink only distilled water (about 1.5 quarts/day). I take no supplements as everything I'd like to take makes me feel "strange" and seems to constipate me. Lately I've been using regular sugar and stevia (after using splenda for years). I was diagnosed as insulin resistant several years ago, and some of my diet is probably not good for that (cereal, for example; but I need the fiber). I stopped using metamucil a few weeks ago after several years of use, thinking it was responsible for my extreme bloat. I do take 2 dulcolax tabs, drink 1 cup of smooth move tea, and eat 12 dried prunes EVERY DAY and have used that combo for years. Even with all that, I experience 3 to 4 days of extreme bloat and a paralyzing feeling of incomplete evacuation. I feel as though I'm losing my mind with all this, and now I have to add to these symptoms/cures (hardly curative, by any stretch) REFLUX. I HAVEN'T BEEN OUT OF MY HOUSE FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN A DOC APPOINTMENT IN 39 MONTHS OR DRIVEN MY CAR A SINGLE TIME because of my aches and pains from my back problem and the stupid ankle break. I feel like I'm 66 going on 100, and no doctor out there can or cares to help me. After reading everything provided on your site, I'm wondering if the cereal and other carbs and the 4 ounces of beef (eaten about 3 times/week) after being a vegetarian until about 2 years ago, is part of my problem now. I'm afraid to stop my meds because of all my pains. The hernias may not even be the cause of the reflux, the meds may the culprit. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated as there seems to be no doctor out there who has the kind of knowledge I crave and desperately need. Julie