Hi Sally:

You are on a mission - you need answers.

MS is a dx of exclusion. A hiatus hernia (very common) is not a symptom of MS.

Is your physician supportive - does he/she take you seriously? Have you had a battery of blood tests to rule out other possibilities such as glucose intolerance or B12 etc?

With progressive symptoms for years, I finally found a neuro who, while looking for answers (still don't have a dx other than possible MS) was committed to giving me a quality of life. My quality of life went from about 10% to 90% with the right meds. My clinical signs are blurred/double vision, neurogenic bladder, spasticity, neuropathic pain, fatigue and weakness.
The neuro exam shows corpus collosum atrophy, cerebral atrophy, nystagmus, hyperreflexia, diminished sensation, gait problems (I use a cane when necessary). What a difference the right meds make. While it isn't perfect, I have my life back most of the time.

If I do have a 'set-back' it usually lasts 24 or more hours. This last one knocked me back for four weeks and recovery has been slow. That's the worst about the progressive part, one just doesn't bounce back like we did in our 20's and 30's when the symptoms were milder and we were too busy with kids and jobs to really notice.

Because I am glucose intolerant I eat 5 small meals a day. Can't say it helps subjectively, but objectively it is the appropriate thing to do.

Good luck - keep us posted.