Hi Tracey ! Do you have any discomfort in swallowing ? The chronic cough could be due to regurgitation of food/liquids while you lie down. What is the reason of your not eating properly ? Is it due to loss of appetite or due the fear of pain in stomach on eating ? Do you get any fever specially during evening hours, and have you marked any loss in your weight ? In case you are experiencing difficulty in swallowing, loss in weight, and also low grade fever, you should consult your doctor earlier instead of waiting for surgery. At the same time there is no harm going for a serum gastrin evaluation because of your loose motions. In the mean time, you can elevate the head end of your bed so that the regurgitation becomes less, and go for drugs like Omeprazole/Rabeprazole/antacid gel with local anaesthetics, and some pro kinetic drugs on consultation with your doctor. Hope this helps you out till your surgery. Good luck.