Christo,
I am so sorry to hear you are still having a rough time, even though you have made the hard changes. I can't offer much advice but I can tell you of my experience. First, I'll answer your questions as best I can:
I've not heard of somac. Must be something not available in the US or it just hasn't come to my attention.
I beleive an ear, nose, and throat doctor would be the best one to deal with LPR.
I've not had the surgery
I've read that it is okay to take antacids within two hours of taking the ppi's.
My experience is . . . I suffered from pretty bad GERD for a few weeks and was immediately put on PPI's, starting with Prilosec. It worked for awhile and then stopped completely. I was put on Nexium which worked for awhile and then stopped completely. Was put on Aciphex . . . you get the picture. I tried everything but Prevacid. They all did an okay job of stopping the acid for awhile but then they all stopped working. None of them worked 100%. I got alot of breakthrough acid, even from a glass of water. After about 4 months of this, I decided to go off the ppi's cold turkey. The first day I had some acid but it wasn't bad. Now, it has been almost 4 weeks since I stopped taking the pills and I am doing just fine. I get acid now and then but it's not bad; a few Tums will stop the burn. Last night after supper, I had no acid at all. None. I think the ppi's had the opposite effect on me and increased my acid production. Through the ordeal I was afraid that I was going to have to live with the pain and fear of cancer. Now, I know this is something I can live with and manage fairly well. An endoscopy showed I have a hiatal hernia.
For awhile I turned to DGL licorice and aloe vera juice. I don't really take the DGL anymore as it didn't really seem to be helping. I still drink a few ounces of the aloe vera juice morning and night. Could that be what is helping me? I don't know but at least it isn't hurting me.
Have you thought about going off the ppi's and seeing what happens? You can always go back on them if the acid is worse without them. It might be worth a try.
By the way . . . doc number 1 sounds like a real jerk.
Tummytuck