OK, folks there is a way to do this - it worked for me, using gmail help. Go to this Gmail help page: https://support.google.com/mail#topic=3394150 then to account, then to find messages, then to find missing emails, then to a large number of my emails disappeared, then change password as directed, then fill out the form and submit. I got an email saying "Good news! We are currently restoring your missing Gmail messages. You should see them under the "All Mail" tab on the left side of your Gmail inbox sometime within the next 24 hours. You can also use the search box to find specific messages once they have been restored." sure enuff it restored many but not all so i did a repeat and got all (i think) all folders filled back up as did archives and inbox (inbox filled with thousands more than were there - not sure why and archives also had more than original - haven't sorted all that out yet, But it's a great start and relief.
WARNING note, i called google/gmail customer support 1 800 396 1732 (got # online and from Apple) scary experience, rep took over computer - not just watching but working it - then said it would cost 130, then requested Credit card info (i didn't give), i tried again - new rep just worked computer then said no solution - that number is suspect - i googled it and it appeared as cost support for yahoo and others too - SCAM??