Q: my text messages on my iPhone 6 disappeared after updateiOS 10. How can I recover them?

Apple Support told me to backup my device, then do a restore.  It didn't work.  I didn't expect it to since the messages had already disappeared.  Not sure how they would have backed up.  Storage says my Message App is using 236 MB.  Can't imagine that is just the app.  Those messages are there somewhere.