Questions Multiple Attributes in Stock Items

Hello,

I was testing an idea and created a new combo attribute, and then added that attribute to A SINGLE item class of stock items. We have about 16 different item classes. The one I tested on did NOT have any existing attributes. The attribute worked for what I needed it for. However, today I discovered the text for all my other item class attributes (set up years ago!) were erased! The attribute itself is still showing in preferences and in the item classes. However, when I pull up any stock item within that item class, it shows the attribute - but the TEXT portion of it is gone.  

This was quite an issue for our sales department. I had to urgently re-import the attributes on hundreds of stock items. The only problem is that any stock item created AFTER my original import (years ago) is still missing the attribute. I checked our test environment and the text was also removed from there as well. Therefore, I have to re-create about 400 attributes to re-import. 😫 

Has anyone experienced something like this? Any help is greatly appreciated.