assistance with html/php get

I have an html/php form where I have a text box where free form info can 
occupy such as birthdate, weight, height, other personal info.
Oh yes, this entire routine was created for me by a friend who has now 
passed away so I am on my own to debug and/or make changes.
Anyways, I wrap text input boxes in an "addslashes" function, which 
corrected an issue I had with quotes.
Except, if I enter someones height, such as 5 ft 11 inch (as:  5' 11" )
While I see the entry in the URL as 5'+11"++ ( etc)
What actually get posted is:   5? 11?
If I go back in and edit that field, and replace the '?" with the 
applicable quote (' or "), I still see the same 5'+11"++ in the URL, but 
this time it does indeed get written into the table as expected.

I would appreciate a hint on what I should be looking for to determine 
where/how the '?' are getting in there. The insert always places 5? 11? 
while the update always corrects it. I am stumped.


-- 
Jim Pazarena         [email protected]
Haida Gwaii - British Columbia - Canada