Apparently, I had this for quite some time, at least a couple of years (2011) <>

Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR)

...that was initially diagnosed as GERD or  gastroesophageal reflux disease
and THERE IS a difference....
read here>>
http://heartburn.about.com/od/gastrictractdisorders/a/whatis_LPR.htm?nl=1

It caused a lot of suffering in that besides the discomfort, it kept me socially reclusive.... caused by the symptoms you see in the list that follows:

Symptoms of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux are:

• Continual throat clearing
• Chronic throat irritation
• Chronic cough
• Hoarseness
• Excessive phlegm the throat
• Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
• Constant sensation of something in the throat
• Swallowed food comes back up
• Post nasal drainage
• Weak voice
• Cracking voice
• Blockage of the breathing passage
• Spasm of the larynx (voice box)
• Wheezing
• Heartburn
• Plus > choking
• 
  

I have suffered from everything on the list^^^...and it was not correctly 'discussed' until I went to the OSU Voice & Swallowing Clinic in 2012.  Prior to that, the ENT I went to at my local hospital....did not approach this problem...I left the office with news of a deviated septum (I'll get to that in  another post) and an 'unexplained' thick mucous in the throat....
and, even, the gastroenterologist  I saw later, did not 'see' the Larengopharyngeal Reflux either.....they went with the generic GERD.

Then, in the latter part of 2012, the Modified Barium Swallow tests, MRI and other initial exams was thought to show Paralyzed  Left Vocal Cord...that later I was told was wrong,,,,,that,,,,instead there is an issue with the lifting of the areas that control the voice box/larynx ....a neurological issue.............
It was THEN....that the  Laryngopharyngeal Reflux was named.

Originally, I was given a script for Prilosec and then at the beginning of this year, that was changed to Dexilent.  The Dexilent seems to be helping more than the Prilosec.