@cdesharn I understand GERD.
Over the last year, I thought I had bronchitis because I was coughing all night, and bring up thick mucus.
My doctor told me that my lungs were clear and he didn’t know why I had the cough.
I decided to go to my Ear Nose, and Throat doctor. He looked up my nose and down my esophagus.
The problem was stomach acid. The acid was coming up and burning my throat and vocal cords. The thick mucus was my body’s way of protecting itself. Unfortunately, it made me cough up all night.
The ENT told me to take liquid Mylanta just before bed, and raise up my head with a 10” wedge pillow.

I am doing better now.
I hope this helps.