My long reply disappeared b4 I could save it. The short version is that my AI search produced several candidates, the simplest explanation seemed to me to be achalasia. Years ago a cardiologist suggested that my syncope may be vagal nerve’s over stimulation, causing the brain to lower the heart rate. In my opinion the PPI may have also lessened the role of acid reflux. If it is/was due to achalasia my very first experience with this was with drinking a milk shake through a straw. It action caused the drink to stop midway in my esophagus in a mild kind of spasmodic crap.