What you're describing are symptoms I had been experiencing for about 4 years. Certain foods like marinara sauce, spicy or deep fried foods and especially that morning cup of coffee. They'd all leave me with that symptom of feeling like food was stuck in my chest, SOB and this frustrating cough that would gradually diminish as the food digested. Saw my Gastro, did an end/colo. My results were lining changes in my esophagus. Severe erosions to what's referred as your Z line. This was after being on either Pantoprazole or Omeprazole (PPI) over that 4 years. Doc also diagnosed me with a large hiatal hernia which he felt was the root cause of my reflux. Said if I didn't do something about it it could turn into Barretts and possibly esophageal cancer. Referred me to a bariatric surgeon who repairs hiatal hernias.
About 4.5 months back (right before Christmas) I had surgery called a Nissen Fundoplication. Instead of doing a full wrap (360) of my fundus around my esophagus, he did what's called a Toupet (270) wrap. Post Op was a bit rough. Everything I ate had to be an applesauce consistency for about 2-3 weeks as the lower esophageal sphincter created by wrapping the top of your stomach (Fundus) around your esophagus makes it difficult to swallow regular texture foods. Also the procedure makes it so you can't belch/burp so no carbonated beverages (no beer). I consider farting my new superpower
Another drawback is not being able to vomit so food poisoning has to go completely through you. I order everything well done these days.
I've completely recovered from the surgery. I can eat whatever I want again although less. Discovered I CAN drink Guinness once the nitro bubbles dissipate. I have zero symptoms and I'm completely off PPI's and H2Blockers. My microbiome is finally optimized. I'm actually "digesting" protein again and in general feel so much healthier. Again, if you suspect food is getting stuck in your esophagus or your having chronic reflux symptoms, go see a gastroenterologist and ask if an endoscopy is warranted.
Though this entire ordeal my main question was how did I develop my hiatal hernia in the first place? I suspect that the Intra abdominal pressure I placed my gut under from years of bodybuilding and then powerlifting and using that Inzer belt as the primary cause. There is a genetic predisposition as well but most who develop a hiatal hernia never develop symptoms. My gut tells me (pun intended) that there are a large # of us out there with this problem!