Started having the same problem about 6-7 yrs ago. After I had the first endoscopy, where they run the tube down your throat with the camera and cut a piece of the esophogus lining to do a biopsy with, the doctor showed me the pictures of my throat lining. It looked like someone had taken a blowtorch to it and burned the walls of my throat. They were almost totally black from all the acid I was bring up each night. He started me on Prilosec right away, and did another endoscopy about 6 months later. Lining was still bad, but not nearly as bad as before. Did another one 6 mos later, and it loooked a whole lot better. Did one yrly for the next couple of yrs, and each one was better and better. Had the last one done in 2004, the lining was pretty much pink and normal looking. Only have to have the endoscopy every other yr now.
I used Prilosec daily until Nexium came out. Now I take Nexium.
The doc told me if I didnt want to control it with medicine and diet, then surgery was the only option. If you have decent insurance, then you might want to consider the endoscopy and get a looks see inside of your throat and see what's happening down there.