SOMETIMES, WHILE EATING (IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT), MY THROAT CLOSES AND I HAVE TtROUBLE BREATHING

On occasion, while eating and there is still food in my mouth, I cough.  I don't have time to react, so I supposeAfter the breathing gets easier, I begin coughing until I almost throw up several to a dozen times. My throat is irritated and scratchy by then, so I have to suck on a lozgene until the irritaion goes away, or I will continue coughing.  I do have GERD.  I will be calling my doc, but wondered if anyone else has the same struggles.