David, find you the right type of doctor to address this. They are bouncing you around because they truly don't know what to do. You have many options ahead of you but first must feel comfortable with the answers to your questions. A larynx specialist/surgeon can give you the most likely case for the future but not the timing. I've dealt with this for 7 years although pneumonia three times this season. It has resolved many times with minimal treatment but this time I actually had to see a doctor and get an X-ray so he would feel better.

Don't worry about the future and what may happen just enjoy today while you gather more info. There are exercises to do based on what is wrong. My epiglottis doesn't lift on one side and the opposite vocal cord doesn't always activate. I hack in food for hours after eating. I change textures often to avoid the seepage into the lungs. My voice seldom works from everything pooling up in the voice box. If I would have taken my surgeon's advice I would have been a laryngectomee years ago. I personally didn't think it was time and still don't. I contacted a friend who is a voice coach for singers and came up with glottal exercises to crisply start the lifer. I also found ways to forcefully start the vocal cords by starting the noise slightly before I talk. Learn the biomechanics and you will find strategies that work.

Swallowing is something that the more you understand about it, the better you can manage the little differences. Ironically, deficits today may be fine tomorrow.

Ed