Hi,
This is my first post on any type of message board. I felt that perhaps my experience could help someone with swallowing problems, especially associated with a build up of phlegm and pain in swallowing. Several years back, I began experiencing pain when I swallowed. Usually, it was within the first couple bites of my meal. The food would be literally trapped in phlegm in my esophogus and I would panic and head for the bathroom to try to bring everything up. Sometimes, large gulps of water would clear my esophogus; however, it was painful.
I went for an upper and lower GI, Barium swallow, x-rays. etc. Diagnosis included spastic esophogus and acid reflux. Even on medication, I still experienced this problem.
Four months later at work, our pop machine had run out of Diet Pepsi, which I had been drinking regularly. I started drinking regular Pepsi and within a week, my problem had disappeared. Several weeks later, I went back to Diet pop, and sure enough my problem came back. I stopped again and it disappeared again. To make a long story short, I experimented myself with other foods that contained the common element. PHENYLALANINE. Everything from diet yogart and sugar free jello to chewing gum. Almost every chewing gum on the market now contains Phenylalinine. I have been two years now free of swallowing problems and phlegm/mucous build up. I constantly look at labels to determine what has Phenylalanine. Sometimes the doctors don't have all the answers. Sometimes, you need to eliminate certain foods from your diet to see if it has an impact. If my posting helps just one person with a similar problem, it was worth my time. To others of you with different problems, you have my sympathy. I know what I was experiencing and it was driving me crazy. Give it a try. Eliminate all PHENYLALANINE from your diet and see if it helps. - Heydid