"My Splenda Nightmare...
How to begin???
I am a Splenda survivor...
I am a chronic dieter and user of sugar substitutes. About two years ago, I decided to stop using aspartame because of the confusion and short term memory loss. I discovered Splenda. I used the packets in my coffee, tea, and other food and drinks. I started having pain in the right abdominal area. I had previously had severe bouts with diverticulitis in the left abdominal area, which had been successfully treated with antibiotics. Over the period of about a year, the right abdominal pain increased in severity and duration. I made numerous trips to my internist, who is a splendid diagnostician, and she was stumped.
At some point, I decided to give up the Splenda packets and Crystal Lite, even though I could find no reports of ill effects on the internet. I started to recover. However, what to drink now? I started drinking Diet Rite. The abdominal pain returned. I looked on the web to see if there were any reports of sucralose causing abdominal problems, and found none, so I thought that could not possibly have been the problem.
Over the next year, there were more visits to my internist, my urologist, four different gastroenterologists, my surgeon, and the emergency room. I was tested for everything even remotely possible: appendicitis, Crohn's, acute diverticulitis, IBS--it goes on and on. I had numerous x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, blood work, colonoscopy, and medication for every conceivable stomach ailment. Nothing worked. At one point, emergency exploratory surgery was being considered. In the end, I was administering daily enemas because that seemed to relieve the constant pressure and excrutiating pain in my right side. My life had become about pain. I was on massive doses of antidepressants and was suicidal. I went from being an active professional person to a near invalid. All I could to was go to work, then go home and go to bed.
I started reading more about sucralose. I discovered that in laboratory testing, it had caused up to a 40% cecal enlargement in rats. More investigation revealed that the cecum is right next to the appendix, which was the origin of my excruciating pain.
I stopped drinking Diet Rite sodas. Within a week, I was able to discontinue the daily enema regimen. Within two weeks, the constant pain had almost stopped. That was about four months ago. Over that time, the pain has completely subsided. I have started to get a life back. It was a slow process, because during the period of my "illness" my life had really spiralled downward.
To other sucralose users: If you are having lower right quadrant pain -- yes. It could be the sucralose. Try stopping it. If the pain goes away, that was probably the problem."
Thank you B.S. for sharing your story with our visitors.
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