Food and Diet - Splenda MiniSite - Another Visitor's Experience with Splenda (sucralose)

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Another Splenda Story submitted by a visitor

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On 29 November 2005, we received this note from L.O. concerning their use of sucralose.

"In 2001 (age 37), I mailed a box of 700 packages of Splenda overseas to my new address so that I would have this "new sweetener" on hand when I arrived. I had gestational diabetes while pregnant the year before and wanted to make sure I was taking care of my health. I did tons of research on this product along with collecting over 300 recipes for my own cookbook. So I was baking with it constantly and thought with my logging 12 miles each day that I should not have any health problems.

Within 4 months of arriving in a rainy climate (I came from a rainy climate) I started having severe cold chills, with my temp dropping below 96, I started taking 5 baths per day to warm up. I was using Splenda in 12 cups of hot tea before 5 .p.m just to try to increase my temperature. I gained 30 pounds in 3 months. The doctor checked my thyroid and gave me B-6 and told me that was my problem.

Within 6 months, I started getting dizzy, had a fungus on my right index finger, skin on my feet and hands started splitting open so bad that my socks were always bloody. My tongue had a rash down each side as if I was having an allergic reaction. I could not eat or drink anything without severe pain.

Within 8 months I could not lift my feet upon rising from bed each morning. I called this symptom, dead feet. The doctor ordered a sleep study for me and sent me to a neurologist who told me that I had Cushings, Lupus, M.S., Fibromyalgia or Chronic fatigue.

Within 12 months I was in the E.R. with what they said was a possible heart attack. It felt like my chest would explode as my torso filled with hot liquid pain. Electrical sensations traveled up my spine and coursed over my head. I was freezing and at the same time I felt like I was burning up. They treated me like I was an absolute idiot.

By month 13, I dislocated my right ankle just walking from one gymnastic mat to another in my daughter's gym class. My foot had suddenly went dead on me as I took the step. Before this happened I had been trying to run daily and felt like I would collapse suddenly from severe joint pain. I could no longer run but had to walk and even then it was very difficult. When I dislocated my right ankle, my back went out from a disc I had herniated 15 years prior, mind you I had been pain free all those years.

January to October 2002, was spent with me needing traction for neck and back and PT for foot. That cost me over 2000 bucks. I then spent $300.00 for orthotics as both arches dropped. I started using a cross trainer to help me build some muscle. It just was not helping. It was if my muscles were being depleted. I was still using Splenda like crazy and the doctors thought I was crazy. I wanted to lay down and just die so I could be released from the pain and agony.

The year of 2003 and 2004, I was pretty much a zombie with no concentration. Severe migraines for 3-5 days per week. Strange episodes of flashing pain, paralysis, vertigo, dizziness, stomach pain, rashes, memory loss. I started dropping things from my left hand without warning. Broke too many cups, burnt too many pans from forgetting they were on the stove. It's a wonder I did not burn my house down. My body smelled like death and I could not get as clean the odor was so bad.

Finally in December 2004, I was telling someone that I had proudly been using Splenda since 2001 when a light bulb went off in my husband?s head. He had heard me tell a Doctor that same day that I started having these problems after arriving to this foreign country in 2001 and of course the Doctor said it must be depression and gave me a prescription for Prozac type medication. I told him no thank you. My husband looked at me later and said, "That is it! You are allergic to Splenda!" Immediately I got online and started researching Splenda and the complaints and found this web-site. I started dumping it that day. I slowly started feeling better. Slowly!

During the spring of 2005 I had another attack. Sure enough I had consumed something with Sucralose and did not realize it. The doctor told me that I looked like I was having an allergic reaction since I had the butterfly effect. I thought I was having a heart attack. It was crazy. Chills hit me and I thought my insides would freeze to solid ice. The Doctor could not figure it out but he did help lead me to the answer. I did a detox program for 53 days this summer. I am now totally pain free, symptom free. I have complete control of my feet and arms and have not burnt any pans or dropped any dishes in 9 months now. I have no vertigo or dizziness. The headaches are completely gone and no more severe stomach pain that keep me from walking. I can now get on the floor and set after 4 years and play with my child. I use no artificial anything now and there is not a soul on this Earth that could pay me enough to use that poison ever again.

By the way, I had 4 miscarriages during this time and I wonder if they are what caused my severe menstruation problems that have completely gone back to normal since stopping Splenda. All the above diseases were ruled out except for fibromyalgia. But that diagnosis was after the last attack before I could explain that it was the Splenda. I no longer have any of the symptoms and like I said -- I AM PAIN FREE!? THIS IS FANTASTIC!!! When I emailed the Doctor back to tell him that it was the Splenda, he never replied. I expected that much. Oh, well! Too bad for his next patient that is sick from this stuff. Until then I tell everyone I meet about my experience with Splenda.

Thanks for taking the time to start this website. It saved my life."

Thank you L.O. for sharing your story with our visitors.

If you have experienced any side effects, whether you are sure it is Splenda or not, be sure to speak with your physician and discuss all possibilities.