My first visit was with my primary doctor. After x-rays, he said that "I just had a little arthritis... take the Celebrex for pain as needed." We all know what happened with that product. I never got the prescription filled. I discounted his answer and continued to hurt.

Next visit was with an orthopaedic doctor who cared for my broken wrist the previous year. His answer was almost the same as the first doctor. He could not explain why my knee was hurting and swollen The x-rays did not show why I had a swollen left knee. He would not write me a prescription for pain, but suggested that I take Advil or its equivalent.

Last fall, I visited a well-known orthopaedic group in town. I was examined by one of hte doctors and was told the same as the other doctors told me. As a matter of fact, the knee was locking up on me.  I could not extend it at all. I limped all the time. I was waking all during the night in pain.  It just ached to the bone. By this time, I was also going to the bathroom almost every hour with bowel and bladder problems. All of the intestinal problems were beginning to bother me during the day as well as throughout the night. This man still said the same thing the other doctors had said.

In January 2006, I visited my foot doctor because now my foot was hurting. He sent me for an MRI and found nothing.  I thought that my pain was coming from my foot which was causing my knee pain.  The MRI showed nothing. I had my bunions removed. I stayed off my feet for a while. But the pain continued.

I was at work when my Senior Manager asked about my recovery. I told him that I was still limping. We started to talk about foods and what not to ingest, and he told me about the dangers of Splenda and Equal. Well, I just thought he was talking, so I went to the computer and had all of the symptoms. Bad joint pain. Stomach problems. Foot problems. All of it.

I have been off Splenda products for three weeks and I am not limping. In fact, I feel 90% better. I do not ingest any more sugar-free gums, Splenda-sweetened products, or dairy products with sucralose. I feel like a new woman. I have been spreading the news to all--read and research all products that are pushed on us.  Our health is at stake.  I just wasted three years of joint pain for nothing. And this junk is approved by the FDA!"

Thank you Mad for sharing your story with our visitors.

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