I am a very healthy, early-30's gal. I am not overweight.  I don't diet or anything. I am pretty lucky, or I was.

I have a sweet tooth. I wanted to enjoy the sweets without ingesting so much sugar every day. I have chocolate every day no matter what.

So, on a whim, my husband and I bought the Splenda chocolate chip cookie dough and baked some cookies. We were having a jolly time. I ate about six cookies (yes, 6!). Anyway, that night my stomach began to cramp. It had never cramped before. It was a totally new feeling. For the next 12 hours, I was on the toilet, cramping, bloating, and moaning in pain. My husband was scared. We thought my liver or upper intestine was malfunctioning or something. I have never been that sick before. I assumed it was the Splenda and stayed away from it.

Then, by accident, I was offered a handful of jellybeans two months later. I ate them, not knowing enough to look at the package. The same thing happened all over again.  I went through the garbage the next day and saw the package. It had a little Splenda logo. The last time, I was out for three days in excrutiating pain. I had a CAT scan because the doctors didn't know what to do with me. It was so painful. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I had tears running down my face while I waited in the hospital emergency room. I couldn't walk because of the pain. What had happened, is that someone had served me Splenda in a home-cooked meal and I had no idea.

I am terrified to go near it. I honestly think that if I had too much, I would die or it would cause severe damage. My stomach has never been the same. I feel like it changed my body. I've never gotten completely rid of the bloating and I just don't feel the same in my stomach. It's now sensitive where it wasn't before. I used to eat hot chilis and Ethiopian food with no issues. Now I have to be careful about what I eat all the time. This only happened after my three Splenda episodes which were within a six month period.

Splenda NEVER.  I should have my liver checked. Sugar may have calories, but better the real stuff than the processed."

Thank you A. for sharing your story with our visitors.

.