On Tuesday, I went for my annual eye exam. My doctor takes longer than usual looking at the retina. He sits back and tells me that the optic nerve for both eyes are swollen and are a sign of a much more serious condition. I ask if I should see a specialist and he says most definitely.

He calls and schedules an appointment for me on Friday with a optician who is a optic nerve specialist. I go in and he performs an optic scan, which is nothing more than super dilated pupil with a photo image of the optic nerve and takes my blood pressure, which was high. He tells me he will call me as soon as the results of the scan come in.

I received the call today and knew it must be serious, since he is calling on a Sunday. He informed me that my optic nerves are indeed enlarged and if the condition continues, the prognosis is blindness. Then he asks me a strange question. He wants to know if I drink diet colas and I tell him, yes. I drink two to three Diet Cokes a day. He then informs me that he knows without doubt that I am suffering from Aspartame Poisoning (AP). He sees at least three cases a week and the symptoms are the same.

He questioned NutraSweet's manufacturer, Monsanto, years ago and they insisted that NutraSweet was safe. He still did not believe them and surveyed all of his clients. Those clients who drank or used Aspartame products, suffered with near identical optic nerve enlargement or blindness.

I have since been told to stop the use of Aspartame in order to save my vision and I have started this topic to get the message out to as many people as I can including my friends and family here at MMG.

The website below has a great deal of information. The doctor who owns this website has a ebook for sale about how to detox from AP, but the info is a real eyeopener.
http://www.sweetpoison.com

If you already know about AP, great. If you don't, get informed and pass the word.

Side Effects of AP from the website:

Eye
blindness in one or both eyes
decreased vision and/or other eye problems such as: blurring, bright flashes, squiggly lines, tunnel vision, decreased night vision
pain in one or both eyes
decreased tears
trouble with contact lenses
bulging eyes

Ear
tinnitus - ringing or buzzing sound
severe intolerance of noise
marked hearing impairment

Neurologic
epileptic seizures
headaches, migraines and some severe
dizziness, unsteadiness, both
confusion, memory loss, both
severe drowsiness and sleepiness
paresthesia or numbness of the limbs
severe slurring of speech
severe hyperactivity and restless legs
atypical facial pain
severe tremors

Psychological/Psychiatric
severe depression
irritability
aggression
anxiety
personality changes
insomnia
phobias

Chest
palpitations, tachycardia
shortness of breath
recent high blood pressure

Gastrointestinal
nausea
diarrhea, sometimes with blood in stools
abdominal pain
pain when swallowing

Skin and Allergies
itching without a rash
lip and mouth reactions
hives
aggravated respiratory allergies such as asthma

Endocrine and Metabolic
loss of control of diabetes
menstrual changes
marked thinning or loss of hair
marked weight loss
gradual weight gain
aggravated low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
severe PMS

Other
frequency of voiding and burning during urination
excessive thirst, fluid retention, leg swelling, and bloating
increased susceptibility to infection

Additional Symptoms of Aspartame Toxicity include the most critical symptoms of all
death
irreversible brain damage
birth defects, including mental retardation
peptic ulcers
aspartame addiction and increased craving for sweets
hyperactivity in children
severe depression
aggressive behavior
suicidal tendencies

Aspartame may trigger, mimic, or cause the following illnesses:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Epstein-Barr
Post-Polio Syndrome
Lyme Disease
Grave’s Disease
Meniere’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease
ALS
Epilepsy
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
EMS
Hypothyroidism
Mercury sensitivity from Amalgam fillings
Fibromyalgia
Lupus
non-Hodgkins
Lymphoma
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

These are not allergies or sensitivities, but diseases and disease syndromes. Aspartame poisoning is commonly misdiagnosed because aspartame symptoms mock textbook ‘disease’ symptoms, such as Grave’s Disease.

Aspartame changes the ratio of amino acids in the blood, blocking or lowering the levels of serotonin, tyrosine, dopamine, norepinephrine, and adrenaline. Therefore, it is typical that aspartame symptoms cannot be detected in lab tests and on x-rays. Textbook disorders and diseases may actually be a toxic load as a result of aspartame poisoning.

Ever gone to the doctor with real, physical symptoms, but he/she can’t find the cause? Well, it’s probably your diet, your environment, or both.

You really shouldn't take artificial sweeteners unless you're diabetic or extremely obese. Switch back to normal coke!

Shouldn't take that crap period.

Cola is trash I drunk only fruit juices.Thanks for the heads up neffuler, hope that your medical condition is now ok.

Don't go knocking cola

It's the diet stuff...nutrasweet, equal, all those...probably splenda too.

I always knew diet coke was deadly from the way it tastes

Well, starting now, I will not be drinking anything with artificial sweeteners. Stevia is the only one that is natural and I don't even care to use it after all of this info about AP has come to my attention.

Thank you for concern. I just found out about the condition on Tuesday, but found out about aspartame poisoning today. Thank goodness, I have only had one Diet Coke today. I'm hopeful that the condition will reverse. The doctor seems to think it will.

Thanks for the info.
My mother drinks Diet Coke like water all day long and I've been trying to get her to stop forever.
I'm going to email this to her.

I noticed that if I drink one, I want another one and then another. Never drank colas until I went to college and then everyone was drinking Diet Coke. What is sad, is the fact that I drank this junk while I was pregnant with my daughter. I even talked to my family physician 10 years ago and she told me that NutraSweet was safe and gave me brochures. Unbelievable!

Grecia, do everything you can to get your mother to stop drinking Diet Coke. She will need to read labels. Vitamins, yogurt, candy all have aspartame in them, too.

Splenda is just as bad. Another sugar alcohol with side effects.

It's odd I know that diet drinks are bad for you but I haven't found an alternative. Can't drink anything with sugar in it can't stand the taste.
Keep getting off the diet pop and then I drink water but that gets old and I always go back to diet pop. After reading about it I did some thinking and I do eat more sweets when I'm drinking diet pop or diet anything.
I saw somewhere that said drinking diet pop actually makes you gain weight.
I believe I will have to find an alternative!

I've noticed that I crave sweets late in the evening and I honestly believe it is the aspartame. I've been told that it is hard to quit and is very addictive. I guess I will find out.

Wow nefuller, my sincerest hopes that nothing too serious develops out of this. On another note, thanks for informing the community about AP

I am having a really hard time believing this.

Thank you and I hope it does get better, too. I will be going back to Dr. Lee in a month, so I will find out then.

I felt like I should help spread the word.

Why?

I've been telling people diet crap is toxic

And why is that?

Because she likes to put that poison in her tea

Or is it denial?

Sorry to hear that and was a interesting read, I sent your message to my parents to read it

It's good to see everyone being educated here, artificial sweetners are the worst thing you can put in your body. The affects are deadly and should be taken seriously.

Everyone should read Alkalize or Die, it will open your eyes.

Thanks for this info, I never knew that these side effects could result from these sweetners. I am going to be shopping very carefully from now on, as my daughter likes her fizzy drinks, don't want to damage her in any way. Ususally I buy the normal variety anyway, never liked the taste of aspartame.

I hope you get a full recovery nefuller. And thanks for warning us.

well the only diet drink I like the taste of is Diet Dr. Pepper. I would rather drink Tea, coke or a cold beer. I wonder if this stuff is in the tea mix? If so, guess I will have to do back to just drinking my bud light and Heineken.

thanks for the info Nefuller....

I was just wondering something after working at a local grocery store, is this disease from drinking or eating foods with Aspartame in it?

As most yogurts except plain have aspartame in it, if you read the labels it says with aspartame?

Equal and Nutrasweet have Aspartame in it. Most yogurts have nutrasweet in it.. just like diet sodas.

That's why it's all crap

Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, Canderel, Spoonful)
Aspartame, approved by the FDA in 1981, is one of the most popular sweeteners on the market and is used in more than 6,000 products around the world. Aspartame, discovered while testing drugs for ulcers, is made up of two amino acids that are naturally found in meats, grains and dairy products, and is 200 times sweeter than table sugar.

Rumors: Aspartame causes cancer, brain tumors, and Alzheimer's and numerous other diseases. This is compounded by reports of dizziness, hallucinations or headaches after consumption.

Research: In hundreds of clinical studies by scientists around the world, as well as investigations by the Centers for Disease Control, there has been no evidence of health risk from aspartame. "After listening to and investigating many of the rumors related to aspartame over the years, I'm convinced that they have absolutely no merit," says Susan Schiffman, a professor of medical psychology at Duke University.

To come close to the FDA's Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI, set at a level 100 times less than that which could potentially cause harm in animals), a 150-pound adult would have to consume 20 12-ounce diet sodas or 97 packets of NutraSweet per day.

Other experts remain cautiously optimistic. Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, says, "Aspartame appears to be safe, but should be retested since it is so widely consumed."

Additionally, if you have the rare genetic condition phenylketonuria, avoid aspartame.

Bottom line: Limit yourself to a couple of diet sodas and a few blue packets a day.

Saccharin (Sweet'N Low and Sugar Twin)
The granddaddy of artificial sweeteners, saccharin has been around since 1879, has no calories, and is 300 times sweeter than sugar.

Rumor: It causes cancer.

Research: According to many experts, you'd have to drink 750 cans of diet soda or have 10,000 tablets of saccharin a day, every day for your entire life, to cause a problem. Despite this, several scientists claim that studies on animals have shown that saccharin can cause cancer of the urinary bladder — and that this is reason enough to avoid the product. "When it comes to cancer, it's just not completely safe," says Emmanuel Farber, adjunct professor of pathology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine.

Bottom line: "You don't need the artificial sweeteners that could possibly cause cancer (saccharin, and without more testing, Ace-K, which is described below) — especially since there are others available that are perfectly safe," adds Jacobson.

Avoid saccharin.

Acesulfame-potassium or Ace-K (Sunette or Sweet-One)
Though a newcomer to the marketplace (FDA approval in 1998), acesulfame-K is gaining popularity and is now used in thousands of foods, beverages and pharmaceutical products. It contains four calories per gram, and is 200 times sweeter than sugar.

Rumors: There have been claims that acesulfame-K causes cancer in animals and that the FDA approval of this product was based on flawed studies.

Research: The British Medical Journal in 1996 validates the rumors. "The studies on acesulfame-K used very poor-quality testing, and there are suggestions that it can cause cancer. The product needs to be retested by an independent third party. Until then, I suggest to trying to avoid it," says Jacobson.


Sucralose (Splenda)
Also a relative newcomer, Splenda's been around since 1976, but received FDA approval only in 1998. It has no calories and is 600 times sweeter than table sugar.

Rumors: Some believe there has not been adequate testing, and others say Splenda causes cancer, genetic changes, birth defects and immune system complications.

Research: More than 100 animal and human studies were evaluated over a period of two decades. "The results indicate that sucralose is completely safe," says Jacobson.

Bottom line: This one seems safe.

Stevia
Stevia, 100 times sweeter than sugar, is not FDA approved, which is why it must be sold as a dietary supplement.

Rumors: While most believe stevia is dangerous and can lead to cancer, others claim it's safe, healthy and natural.

Research: Studies suggest that stevia may promote cancer. That stevia is natural doesn't mean it is safe. "Any chemical added to our food supply needs to be tested. It's immaterial that it's naturally occurring," says Jacobson.

Bottom line: It can't even get by the FDA.

According to the National Cancer Institute:

Aspartame: (NutraSweet, Equal, Canderel, Spoonful)

Aspartame, an artificial sweetener distributed under several trade names (e.g., Nutrasweet or Equal), was approved in 1981 by the FDA after tests showed that it did not cause cancer in laboratory animals, although not all of the laboratory experiments agreed. Interest in aspartame was renewed by a 1996 report suggesting that an increase in the number of people with brain tumors between 1975 and 1992 might be associated with the introduction and use of this sweetener in the United States. However, an analysis of then-current NCI statistics showed that the overall incidence of brain and central nervous system cancers began to rise in 1973, 8 years prior to the approval of aspartame, and continued to rise until 1985. Moreover, increases in overall brain cancer incidence occurred primarily in people 70 and older, a group that was not exposed to the highest doses of aspartame since its 1981 introduction. These and other data do not point to a clear link, based on animal or human studies, between the use of aspartame and the development of brain tumors. The FDA still considers aspartame safe.

Saccharin: (Sweet'N Low and Sugar Twin)

Animal studies have linked saccharin, another artificial sweetener, with the development of bladder cancer. For this reason, Congress required that all food containing saccharin bear the following warning label: “Use of this product may be hazardous to your health. This product contains saccharin, which has been determined to cause cancer in laboratory animals.” Congress also mandated that further studies of saccharin be performed.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and FDA have looked at the possible role of saccharin in causing bladder cancer in humans. People in the study (which included a large number of elderly people) who used this artificial sweetener had no greater risk of bladder cancer than people in the population as a whole. However, researchers looked at the data for those people who were heavy saccharin users (6 or more servings of sugar substitute or 2 or more 8-ounce servings of diet drink daily) and found some evidence of an increased risk of bladder cancer, particularly for those who heavily ingested the sweetener as a table top sweetener or through diet sodas. The results of the NCI–FDA study, together with findings of additional research with laboratory animals, suggest that consumption of saccharin is not a major risk factor for bladder cancer in humans. For these reasons, Congress removed the warning label in December of 2000.

No information was provided about Splenda.

thats some good information there

Working in Oncology and in the pharmaceutical industry for many years I get to see on a daily basis how drugs are 'pushed' to be approved in order to get used ASAP because of $$$.

Research can often be 'connected' to those very authorities that are supposed to be impartial and objective in evaluating the findings.

After years of witnessing such offensive approaches I can only say that the rumours surrounding Aspartame and its toxicities have a degree of truth to them.

Multinationals and other linked companies suck.

I can't believe that anyone can passively digest and blindly accept articles or statements released by 'authorities' such as the FDA and those scientists 'paid' to report acceptable findings.

Don't give your minds away people.

No ill-feeling was meant towards any members here.

The FDA will approve anything that makes money. Why do people think these drug companies are in business and will never be shut down. They make all the money.

No cure for AIDS right? Why the hell is Magic Johnson alive? Because he got the cure but will it be given to the public? No. They used him to promote that there is no cure but if you keep paying for drugs you may live a bit longer.

Big brother is probably watching as we speak.

When they discovered HMS-90 up here and tried it on AIDS patients, some went from HIV+ to HIV-. But it's non-toxic and expensive, and even though it helps everything from burns to cancer to vancomycin-resistant staph, it's one of the ones you have to pay for. I've no doubt there are more things like that out now, it's way too good a research track to have abandoned.

My guess with a lot of chronic illness if you're rich to start you're going to have overall better health--always been the case--and your chances of treatment/cure are much more successful.

Where I live the average lifespan is 39, mostly due to abject poverty, starvation, and all that--a lot of it depends on those kinds of factors, too.

Found some more interesting reading on Aspartame.

This is a snippet from the website:

Half the population is on this deadly poison that according to Alex
Constantine in NutraPoison (on our auto-responder) was listed with the
pentagon in an inventory of prospective biochemical warfare weapons
submitted to Congress.

What does NutraSweet do? It destroys the central
nervous system (EPA has declared an epidemic of MS), destroys the brain
(Dr. H. J. Roberts has now written a new book DEFENSE AGAINST ALZHEIMERS
DISEASE - NOMINATED FOR A PULITZER) explaining how its escalating
Alzheimer, a 20th century disease now the 4th leading cause of death in
adults, alters the heart rate and rhythm (we have a new position paper on
this), and destroys the optic nerve! (we have several medical reports on
this).

Is aspartame sweet - Yes - it is a sweet poison. Roaches won't eat it,
cats and dogs won't eat it, ants won't eat it and flies won't eat it - but
the FDA serves it to you with their approval and the approval of the
Monsanto Chemical Co.

http://www.dorway.com/allolney.txt

If you have a family member or a loved one who has suddenly developed symptoms of or has been diagnosed with MS or Alzheimers and they drink diet colas, please do everything in your power to convince them to stop drink or eating this poison. Their symptoms usual improve but depending on how severe their symptoms, it could take years for a complete recovery.

If you have a child with ADD or ADHD, same thing. Get them off of aspartame. Check all labels for vitamins, soft drinks (including Kool-Aid), cookies, cakes, tea mixes, etc. READ THE LABELS! Look for aspartame in the ingredients.

It seems the more I read the madder I get.

To quote:
"Is aspartame sweet - Yes - it is a sweet poison. Roaches won't eat it,
cats and dogs won't eat it, ants won't eat it and flies won't eat it - but
the FDA serves it to you with their approval and the approval of the
Monsanto Chemical Co."

Good on you Nefuller!

So true.

Listen to your body people!!!!!!!

Obviously those organisms that are infinitely more in tune with their bodys' senses stay away from this manufactured poison - It just says so much about how out of tune WE ARE if we need to be told it isn't good for us!!

Very interesting...

I hope everything turns out okay for you, nefuller. I'll be sharing this info with my family.

I never liked the taste of those artificial sweeteners but I was aware that yogurt had aspartame in it. Guess I'll leave that at the store from now on.

There are certain yogurts that use Splenda instead of Nutrasweet. Splenda is fine. Just make sure to check the label.

No it's not...

You're in denial...

That statement provides no evidence to back it up. It just says "some say it is" not "tests have found". And stop telling me I'm in denial. You all seem to be conveniently OVERLOOKING the fact that you have to consume massive amounts of this stuff for long periods of time to even have a risk of such poisoning. And to clarify myself - I am not saying it DOESN'T EXIST because I can see that it DOES.

Sensitive...

Was just messing with you and your toxic stuff

(Though Splenda is just as bad...nothing proven)

Who's going to be the guinea pig for us ingesting this stuff long term?

Anyone, anyone....?

I think Forenzicas wouldn't mind

And to think this stuff is in everyday things like chewing gum

You are the one who is addicted to those stupid Monster drinks!! The can itself says not to drink more than three a day!! I am going to the frig right now and I am going to throw them ALL AWAY!

Ahh yes.. monster drinks. Thanks for reminding me to get another one

I hope your finger falls off.

I think you have a much better chance of a body part falling off since you like to eat so much poison!

These two need a room

First of all, no one is going to do any scientific research relating to the side effects of aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful) or Sucralose (Splenda) due to the fact that manufacturers Monsanto (NutraSweet) and McNeil Nutritionals (Splenda) have the power (money) and the clout (lobbying) to make the results of the research disappear.

Splenda Case History Taken from Dr. Janet Hull's website:

Leslee contacted the Hullistic Network sharing her experiences with Splenda. I
asked if we could include her story in this month's Healthy Newsletter. Her
reply:

"By all means, include my story - all or any part of it - in anything or
anyway you wish. The word needs to be spread and I would like to be a part of
that. Yes, my symptoms have disappeared. My HUGE abdomen has subsided to
nearly a normal size. Before I stopped using the Splenda, it was the size of a 7
month pregnant woman. I was swollen all over. I will email you a before and
after picture within the next few days. You will be amazed at the difference
after only a week without this poison.

Do you know if any one has done any kind of special program dedicated to
aspartame or Splenda poisoning ... i.e, Oprah, 60 Minutes, etc??

I am so elated to be nearly back to normal but I have so much anger after all
the suffering I did. I have done additional research and discovered more than
one article indicating that aspartame can cause ovarian/uterine tumors. I
wonder how much a jury would think mine were worth?? I never had any health
problems at all until I began to use artificial sweeteners. How very sad to
think many people will go through life feeling as I did and not have a clue why.
That's why I want to help in any way I can to reach everyone!

Below is my history:

Since I have been using Splenda, I have been seen by:

family practitioners
gynecologists
urologists
neurologist
gastroenterologists
phlebotomists
allergist

Since I have been using Splenda, I have had the following
procedures/surgeries performed:

hysteroscopy
colonoscopy
cystoscopy
laparoscopy
hysterectomy

Since I have been using Splenda, I have been prescribed the following
medications:

anti-depressants
anti-inflammatories
anti-biotics
anti-pain pills
antacids
anti-water pills
hormone shots

Since I have been using Splenda, I have had the following complaints:

head pain
neck pain
hip pain
back pain
shoulder pain
joint pain
abdominal swelling
abdominal pain
abdominal tenderness
vaginal bleeding
amenorrhea
interstitial cystitis
ringing in ears
tingling in hands
unexplained weight gain (17 lbs)
fatigue
insomnia
seeing spots
blurry vision
breathlessness

Since I have been using Splenda, the following are the tests I have had
performed:

MRIs
abdominal CT scans
brain scan
bone scan
x-rays
ultrasounds
blood work
cartoid ultrasound
bladder scan

Since I have been using Splenda, I have been checked for the following
(in addition to many more) conditions:

lupus
kidney disease
ovarian cancer
thyroid

Since I have been using Splenda, I have attempted to lose weight
(unsuccessfully) by trying the following weight control programs:

weight watchers
Atkins diet
South Beach diet
joined a gym

There is no warning on the box of Splenda - in fact, the box claims
it is 'suitable for the whole family.'

Would you know where or who to contact to start lobbying to get
this poison taken off the market? I have been suffering from Splenda
poisoning for 2-3 years."

Thank you
Leslee Scurlock

http://www.janethull.com/newsletter/0704/s...ase-history.php

Sounds like they already have one since she is going to throw out his Monster drinks.