I am a 37-year-old teacher, who has always been in good health. I eat healthy foods, but I have one bad habit. I began drinking Dt. Coke three years ago, and I am up to two 20 oz. Diet Cokes per day. I don’t drink coffee or tea, so my Dt. Coke habit began as a want for caffeine. I switched to caffeine-free Dt. Coke after one year of the regular diet kind.
Unfortunately, about six months ago, I began having terrible headaches. I would go to sleep with one, and wake up with one. I didn’t seem to have any organic reason why I was having them. Everyone seemed to think they were stress related, BUT I really felt happy – my career and colleagues are great, my husband and kids are fantastic, our money situation is better than ever — why would I be stressed? On a hunch, I gave up pop. Within 10 days, my headaches went away. After being headache-free for a few weeks, and I guess, finding it hard to believe that pop could cause problems, I went back to drinking caffeine-free Diet Coke.
Then three weeks ago, I began to have light flashes occur in my eyes. I thought it was our fluorescent lights we have in our classroom, which seem to shine brighter on dark, dreary days, and the reflection off of the dozens of mostly white papers I grade on a daily basis. My eyes need a rest, I thought. Then it happened two more times, once when I was at home. When the flashes occur, I can’t see in the center of my eyes, only around the edges, and the flashes are as bright as photographic bulbs. I have a check-up next month, so I thought I’d bring it up then, since otherwise I was O.K. It was strange, too, and I didn’t want anyone to think I was hallucinating, etc., etc.
This week, I have had constant heart palpitations. These frighten me, enough that I mentioned it to family members and even a colleague of mine. I have no pain — just frequent heart “fluttering.” I have read enough to know these symptoms are related to certain health problems (and my brother is a doctor, which helps!) I have no thyroid problems and my blood sugar level is fine. I have a doctor’s appointment in a few days, but, being a teacher, I’m naturally curious. So I thought about my lifestyle (I don’t smoke, drink, or do drugs), my eating habits, etc., and looked for excesses. Dt. Coke, of course! I followed a hunch and did a search on “Aspartame.” I’m going cold turkey on the Dt. Coke. I’ll let you know when or if the palpitations stop, or if another cause is found. I would have never thought that diet soda could be toxic. I guess I’ll find out first hand if my fears are correct. Why hasn’t this been brought out before? I’m beginning to feel like a victim.
Update
I stopped using all products containing Aspartame on February 11, 1998, after suspecting caffeine-free Diet Coke was making me sick. I drank some as a “test” on Friday, February 20, and got really sick. I also tried tea (not herbal) on Feb. 25 to see if it triggered anything. It didn’t affect me. Still thinking it a coincidence, I tried caffeine-free Diet Coke again on March 9th, but only four sips. Yikes! Was that a bad decision! I’m just glad I have strong willpower, because I feel now that I was addicted to Diet Coke. This and the fact that it has made me so sick, has frightened me enough to give it up for good, plus other Aspartame-containing products.
I’ve never drank alcohol or tried any addicting drugs, but I feel that Diet Coke is as addictive and dangerous. I’m telling everyone I know to be careful of what they eat and drink. My colleagues cannot believe this has happened to active me. I still have some heart palpitations now which occur randomly (not specifically after exercise or eating, they just occur in an irregular pattern) even though I am now on 200 mg. Lopressor per day.
My memory is improving slightly, although I think I may be compensating for my problem somewhat (more lists, sticky notes to myself, etc.). The sensitivity to light and light flashes has stopped so far. My doctors want to do another thyroid scan next week. I’ll update you. Thanks for the information! I’m glad there are people out there who care!