The summer is over and I missed it thanks to Aspartame. This is my toxicity reaction summary. It started on Father’s Day June 9th. My husband and I went out for breakfast. In the middle of the meal and “out of nowhere” I felt like I was fainting. I was so shocked by this sudden onset; I went to the restroom and splashed cold water on my face trying to regain my composure. I felt weak the rest of that day.
A few days later I had another fainting spell at work only this time it was worse – accompanied by rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath. I left work saying I didn’t feel well. I thought I had too much caffeine and if I went home for a while it would pass. It didn’t. In fact it got worse – to the point I called 911. I thought I was having a heart attack. My resting heart rate was 120. They gave me 02 and my heart rate came down to 80. I declined a ride to the hospital still thinking it would pass.
I then started having nighttime tremors/panic disorder. I would wake up in the middle of the night with a dry mouth and then the tremors would start. At one point I think I had a seizure because I was shaking so badly.
Then on the fourth of July – I was in the emergency room with the same symptoms. They ran all kinds of test, EEG, Thyroid – all fine. The only thing abnormal was my blood count. Hemoglobin was 11 and the red cells were small. I was diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia. Told to get off my vegetarian diet and eat some red meat! Great advice from a doctor huh?
Followed up with a visit to my doctor. She was surprised that my blood count was 11, she expected it to be 5 or 8, normal is 15. I started taking a prescription for iron.
Well the night tremors and shortness of breath continued. I kept calling my doctor and she thought I might be having panic disorder as a result of the anemia so I started taking Valium and Prozac. This helped the nighttime panic attacks.
I started researching Prozac and Serotonin and this is what led me to you.
Thank goodness someone is watching out for us! I had developed a bad chewing gum habit. I chewed 1 large pack of Extra sugar free gum daily. I stopped this immediately and here it is Sept. and I am finally starting to sleep and feel like a normal person! I am no longer taking Prozac or Valium but switched an herbal remedy called St. John’s Wort. I’m convinced the Aspartame destroyed the Serotonin level in my brain and destroyed my blood.
I don’t drink or smoke and had been in perfect health prior to this. I am scheduled to have a complete blood count done this month with a test for Ferritin. Is there any blood test for Aspartame toxicity? Why not? How should I approach my doctor? Everyone thinks I got sick because of my vegetarian diet. I know it’s not so. I probably consume more iron than the average carnivore!