I am 49 years old and first experienced disorientation/confusion spells while at work starting in 1986. I had always drunk other soft drinks and only began drinking Diet Coke in 1986 when my company replaced our other drink machines with Coke machines.
These disorientation spells progressed in frequency and severity when, in 1990 I suffered a grand-mal seizure at work after drinking 2 Diet Cokes and a chocolate candy bar. I suffered another grand-mal seizure in 1991 and have had 8-10 grand-mals since that time experiencing spells of severe disorientation almost regularly every 3-4 weeks. The most recent experience was this prior weekend after attending a party in which I drank 5-6 Diet Cokes – much more than my usual 1 or 2. This grand-mal resulted in my heart stopping and quitting breathing. Had I not been in the company of my girlfriend who is an RN, I am sure I would be dead right now.
I have been on Dilantin, Tegretol, Felbatol and after this weekend’s experience my neurologist plans to put me on Lamictal since none of these medications have been able to eliminate my disorientation spells which I have continued to experience at least monthly.
I was alerted to Aspartame in 1994 by a co-worker who provided me several articles which I found alarming. I quit drinking Diet Cokes for about one year and experienced no grand-mals and only one or two minor disorientation spells.
I guess I resumed drinking Diet Cokes as I either forgot their potential impact or didn’t really believe the connection. I DO NOW!!
I can’t believe the volume of testimonials on the Web. I accidentally hit print and went through all my paper stock. I find it very gratifying that people are taking the time to share their experiences on the Internet.
I have had every test known to mankind, numerous times. These included MRI’s, CT, EEG, blood, blood and more blood. Cysternogram to check for infection of the brain fluid and proper flow. NOTHING turned up in any of these tests. All very, very frustrating as I have always been very active and this condition was becoming debilitating.
I had also experienced grand-mals over the pacific on the way to Hawaii vacationing as well as numerous other vacations that ended in a 911 call.
My family has no history “anywhere” of epilepsy and I have found it very trying to be labeled with this stigma. I have also lost one job as a result of excessive absences when I experienced 3-consecutive grand-mals toward the end of a 2-week vacation. My children are petrified for me to visit them at school (embarrassment I guess) as they witnessed one of my grand-mals while dining out.
I realize now there is ONE COMMON ELEMENT – DIET COKE!!! For some reason, the other diet drinks don’t affect me as severely. Is it possible that Diet Coke has a higher concentration of NutraSweet??
I DON’T GET IT! IT SEEMS THIS PROBLEM COULD BE EASILY VERIFIED WITH A CONTROLLED TEST. SURFING THE INTERNET, I SUSPECT THERE WOULD BE PLENTY OF VOLUNTEERS OR SUBJECTS. I CERTAINLY WOULD VOLUNTEER.
ALSO, HOW ABOUT A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT??? IF THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY CAN EVENTUALLY BE DEFEATED, I SUSPECT THE MAKERS OF NUTRASWEET COULD AS WELL.
What is this drug doing to our children who are being weaned on it?
What will the effects be on them when they get older?? Hopefully all this documentation will still be around for evidence of negligence on the part of the NutraSweet makers and those food/drink companies that have elected it as the food additive of choice.
I personally plan to post warning posters on all Coke machines at work and anywhere else I can as I feel this has had such an adverse effect on my life that I am going to take this as a personal vendetta.
I AM PISSED!!!! My quality of life has suffered for 10 years +. I KNOW it is directly attributed to Aspartame as I can demonstrate its effects.
HELLO FDA – ANYBODY HOME??? OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK!!!!