This is a very accurate account of my life on Aspartame. Seems to me that anyone who is using Aspartame and having problems could find correlations with their symptoms, as I did with mine. I connected dates with employment and events that I was certain of dates and that is how I have developed this list of symptoms.
Symptoms of Aspartame Poisoning, Actual Case History
Seizures and Convulsions – First grand mal nocturnal seizure was 01/96, then: 03/25/97, 03/29/97, 04/29/95, 10/25/9 (two during the night), 01/05/98.
Dizziness & Tremors – Severe dizziness and unbalance at my mother and father’s 40th Aedding Anniversay mass–brother caught me from falling (that was 1990). Intermittent unbalance and dizziness from 1993 to 1997. The symptoms disappeard afer April 1997 after completley quitting the ingestion of NutraSweet.
Severe Headaches – Yes – For 15 years I thought I had sinus headaches. Generalized in the post-surgical area on the left side of my head. Occasionally, the headaches would involve either my whole head, my frontal region or just the left side. Headaches severity subsided after April 1997. Became intense after that, but completely went away after January 25, 1998 to the present.
Memory Loss – Yes – very noticeable in 1994-1997, especially when I worked for an attorney’s office Disappeared after April 1997.
Slurred speech – Yes – very noticeable in 1994 – 1997, especially when I worked for an attorney’s office. Disappeared after April 1997.
Confusion – Yes – occasionally since 1993 — totally disappeared after April 1997
Numbness or Tingling of Extremities – Yes–occasional – totally disappeared after January 25, 1998.
Chronic Fatigue – Yes–very noticeable from 1993 to 1997. Still lingered after that but not as severe. Most severe when working in the Attorney’s office. Subsided after April 1997, but totally disappeared after January 1998.
Depression – Occasionally down, but not extreme–seems to be gone also since January 25, 1998
Insomnia – Severe since 1993. Severe up until January 1998. Very infrequent now.
Irritability – Yes–I blamed it on the career change from 1993. But I still was irritable doing what I loved doing for a living–being an artist. I didn’t understand. Some still lingers, but a noticeable positive change since January 25, 1998 after quitting the creamer.
Panic Attacks – Yes – severe at night upon awakening and right before I would have a grand mal seizure. It was so much improved since April 1997, but still present until January 25, 1998–once I quit the creamer, this symptom has occurred one time without the threat of a seizure.
Marked Personality Changes – Yes–most noticeably withdrawn (so one family member noticed) and didn’t feel like I fit in since 1993 – the career change into being a full-time artist in 1997 helped improved that, but I still knew something wasn’t completely right.
My shyness was to a greater degree. I feel like I am the person I once was before 1993, but I am still very shy and intimidated at times, but all of that seems to be better since January 25, 1998.
Phobias – YES–extreme—afraid of going to sleep because I thought I would die during a seizure. After January 25, 1998, that symptom completely disappeared.
Rapid Heart Beat & Tachycardia – YES–very extreme at different times since 1993. This symptom didn’t disappear after April 1997. It got so severe at times, I was over 120 BPM, and my blood pressure was very high. This symptom completely disappeared after January 25, 1998.
Asthmatic Reactions – Yes–in the form of sneezing and apparent sinus congestion. Would wake up sneezing, and discolored drainage from my nose was present most of the day. Sneezing very infrequent since January 25, 1998. No change in this symptom after April 1997. Still severe up until January 25, 1998. Now moderate drainage remains.
Chest Pains – yes– off and on since 1993 – Completely disappeared after January 25, 1998.
Hypertension High – First noticed March 1997 – 144/96. Only one time was it critically high, and that was in October 1997 – 168/102. It has been low since January 25, 1998 – 120/84.
Nausea or Vomiting – Yes-only nausea – Usually accompanied the low blood sugar reactions I seemed to have during different time throughout the year of 1997. My first clue should have been years ago when I tried Diet Pepsi–I got nauseated right away and didn’t know why. Diet Pepsi is the only product that gave me immediate nausea.
Diarrhea – Yes–very noticeable after a meal, but not frequent. First noticed in early 1997.
Blood Sugar Control Problems – Yes–severe, even though I am not a diabetic. Approx. 4 times during 1997, I had severe low blood sugar reactions where I would start shaking and have to stop and get some sugar in me.
Craving for Food – Yes–always wanted something, but never knew what I craved. Mostly since 1993. Since January 25, 1998, I have not had cravings. Now changing over to non-processed foods.
Weight Gain – Yes – 30lbs in the last 3 years. I never ate that much and rarely snack, but my body just gained the weight which was and still is impossible to lose until I detox my body from the formaldehyde I feel.
Hair Loss (Baldness) or Thinning of Hair – Thinning of my hair has been very noticeable since 1995.
Joint Pains – Yes – As far back as 1993, I remember having joint pain every day and feeling like I was “old” at the age of 42.
Other symptoms – severe infections, itching, burning urination, excessive thirst, etc.
Since January 25, 1998, that all disappeared unless I eat something that contains MSG or hidden NutraSweet. My immediate reaction to those things is first sneezing, not feeling well and joint pain the next day.
April 1997 was a significant time for me, because after 3 grand mal nocturnal seizures in less than 45 days, I completely quit ingesting NutraSweet in all foods and beverage. Throughout 1997 and as late as January 5, 1998, I had nocturnal grand mal seizures after not ingesting NutraSweet for all those months. That led me to believe that there was a real physical problem present OR it led me to believe that I was still ingesting NutraSweet unknowingly.
The only thing I was still ingesting that DID NOT state anywhere on the container was the Nestlé’s French Vanilla Creamer. After completely quitting that on January 25, 1998 (I had enjoyed it since 1993), most all of my symptoms immediately disappeared and I have not been having any seizure activity. Though it is too early to tell, I have a hunch that the creamer does have NutraSweet in it, even though the company denies that it does.