Reply #26: I Wound Up In The Emergency Room Because of This Product. [View All]

[David Zephyr]

Until one has suffered the excruciating pain of what seems like a railroad spike in the center of your brain while an overpowering "metallic" taste makes you gag, it's hard to explain what the symptoms of this diet sweetener are like.

For ten years, I used this product in my coffee and ice tea daily ( I drink a pot of coffee everyday ). And then one day, just two years ago, while driving on the Ventura Freeway, I was stricken with near paralysis. The pain I described above in the center of my head began, my skin became exceedingly hot as if it were on fire, and the "metallic taste" became unbearable. I was too embarrassed to call my companion or friends for help because I couldn't describe what was happening to me. I called 911.

Upon entering the emergency room, I told them "something is wrong with my brain".

For two weeks, I was prescribed Prednisone along with a host of other medications. I felt like I was losing my mind and had confusing nightmares in the evening and bouts of confusion during the day...for nearly one month!

As president of an engineering and technology company, I hardly was used to being "fuzzy" and beleive me, I got "religion" about this sweetener.

I was warned by a very dear friend about using the sweetener. She told me as early as 1989 that she had read many troubling things about it and told me, "David, please don't use this sweetener."

I swore off of all artificial sweeteners and we only have brown sugar in our home now. I am fine and only allow my craziness to reveal itself now here at the DU.

I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I believe that this is a very dangerous product and although I have felt fine for these past two years, I still fear that it may be collected within my body somewhere hiding like a time bomb to attack again.