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Strange symptoms
Just over a year ago I experienced strange symptoms. I am 30 yr old, good health, don't smoke, don't drink. One morning I started having trouble speaking. Saying wrong words, couldn't read, could barely dial the phone, forgot phone numbers, wrote down wrong numbers when being told what numbers to dial. About a half hour before this had visual problems. It was like everything was jiggling. Wasn't "dizzy", just everything around me was almost like bouncing. Whole visual episode lasted about 20 minutes, trouble thinking, speaking, lasted about 10 minutes. Couldn't even get the names of my children right. Was very concerend. Went to ER, did CT-normal. Weeks later had MRI w/o contrast, US of heart, neck, thyroid. All normal. Blood work all normal except elevated Thyroid which later when re-checked was normal. Neurologist thought possible TIA, then changed to possible Atypical Migraine. No history of Migraines. Had dull headache when all over. Since then have had a few visual problems, and some dizzy spells. Nothing like what happened that day. Any ideas? Does this sound more like a type of Migraine? Thanks for your time.
Tomy7 has done a good cut-and-paste job of repeating the same bunch of baloney freely disseminated on the websites of the product's manufacturer. In fact, it's amazing how much of the text from the press releases from the manufacturer end up being repeated sometimes word-for-word by the unwitting news agencies who don't understand the biology involved. In fact, even many of the so-called "health newsletters" put out by major medical institutions have regurgitated the line fed them by the manufacturer.
But look, we don't need to debate the safety of aspartame here. Anyone who understands how to use a good search engine can locate the dozens of articles and studies that have implicated aspartame as a dangerous substance. Just put in "aspartame +toxic" or "methanol +aspartame" and you'll find links to plenty of med journal articles on the subject.
The proponents of consuming neurotoxins can argue until the cows come home their aspartame is not harmful, and the readers of this site can choose to read more about the product on the Internet or ignore the risks. But the proponents cannot effectively counter this point: why not try asbstaining from consuming the stuff for 60 days? What do you have to lose? I am not suggesting anyone do anything more radical than simply tossing out the Equal and the Diet Coke for a couple of months. What harm can that do? Some of the people here with unexplained peripheral neuropathy are likely to be surprised by the results.
But look, we don't need to debate the safety of aspartame here. Anyone who understands how to use a good search engine can locate the dozens of articles and studies that have implicated aspartame as a dangerous substance. Just put in "aspartame +toxic" or "methanol +aspartame" and you'll find links to plenty of med journal articles on the subject.
The proponents of consuming neurotoxins can argue until the cows come home their aspartame is not harmful, and the readers of this site can choose to read more about the product on the Internet or ignore the risks. But the proponents cannot effectively counter this point: why not try asbstaining from consuming the stuff for 60 days? What do you have to lose? I am not suggesting anyone do anything more radical than simply tossing out the Equal and the Diet Coke for a couple of months. What harm can that do? Some of the people here with unexplained peripheral neuropathy are likely to be surprised by the results.
The metabolism of aspartame in the human body and the proposed toxicities from its metabolic components have concerned a lot of people and have been the emphasis of many post-marketing surveillance studies. Aspartame is metabolized by digestive enzymes and peptides to three common dietary components: amino acids, aspartic acid, and phenylalanine. Minute amounts of methanol can also be detected. Eating foods such as meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables will also produce these same components, but in greater amounts than aspartame. For example, a glass of milk has 6 times more phenylalanine and 13 times more aspartic acid and a glass of tomato juice provides 6 times more methanol than a beverage the same size sweetened with 100 percent aspartame. Interestingly enough, it is impossible for humans to digest enough aspartame to raise the levels of these metabolic components to a dangerous level.
Anecdotal reports claiming that aspartame caused health problems increased in the days and weeks after aspartame was approved for use in carbonated beverages in 1983. These reports prompted the FDA to request an investigation by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC analyzed more than 500 reports and the problems associated with aspartame were divided into two categories. Two-thirds of the people experienced neurological problems while one-quarter of the people experienced gastrointestinal problems. The neurological symptoms consisted of headaches, mood alterations, insomnia, dizziness, and fatigue. The gastrointestinal symptoms included abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. The CDC concluded, "The majority of symptoms were mild and are symptoms that are common in the general populace." The CDC also noted that there was no evidence supporting the claim that aspartame could cause certain diseases (i.e. multiple sclerosis, lupus, etc.).
While nothing can be considered 100 percent safe, aspartame has undergone extensive testing. With the exception of a few very mild side effects, aspartame appears to be quite safe. Those individuals, who experience problems after consuming aspartame, should eliminate foods and beverages that contain this sweetener from their diet.
The report claiming aspartame causes MS, often referred to as the Nancy Merkle hoax, is believed to have been circulating since 1995. The message is attributed to "Nancy Merkle," yet no one by that name is known to exist, nor has anyone come forward claiming to be the author. No credentials, research or sources are cited. This hoax first came to the attention of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation in 1998, when those circulating it added the false claim that the MSF was suing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to halt the sale and use of aspartame. The MSF neither condemns nor endorses aspartame, and has never filed suit against the FDA.
The internet is not a place for diagnosis but a place to share viewpoints. The internet population that visit medical sites for answers to questions that reliable physicians have already answered are often chronic worriers and have a whole barrel full of symptoms that seem to be unrelated or unexplainable, as it were. Do you know how many people are somatizers?, i.e., those who translate fear and anxiety into physical symptoms? The internet is the hypochondriac's new haven and can easily be swayed and preyed upon by silly hoaxes and unproven remedies. Use common sense. Go to your doctor for answers not the web.
Anecdotal reports claiming that aspartame caused health problems increased in the days and weeks after aspartame was approved for use in carbonated beverages in 1983. These reports prompted the FDA to request an investigation by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC analyzed more than 500 reports and the problems associated with aspartame were divided into two categories. Two-thirds of the people experienced neurological problems while one-quarter of the people experienced gastrointestinal problems. The neurological symptoms consisted of headaches, mood alterations, insomnia, dizziness, and fatigue. The gastrointestinal symptoms included abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. The CDC concluded, "The majority of symptoms were mild and are symptoms that are common in the general populace." The CDC also noted that there was no evidence supporting the claim that aspartame could cause certain diseases (i.e. multiple sclerosis, lupus, etc.).
While nothing can be considered 100 percent safe, aspartame has undergone extensive testing. With the exception of a few very mild side effects, aspartame appears to be quite safe. Those individuals, who experience problems after consuming aspartame, should eliminate foods and beverages that contain this sweetener from their diet.
The report claiming aspartame causes MS, often referred to as the Nancy Merkle hoax, is believed to have been circulating since 1995. The message is attributed to "Nancy Merkle," yet no one by that name is known to exist, nor has anyone come forward claiming to be the author. No credentials, research or sources are cited. This hoax first came to the attention of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation in 1998, when those circulating it added the false claim that the MSF was suing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to halt the sale and use of aspartame. The MSF neither condemns nor endorses aspartame, and has never filed suit against the FDA.
The internet is not a place for diagnosis but a place to share viewpoints. The internet population that visit medical sites for answers to questions that reliable physicians have already answered are often chronic worriers and have a whole barrel full of symptoms that seem to be unrelated or unexplainable, as it were. Do you know how many people are somatizers?, i.e., those who translate fear and anxiety into physical symptoms? The internet is the hypochondriac's new haven and can easily be swayed and preyed upon by silly hoaxes and unproven remedies. Use common sense. Go to your doctor for answers not the web.
Complex migraines are certainly a consideration, but another possibility would be a seizure. If you haven't already had one, then you may want to consider getting an EEG, perhaps even a prolonged sleep deprived EEG just to make sure that the diagnosis wasn't missed. But reading over your story, the visual changes that preceded the neurological problems sound like they could have been an migrainous aura. The dull headache afterwards also help make migraine a strong possiblity. Glad that your workup was otherwise normal. Good luck.
Years ago, I had sub-acute transient thyroiditis. Before I was diagnosed, I thought I was losing my mind. Too much thyroid hormone can cause weird symtoms. I would go to the grocery store only to get home to see that I bought the wrong product. When I peaked, I was at work and could not write. I could not concentrate very long. The thyroiditis took its course and I have not had a problem with it since. Maybe your symptoms arose because of the elevated hormone.
I also have heard from a Chiropractic friend that glutamate is also being suspected in over-exciting the CNS and that this substance is in certain foods in high amounts. Ever heard of this?
Where or what have you read that Aspartame may have ill effects on the CNS? I am only curious. I have to say that I stopped drinking the diet stuff only because of the headaches, which I had experienced before my tingling problem. Then the tingling happened, and very slowly over 7 months diminished. I also stopped eating deli meats, which contain nitrites, which can trigger headaches. I do have a rapid heart rate (that started on Feb. 03), and am on 100 mg. Toprol. Don't know if that is related to my unexplained neurological symptoms. Or just the anxiety created in the last 8 months of my wondering what is going to happen. Do you think it is possible that a virus of some sort caused my symptoms?
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