Splenda Allergy
stacydianereagan
Posts: 18 Member
Anybody else find Splenda gives them joint pain?
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Replies
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No1
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No. I already have joint pain.
How are you determining that the source of your joint pain is specifically from splenda?1 -
No and I have never heard of that before. It is more likely to be exercise induced.3
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stacydianereagan wrote: »Anybody else find Splenda gives them joint pain?
I don't eat splenda so no. When I have joint pain it is from other things.0 -
My doctor tested me for everything and then started eliminating from my diet. When we did the Splenda the trigger thumb and joint pain went away.0
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What type of doctor did this test?2
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Just my family doctor. First she thought lupus. I now use stevia. I just wondered if anyone else had noticed anything.0
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Possibly. I have extreme reactions to Nutri-sweet. Horrible migraines. I used to drink one or two sugary Cokes per day but needed to cut my calories so I tried a Diet Coke with aspartame. That caused me to have digestive issues so I switched to Diet Coke with Splenda. I am having some joint pain so I will drop the Splenda to see if that's the cause. I thought it was the colder weather but would be happy to find out it was something as simple as Splenda. Thanks for asking.1
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queenliz99 wrote: »What type of doctor did this test?
Really? So if an MD suggested an elimination diet and they figured out it was splenda, it's valid? But if an ND, chiro or some other alternative doctor suggests an elimination diet and they figured out it was splenda, that's not valid?
A person can be allergic to splenda. It's just like any other allergy. I blood tested allergic to sugar cane years ago. Unusual? Maybe. Impossible? No. Joint pain is a common allergic reaction. Whether one gets joint pain (vs. rashes, hives, etc) from a substance due to an allergy has a ton to do with genetics and a person's inherent body weaknesses (we all have some area we are weaker in physically).
OP, if you don't mind the taste, stevia comes in both liquid and powder forms. Some of the flavored stevia drops aren't too bad. Xylitol or monks fruit might also be options for you.4 -
ronjsteele1 wrote: »queenliz99 wrote: »What type of doctor did this test?
Really? So if an MD suggested an elimination diet and they figured out it was splenda, it's valid? But if an ND, chiro or some other alternative doctor suggests an elimination diet and they figured out it was splenda, that's not valid?
A person can be allergic to splenda. It's just like any other allergy. I blood tested allergic to sugar cane years ago. Unusual? Maybe. Impossible? No. Joint pain is a common allergic reaction. Whether one gets joint pain (vs. rashes, hives, etc) from a substance due to an allergy has a ton to do with genetics and a person's inherent body weaknesses (we all have some area we are weaker in physically).
OP, if you don't mind the taste, stevia comes in both liquid and powder forms. Some of the flavored stevia drops aren't too bad. Xylitol or monks fruit might also be options for you.
Legit question! My joint pain was mis-diagnosed by my regular GP for years and then went a specialist(rheumatologist) to figure what was wrong with me.
Touchy?10 -
I dont get joint pain but I get an upset stomach from splenda. I was using it to sweetened my daily cups of tea when it started. I use real sugar again.0
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CaptainJoy wrote: »Possibly. I have extreme reactions to Nutri-sweet. Horrible migraines. I used to drink one or two sugary Cokes per day but needed to cut my calories so I tried a Diet Coke with aspartame. That caused me to have digestive issues so I switched to Diet Coke with Splenda. I am having some joint pain so I will drop the Splenda to see if that's the cause. I thought it was the colder weather but would be happy to find out it was something as simple as Splenda. Thanks for asking.
I also had problems with nutrisweet. I suffered from debilitating migraines off and on mixed with stay-in-bed-all-day vertigo. Went through all kinds of testing and nothing was found. One of the doctors mentioned offhand that I could "lay off the nutrisweet" since the symptom onset coincided with when my diet changed. After a few more spells, I was desperate enough to try anything. Cut out all nutrisweet and was symptom-free in about 5 weeks. Haven't been in bed with vertigo ever since (20 years), though I have had some milder issues after occasionally eating diet foods.
I would never proclaim that artificial sweeteners are toxins or dangerous to the general population, but I will also never say that it is impossible for somebody to have a reaction to them. If you cut it out and you feel better, that's a good thing.4 -
Absolutely - i overdosed on splenda when it first came out. I had never found a sweetener I liked, so this was a god-send - i thought of it as "free" and used it liberally. Like 40+ packets a day
Moderatsion has never been my strong suit.
After a few months, I started experiencing all kinds of symptoms... joint pain, brain fog really bad, sore "spots" all over, tired beyond belief, etc. My doctor pushed a fibromyalgia diagnosis on me. He did some basic tests anyway (though he declared I had fibro before that). He very clearly gave me a "name" so I had something to google and could see there was really no treatments. Eventually I tried a few drugs, desperate.
I was browsing online one night looking up my symptoms for the umpteenth time (still didnt believe that "fibromyalgia" was legit for me... it is an exclusionary diagnosis, and we didnt really exclude anything!) and found a website with splenda side-effects and darn if almost every symptoms wasnt there. I cut it out and after 2 months I was almost 100% back to normal.
Of course, I was an idiot for taking so much, so I cant say "splenda is bad" - anything could cause issues if you overdose. I avoided it for a few years, and now I use it in very mild moderation rotated in with a few other sweeteners, always aware of my cumulative daily amounts!
I have also found similar issues with other food parts and sweeteners... A friend diagnosed with lupus had almost 100% symptom relief when eliminating gluten. She may still have lupus, but her symptoms are MUCH better now. Another friend had a fibro diagnosis as well and found significant symptom relief from eliminating her all day long diet soda (with nutrasweet/aspartame). May not be true for everyone, but certainly worth experimenting!
I found that nutrasweet/aspartame makes my legs ache and knees hurt. I confirmed this several times - I had a huge diet mtn dew habit (6-12 cans a day) for years. I could barely walk, and even had a handicap parking pass. On quitting for a few months, my legs got so much better they were "normal" for the first time I could remember. I didnt tie it together until one day I drank a can of diet mtn dew (just because I was out and it was convenient) - and that night was in pain and had a hard time walking. Took a day or two to get better. I caught on and played a few times and sure enough - that was it! I also discovered that something in diet RED mtn dew is actually worse for me.
I also tried stevia... This is touted as "natural" (well, so is arsenic...) and pushed for diabetics because it doesnt raise blood sugar. Well, for some people it is even better - it lowers blood sugar! Great for diabetics! Terrible for hypoglycemics! I drank it in my tea for about a month, experiencing daily near-blackouts and dizziness before I realized the tea was doing it. Switched to splenda in it for a few days and no dizziness! Got a meter and experimented... my "normal" BG is about 70 and maybe 80-90 after eating. When dizzy from tea, it dropped to 40. So no more stevia for me!
I have tried monk fruit and so far no issues, but I am leary of relying on any one sweetener anymore, so I rotate it with a few others. I also learned stevia in cooked foods that have carbs are ok for me (carbs bring BG back up), just not in 0 calorie type drinks!
I guess my lesson is moderation and observation and experimentation! Doctors havent always caught on, and not everyone is sensitive to these or in the same way!5 -
I've never noticed this but some people experience joint pain due to allergic reactions. If it's the trigger for this then definitely find something else.0
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stacydianereagan wrote: »Just my family doctor. First she thought lupus. I now use stevia. I just wondered if anyone else had noticed anything.
Your family doctor actually told you you have a splenda allergy causing you joint pain?
Get a new doctor.3 -
I find it weird that a family doctor would supervise an elimination diet (that's more a registered dietitian thing) as most GPs aren't well versed in nutrition0
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I'm just glad I don't have joint pain anymore.GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »stacydianereagan wrote: »Just my family doctor. First she thought lupus. I now use stevia. I just wondered if anyone else had noticed anything.
Your family doctor actually told you you have a splenda allergy causing you joint pain?
Get a new doctor.
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singingflutelady wrote: »I find it weird that a family doctor would supervise an elimination diet (that's more a registered dietitian thing) as most GPs aren't well versed in nutrition
She was great. Sadly, she no longer works in our practice, so I lost a really good doctor.1 -
singingflutelady wrote: »I find it weird that a family doctor would supervise an elimination diet (that's more a registered dietitian thing) as most GPs aren't well versed in nutrition
My family doctor does, but he's also a DO so he had several years of nutrition beyond medical school. At least in the circles I run in, doctors tend to deal with elimination diets that are being done for the purpose of determining food allergies.
My BIL is an MD. He said when someone comes to him with health problems that can be fixed with dietary changes (he said in his office that's about 80% of the issues he sees) he offers help to the person (he happens to be a very healthy guy and into food anyway). He said that only 20% of the people he offers lifestyle help to will take it. The other 80% ask him for a pill because they don't want to put the work into it. That is so sad.
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »stacydianereagan wrote: »Just my family doctor. First she thought lupus. I now use stevia. I just wondered if anyone else had noticed anything.
Your family doctor actually told you you have a splenda allergy causing you joint pain?
Get a new doctor.
Wow. <shaking head>2 -
ronjsteele1 wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »I find it weird that a family doctor would supervise an elimination diet (that's more a registered dietitian thing) as most GPs aren't well versed in nutrition
My family doctor does, but he's also a DO so he had several years of nutrition beyond medical school. At least in the circles I run in, doctors tend to deal with elimination diets that are being done for the purpose of determining food allergies.
My BIL is an MD. He said when someone comes to him with health problems that can be fixed with dietary changes (he said in his office that's about 80% of the issues he sees) he offers help to the person (he happens to be a very healthy guy and into food anyway). He said that only 20% of the people he offers lifestyle help to will take it. The other 80% ask him for a pill because they don't want to put the work into it. That is so sad.GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »stacydianereagan wrote: »Just my family doctor. First she thought lupus. I now use stevia. I just wondered if anyone else had noticed anything.
Your family doctor actually told you you have a splenda allergy causing you joint pain?
Get a new doctor.
Wow. <shaking head>
I find that's true. I hear a lot about doctors being "pill pushers" but from my experience quite a few of them are pressured to prescribe medications that they otherwise wouldn't. I know in the end it's the doctor's fault for prescribing but some people won't accept no as an answer and won't leave until they get what they want.2 -
This is about splenda
http://www.splenda.ca/healthcare-brand-sweetener0 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »stacydianereagan wrote: »Just my family doctor. First she thought lupus. I now use stevia. I just wondered if anyone else had noticed anything.
Your family doctor actually told you you have a splenda allergy causing you joint pain?
Get a new doctor.
Why would a person leave their doctor if the doctor conducted an elimination diet protocol correctly and found some correlation between pain and a specific ingredient in foods? My wife found several issues through with foods and her medical condition through elimination diets, working with doctors (her last one was through a GI doctor). Hell, I know a lot of people allergic to so many weird things, like pineapple, strawberries, pork, etc.. So, it's really not that unreasonable.
OP, if you did an elimination diet and found a reaction, I would cut it out. There is no reason to incorporate foods that potentially cause some kind of reaction. Try a few other sweeteners to see how you react to them. If that doesn't work, maybe try real sugar.8 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »stacydianereagan wrote: »Just my family doctor. First she thought lupus. I now use stevia. I just wondered if anyone else had noticed anything.
Your family doctor actually told you you have a splenda allergy causing you joint pain?
Get a new doctor.
Why would a person leave their doctor if the doctor conducted an elimination diet protocol correctly and found some correlation between pain and a specific ingredient in foods? My wife found several issues through with foods and her medical condition through elimination diets, working with doctors (her last one was through a GI doctor). Hell, I know a lot of people allergic to so many weird things, like pineapple, strawberries, pork, etc.. So, it's really not that unreasonable.
You guys are lucky. My GI is clueless ( he recommended red meat and spinach when I was severely anaemic even though I have crohn's). I told him I couldn't eat those and he said why? Um low residue/fiber and no red meat is pretty standard for crohn's patients and eating those would be very painful so it's shocking a GI wouldn't know that! That's why I don't trust doctors for nutritional information.1 -
singingflutelady wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »stacydianereagan wrote: »Just my family doctor. First she thought lupus. I now use stevia. I just wondered if anyone else had noticed anything.
Your family doctor actually told you you have a splenda allergy causing you joint pain?
Get a new doctor.
Why would a person leave their doctor if the doctor conducted an elimination diet protocol correctly and found some correlation between pain and a specific ingredient in foods? My wife found several issues through with foods and her medical condition through elimination diets, working with doctors (her last one was through a GI doctor). Hell, I know a lot of people allergic to so many weird things, like pineapple, strawberries, pork, etc.. So, it's really not that unreasonable.
You guys are lucky. My GI is clueless ( he recommended red meat and spinach when I was severely anaemic even though I have crohn's). I told him I couldn't eat those and he said why? Um low residue/fiber and no red meat is pretty standard for crohn's patients and eating those would be very painful so it's shocking a GI wouldn't know that! That's why I don't trust doctors for nutritional information.
I always trust but verify and often do research prior to my wife's appoints. At this point, we have so many specialist, it's required to ensure that everyone is on the same page. I just think it's ridiculous that comments are made without knowing anything about a doctor. Yes, many doctors are not trained, but if they understand and follow protocols correctly, than they are at least knowledgeable enough to make an assessment.
Ironically, my areas has one of a small handful of dedicated doctors in POTS, and he was terrible with nutrition. My wife's electrophysiologist was much more informed. Although, I did surprise him on my research on electrolyte drinks.2 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »stacydianereagan wrote: »Just my family doctor. First she thought lupus. I now use stevia. I just wondered if anyone else had noticed anything.
Your family doctor actually told you you have a splenda allergy causing you joint pain?
Get a new doctor.
Why would a person leave their doctor if the doctor conducted an elimination diet protocol correctly and found some correlation between pain and a specific ingredient in foods? My wife found several issues through with foods and her medical condition through elimination diets, working with doctors (her last one was through a GI doctor). Hell, I know a lot of people allergic to so many weird things, like pineapple, strawberries, pork, etc.. So, it's really not that unreasonable.
OP, if you did an elimination diet and found a reaction, I would cut it out. There is no reason to incorporate foods that potentially cause some kind of reaction. Try a few other sweeteners to see how you react to them. If that doesn't work, maybe try real sugar.
This. Plus, Splenda is artificial anyway. Try real sugar or honey.1 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »stacydianereagan wrote: »Just my family doctor. First she thought lupus. I now use stevia. I just wondered if anyone else had noticed anything.
Your family doctor actually told you you have a splenda allergy causing you joint pain?
Get a new doctor.
Why would a person leave their doctor if the doctor conducted an elimination diet protocol correctly and found some correlation between pain and a specific ingredient in foods? My wife found several issues through with foods and her medical condition through elimination diets, working with doctors (her last one was through a GI doctor). Hell, I know a lot of people allergic to so many weird things, like pineapple, strawberries, pork, etc.. So, it's really not that unreasonable.
OP, if you did an elimination diet and found a reaction, I would cut it out. There is no reason to incorporate foods that potentially cause some kind of reaction. Try a few other sweeteners to see how you react to them. If that doesn't work, maybe try real sugar.
I didn't presume an elimination protocol. I have nothing against them, and in my experience GP's don't run them. That's why I didn't jump to that conclusion.
OP, did you do one? How long did you run it for? What foods did you eliminate? Are you able to tolerate corn?
Did you ever run a true elimination protocol by adding back to test?0 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »stacydianereagan wrote: »Just my family doctor. First she thought lupus. I now use stevia. I just wondered if anyone else had noticed anything.
Your family doctor actually told you you have a splenda allergy causing you joint pain?
Get a new doctor.
Why would a person leave their doctor if the doctor conducted an elimination diet protocol correctly and found some correlation between pain and a specific ingredient in foods? My wife found several issues through with foods and her medical condition through elimination diets, working with doctors (her last one was through a GI doctor). Hell, I know a lot of people allergic to so many weird things, like pineapple, strawberries, pork, etc.. So, it's really not that unreasonable.
OP, if you did an elimination diet and found a reaction, I would cut it out. There is no reason to incorporate foods that potentially cause some kind of reaction. Try a few other sweeteners to see how you react to them. If that doesn't work, maybe try real sugar.
I didn't presume an elimination protocol. I have nothing against them, and in my experience GP's don't run them. That's why I didn't jump to that conclusion.
OP, did you do one? How long did you run it for? What foods did you eliminate? Are you able to tolerate corn?
Did you ever run a true elimination protocol by adding back to test?
The OP stated that her doctor started to eliminate it (maybe you missed that post).0 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »stacydianereagan wrote: »Just my family doctor. First she thought lupus. I now use stevia. I just wondered if anyone else had noticed anything.
Your family doctor actually told you you have a splenda allergy causing you joint pain?
Get a new doctor.
Why would a person leave their doctor if the doctor conducted an elimination diet protocol correctly and found some correlation between pain and a specific ingredient in foods? My wife found several issues through with foods and her medical condition through elimination diets, working with doctors (her last one was through a GI doctor). Hell, I know a lot of people allergic to so many weird things, like pineapple, strawberries, pork, etc.. So, it's really not that unreasonable.
OP, if you did an elimination diet and found a reaction, I would cut it out. There is no reason to incorporate foods that potentially cause some kind of reaction. Try a few other sweeteners to see how you react to them. If that doesn't work, maybe try real sugar.
I didn't presume an elimination protocol. I have nothing against them, and in my experience GP's don't run them. That's why I didn't jump to that conclusion.
OP, did you do one? How long did you run it for? What foods did you eliminate? Are you able to tolerate corn?
Did you ever run a true elimination protocol by adding back to test?
The OP stated that her doctor started to eliminate it (maybe you missed that post).
She never said she added it back. That's not a full elimination protocol. In a true elimination protocol, you go down to a bare bones diet of pretty much well-known none-triggering foods and slowly reintroduce different foods one by one.
This doesn't sound like they ran the protocol that way.0 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »stacydianereagan wrote: »Just my family doctor. First she thought lupus. I now use stevia. I just wondered if anyone else had noticed anything.
Your family doctor actually told you you have a splenda allergy causing you joint pain?
Get a new doctor.
Why would a person leave their doctor if the doctor conducted an elimination diet protocol correctly and found some correlation between pain and a specific ingredient in foods? My wife found several issues through with foods and her medical condition through elimination diets, working with doctors (her last one was through a GI doctor). Hell, I know a lot of people allergic to so many weird things, like pineapple, strawberries, pork, etc.. So, it's really not that unreasonable.
OP, if you did an elimination diet and found a reaction, I would cut it out. There is no reason to incorporate foods that potentially cause some kind of reaction. Try a few other sweeteners to see how you react to them. If that doesn't work, maybe try real sugar.
I didn't presume an elimination protocol. I have nothing against them, and in my experience GP's don't run them. That's why I didn't jump to that conclusion.
OP, did you do one? How long did you run it for? What foods did you eliminate? Are you able to tolerate corn?
Did you ever run a true elimination protocol by adding back to test?
The OP stated that her doctor started to eliminate it (maybe you missed that post).
She never said she added it back. That's not a full elimination protocol.
I recognize that.
But not how that would still lead to a recommendation of getting a new doctors. There isn't even enough information to make that assessment.2 -
GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »stacydianereagan wrote: »Just my family doctor. First she thought lupus. I now use stevia. I just wondered if anyone else had noticed anything.
Your family doctor actually told you you have a splenda allergy causing you joint pain?
Get a new doctor.
Why would a person leave their doctor if the doctor conducted an elimination diet protocol correctly and found some correlation between pain and a specific ingredient in foods? My wife found several issues through with foods and her medical condition through elimination diets, working with doctors (her last one was through a GI doctor). Hell, I know a lot of people allergic to so many weird things, like pineapple, strawberries, pork, etc.. So, it's really not that unreasonable.
OP, if you did an elimination diet and found a reaction, I would cut it out. There is no reason to incorporate foods that potentially cause some kind of reaction. Try a few other sweeteners to see how you react to them. If that doesn't work, maybe try real sugar.
I didn't presume an elimination protocol. I have nothing against them, and in my experience GP's don't run them. That's why I didn't jump to that conclusion.
OP, did you do one? How long did you run it for? What foods did you eliminate? Are you able to tolerate corn?
Did you ever run a true elimination protocol by adding back to test?
The OP stated that her doctor started to eliminate it (maybe you missed that post).
She never said she added it back. That's not a full elimination protocol.
I recognize that.
But not how that would still lead to a recommendation of getting a new doctors. There isn't even enough information to make that assessment.
Hey, I'm as glad as you are that she's without joint pain. No arguments. I'm not against elimination protocols. I did one myself this past year while I was suffering from the fallout from being on antibiotics. They are a very helpful tool.
I don't think Splenda is behind her issues. If anything caused her problems, I tend to think it could be the maltodextrin. Corn's a bugger. I know both of my kids had trouble with it when they were younger and we had to avoid it for years.
It's good her doctor took her concerns seriously and ran tests, I'll give him that.
However, saying she's "allergic" to Splenda? I'm not so sure that's a valid medical assessment based on an improperly used diagnostic tool.0
This discussion has been closed.
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