My original assumption... that arthritis was trashing my life!(from 26 February, 1996)
Arthritis... something we all get sooner or later if we live long enough, strikes first at those who are genetically prone to develop the disease, especially if they break some bones. My father gave me the genes and then I broke my hip in 1975... and was rear-ended in 1987 where I obtain a crushed disk. Before arthritis became a significant detractor to my daily life I had many hobbies such as general all-around handyman (carpenter, plumber, shade-tree mechanic, ect.), But now I must content myself with being something of a computer weenie. I enjoy creating digital graphics, logos, business cards, greeting cards, pamphlets, advertisements... just about anything one can print out on paper.
Have you been to see a rhumatologist?
Some interesting developments in my struggle to obtain relief from arthritis pains. During my recovery from breaking my hip during 1975 the surgeon painted a very bleak future for me. He emphasized that the damage sustained normally triggered osteoarthritis, and that I should enjoy life because it was all downhill from this point on. Ever since 1979, when I was first diagnosed with osteoarthritis in the neck (in particular), I believed my slowly worsening and ever-more painful joint pains were caused by this disease. During a visit to the doctor treating my prostate cancer, and during an impromptu checkup, he inquired about my overall health. I responded that as far as the cancer was concerned, it was the least of my problems. Then I told him that the joint pain from my arthritis was really trashing my life. He asked if I had ever seen a rhumatologist to which I replied that I had been to a rhumatology clinic in 1988. That was when I had neck problems stemming from being rear-ended. They had run a battery of tests, taken some very fuzzy xrays, and told me that as yet I didn't need any operation. (They were quite mistaken, too, because I had surgery less than eight months later, after an MRI scan pin pointed a crushed disk! So much for those "experts".)
He repeated his question to which I responded, "Hell, doc, how do I know." "You doctors don't wear blazing neon signs across your chests proclaiming 'I'm a Brain Surgeon' or 'I'm a Rhumatologist' or the like". He chuckled at my response and then proceeded to set up an appointment with one of the more prominent doctors in this area. I kept the appointment, had a bone scan performed, and a bunch of other tests. On my second visit the doctor busily looked over the xrays and scans and muttered that he didn't see any indication of my cancer mastastisizing to my bones. I had expected that comment.
Fifteen years of BUM SCOOP, and some Startling news!
Then he dropped a real bombshell when he continued, "And I don't see where you should have much of a problem with arthritis, either!". Needless to say, but after being under the impression that my increasing pain and physical limitations were due to arthritis... this was a real shocker! After picking my jaw up from off the floor and regaining my composure I asked him to clarify his statement. He did so. Well, for the next couple of months he tried just about every type of high-priced medicine on me that he could think of, for "fibromyalgia", and some other more exotic and ill-defined or understood maladies. The first drug worked great, for about ten days. I was told to increased the dosage but the side effects really hit me hard so the doctor took several other approaches. None of them worked, but the side-effects were very significant!
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The FDA - MUST - be FORCED to remove aspartame from the marketplace!
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During the past fifteen years I have visited something like twenty different doctors, and none of them had stated that my problem was NOT arthritis. That's a lot of "learned men", a lot wasted time, and a lot of wasted money. Especially so when considering that none of them had solved the problem, or even lessened it measurably. It is also one hell-of-a-long time to endure ever-increasing pain! It was my wife who heard about DayPro, the only medication to ever greatly diminish the pain. But it is the sort of drug that the body learns to counter, and for a significant number of people taking it daily for a long period of time the body adjusts to it and it becomes a useless but expensive medicine sitting on the shelf.
Then, one day as I was surfing and exploring the Internet, I came across an article that caught and riveted my attention. It described how a very common ingredient, now used in a widening range of foodstuffs and drinks, was being blamed for an extremely long list of ailments... half of which I seemed to have experienced. That product is aspartame, more commonly known as "Equal". I have been a heavy user of this product ever since it hit the market (which has been a good number of years, now). I consume pots-full of coffee every day... but I like it sweet and creamy. In an effort to cut down on the calories I switched to Equal.
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Withdrawal from aspartame poisoning! (First couple of weeks)
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I stopped using the product. Over the next ten days everything seemed to get worse. Now, however, I seem to be improving markedly on a daily basis. After having consumed this stuff since coming to market... I imagine it will take a protracted amount of time to notice a really significant improvement.
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Words from some expert witnesses (that THEY didn't listen to!)
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One of the purported items in the commercial product is methanol... about ten percent, and as various doctors testify, the whole product is bad news. Dr. James Bowen told the FDA, Dr. Adrian Gross, a one-time FDA toxicologist, testified before congress, and Dr. Morgan Raiford (OPHTHALMOLOGIST) has given testimony. This is something that one should put in a vehicle..., or use as a paint-thinner, not introduce into their body. It is perhaps this item that has caused the majority of grief and pain, and perhaps a lot of the damage is permanent. Only time will tell.
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Comparing my before and after situations.
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Before forsaking aspartame I was at a point where I had to slowly mule-haul myself up four steps from my computer room to the kitchen, pulling myself hand over hand using a railing I had installed the year before. I felt and acted at least twice my age! For most of the thirty-five years of my marriage I was the one to do the grocery shopping. On one recent occasion I was sorely embarrassed because I had to use the little motorized cart just to get around the store. Then, after quitting aspartame, and feeling even worse for the next ten days, I began to improve markedly. After three weeks I no longer needed the railing, not even casually. After five weeks my feet stopped hurting so much and I could walk more often, and further each time. Recovery seems to be two steps forward and one step back... but I don't mind because the net effect is continual improvement! I shall report again at the three, and six month points, which will be the first of September and December of 1996. I hope, with all my being, that I will have a fantastic Christmas this year.
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By the first sixty days without this poison!
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NEW: 8/3/96. It is fast approaching the 60 day time frame without the consumption of any aspartame. Although I did not plan on reporting again until September, during the past two weeks I have made such great strides in overall well being that I just had to speak out. I have much less pain and increased mobility along with a chance to exercise again (albeit quite painfully!). Last week I was able to reach for the comb in my back pocket without the tremendous pain that once required a lot of maneuvering, just to gingerly retrieve a one ounce comb. Today I had enough confidence and agility to actually take my first unaided bath in over two years. Showers are OK, but I have always liked to sit and soak. No help was needed getting in or out of the tub, or in standing up or sitting down! Today, just like a kid with a new toy, I did just that... sat and soaked! I am once again using the Jacuzzi that I bought six years ago to counter my increasing pains, and it is helping to accelerate my recovery. Again, the ONLY thing in my lifestyle that has changed... is the total exclusion of ALL packaged aspartame products from my diet! One other major item... those shooting stabbing pains that attacked my joints and muscles alike... as though an ice pick had just been thrust into the body... pains so sharp that they could cause me to lose my balance or wince, grimace and be embarrassingly obvious... well they are now only a vivid memory as they have ceased to happen!
But perhaps the MOST telling was another visit to the K-Mart Superstore. Only three weeks ago I was still having a problem with getting around. Enough so that when I entered this K-Mart I felt I was good for only one quick tour, and even then I kept track of the availability of their little motorized carts for those who need them. After taking that first bath, Isabel and I revisited K-Mart. This time I made three end-to-end trips, and on the way to the check-out stand I did a mock dancing-run ahead of my wife, who was now beaming with relief and satisfaction at my regained abilities.
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Meeting an experienced warrior dedicated to fighting aspartame to the death!
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NEW 8/12/96
I have just had the pleasure of meeting, via E-mail, a person whom I perceive to be warm, caring, very concerned, and I must say is very angry when it comes to the subject of aspartame... our new major NATIONAL DISGRACE! I discovered this fine lady, and her resources, during a third and much more in-depth search of the Internet looking for even more information. I sent a tentative message, thinking that perhaps she was no longer involved, or had a different address, or something that would prove to be a dead end. Instead, I was (and I don't use this word very often) thrilled to have her respond. Especially so when around twenty pieces of new source material soon followed that first contact! (I'm still reading and sorting it out!).
Her name is Betty Martini and she can be reached by snail-mail at Mission Possible, PO Box 28098, Atlanta GA 30358. She has given me permission to incorporate into my WEB pages any and all letters that she sends out. Here is one, dated 26 July, 1996, to the FDA concerning blanket approval of aspartame. This is ESPECIALLY bad news, because foodstuffs with aspartame should NOT be heated. Heat makes it rapidly break down into some very toxic crud!
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Two and a half months without NutraPoison!
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NEW 9/1/96
The first of September... Two and a half months ago I would not have made any wagers that I would be around on this date! Now, my mind is much more clear, most of my numbness and pains are low-level and fading, my attitude is splendid, my creativity has returned full bore, I can grasp my six-foot thirteen-year-old grandson's hands in a handshake that puts him on his knees (either hand). As those who have visited these pages before will note... I have made a strong commitment to inform the world of the why and how of my recovery. I have also sworn to do all within my power to get aspartame, the Searle/Monsanto moneymaking wonder-toxin, reclassified as a dangerous drug unfit for human consumption... and OFF THE MARKET! Besides adding much more information, some testimony, some short case histories (including my own) I have also added a copy of the "thank you" letter to the last doctor to fail in curing my ills, and to the Commissioner of the FDA suggesting it is time to 'fess-up, and get this junk off the market.
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Meet the Culprits... Mostly MONEY, and a bunch of LIES!
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For those who want to scout the enemy territory here is a page consisting of all accessible reference to aspartame and NutraSweet that surfaced on the Monsanto WEB pages. I found no information concerning the FDA, testing, approval, safety or similar subjects. What I did find was a very high-bandwidth (graphics intensive) site with a lot of links to pages exhorting the benefits of aspartame, its profitability, and future profit projections. There are two other sites related to Monsanto; the NutraSweet pages and the NutraSweet Kelco pages where aspartame is extolled to be safe, but with no supporting data!
The Monsanto WEB site is a rapidly growing site, and this new item: "Searle develops, manufactures and markets cardiovascular, arthritis, sleep disorder, gastrointestinal and pharmaceuticals." should tell the world that they have BOTH ends wired... first make you sick with aspartame... such that doctors can't determine either the disease or the cause, so that they can prescribe new and expensive "wonder drugs" to try and MASK the real problem. A HUGE moneymaker... now all across the entire Planet Earth! If you are really hurting, and spending lots of time and money all for naught, and some (or several) aspartame products are in your diet... then JUST SAY NO AND QUIT THE STUFF!!! If, after 60 days your symptoms are either gone, or greatly reduced, then please consider filling out this form and sending it to the designated parties.
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"Official" type dialog on product safety... with appropriate comments!
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In order to provide a somewhat balanced presentation I have added a page covering what the "officials" (item 7, below) say about aspartame (with specific exclusions of the brand name packaged products) along with my comments. In addition, to get a glimpse of what the many symptoms of aspartame poisoning are, from short to long term usage, ease over to another page listing the badnews. This is the FDA compiled list of 92 symptoms of aspartame poisoning, that took a Freedom of Information Act request to pry from their clutches! This is THE list that I credit with saving my life, and returning my health to almost normal. I say "almost", because I still have a nagging case of prostate cancer that I believe that aspartame played a role in my contracting at an early age. This disease that is normally only detected in men 60 and older, was classified as stage "D" (it had already spread) at a young 55, in a male whose long-lived ancestors have had NO type of cancer, ever! I have come to believe that an ill-advised vasectomy in 1972 "set the stage" by overloading my system with testosterone... and the abundant carcinogens and tumor agents in aspartame made it happen.
Of interest is that to date no one has been able to determine the who, what, when and where of the article supposedly written by the "American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation". They are the named source for the "officials" link above that I took issue with and commented upon. Should anyone who reads these pages have any knowledge concerning this supposed organization, their address, officers, ect.... please do contact Betty Martini or Dave Rietz.
In any event, I shall report on things as and when they happen. Until then, those who are surprised by these revelations are welcome to visit the following Internet sites and read firsthand what is available here on the WWW that pertains to aspartame, NutraSweet, Equal, or now that the patent has expired, any of perhaps a thousand other names!
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YOU CAN DO YOUR PART... AND IT WILL TAKE ALL OF US TO SUCCEED!
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IF... I convinced you to take action... Please read a Very Important NOTE!
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