This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I am a 64 year old male, and recently retired to Costa Rica, 2 years ago (when I bought a home here) I was almost fully functional, although I occasionally stumbled when walking.
I have been diagnosed with secondary progressive MS.
I now have almost no use of my right thigh and right hand.
It started in 2004 after a bout of aspartame poisoning.
I was drinking about a six pack of diet coke a day, and had been for way over a year. Symptoms started the first Saturday of February and changed almost daily until the Middle of March when they became pretty consistent. 4 seconds of numbness in my right cheek, followed by about 12-15 seconds of complete loss of muscular control on my entire right side, this would include slurring speech and inability to write. Then this was followed by about 20 – 25 seconds of hot flashes that seemed to travel up and down my left arm. In March I was having the symptoms about 35 times a day, by the end of May it was up to 75 times a day. Then in Mid May I had the worse pain I had ever had in my neck. Having spent 4 days in the hospital, having had every test known to the medical community and seeing a dozen doctor’s (including 2 neurologists) and none having a clue, I decided to see a Chiropractor, this was on the 29th of May. He talked me into giving up Diet Coke. The next day I started feeling better. By June 2, I was down to 60 episodes a day and my neck no longer hurt. I continued to get better and I had the last episode on the 14th of June.
I wish I could say, this was it. However I had a numbness in my right hand, so I continued to press for an explanation. I ended up seeing a neurologist at the University of Miami. She (Dr. Delgado) had me take MRI’s using the high strength MRI machines at the University. They showed that there was a lot of damage to my brain, and that there was a scarred spot (the myelin had been damaged) on my neck exactly where I had experienced the pain in May.
She diagnosed me with R&R MS, but I had never had an exacerbation so I ignored her. For over 5 years I had no other symptoms, other than my hand was numb. 8 years later a Dr. Salanga at the Cleveland Clinic diagnosed me with Secondary Progressive MS.
I know that the medical community and Scopes says that Aspartame Poisoning does not exist, but I believe differently. I believe that my immune system was damaged by the aspartame and as a result I came down with MS. In any case I need a cane to walk and my right hand does not work.
The Cleveland clinic doctor wants me to get on Copaxone. I am eating healthily and using lots of supplements, any thoughts.
Thanks,
Chip

you can use the search function top right to read TIMS posts on glutamate and glutathione as related to ms.

also back in the day someone posted this journal-referenced article. might be something more out there in the years since it was posted.

The Connection Between MS And Aspartame
general-discussion-f1/topic286.html#p2019

here (i think) is the original article link in context, not the version apparently harvested by rense.com whatever that is..
http://www.truthinlabeling.org/Blaylock ... rning.html

lots of additional info re MSG if that interests you.

what supplements are you using?

_________________
my approach: no meds so far - just balanced whole foods (partial 'paleo', much less outright elimination), science, supplements, & bloodwork
my regimen - www.thisisms.com/ftopict-2489.html
www.whfoods.com, www.nutritiondata.com

Welcome to our community, Chip. We are a group of many people with many different ideas. Your last two words asked for "any thoughts" and I'm sure this group can offer you a wide range.

My own thoughts revolve around insulin. Artificial sweeteners (such as found in Diet Coke) are many times sweeter than sugar and prompt the pancreas to produce more insulin than normal. This caustic insulin flowing through the blood vessels causes damage and insulin resistance. If your diet, in general, contains many carbohydrates and starches, these also cause excess insulin secretion. Has your doctor ordered a "fasting blood insulin test?"

These are just MY ideas; your suspicions of Aspartame Poisoning are just as valid – maybe more so than mine. We welcome your thoughts; thanks for sharing.

_________________
My hypothesis: excess insulin (hyperinsulinemia) plays a major role in MS, as developed in my initial post: http://www.thisisms.com/forum/general-discussion-f1/topic1878.html "Insulin – Could This Be the Key?"

There has been a lot of controversy about aspartame over the years. One study shows it can be a big problem and the next study shows it's OK. Guess it depends on who is conducting the study.

As for your Secondary Progressive MS....why on earth would the neuro at the Cleveland Clinic want to put you on Copaxone? None of the CRAB drugs has ever been effective for that kind of MS...in fact there is no medication that has been proven to help with SPMS. I would certainly hold off on any decision at this point and try and get a lot more info about your condition before deciding what course you want to follow.

Harry

I found yhis little tidbit in my files...

jackD


"After ingestion, aspartame is broken down into aspartic acid,
phenylalanine, and methanol.

Methanol is oxidized into formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which is considered responsible for the toxic effects of methanol."

I will try to post so I can answer as many as possible.
I have not used artificial sweeteners for over 10 years, I try to limit my carbs to less then 20% of my food intake. Because of allergies I have not had potatoes for over 9 years and because of concern about GMO or Soy no corn for over a year. About the only pure carb I have is brown rice every 3 or 4 days.
The supplements I use are:
Benfotiamine for nerve pain, at least 450mg every 8 - 12 hours when I have nerve pain. Because it dissolves in the intestine instead of the stomach it seems to work well. I used to take it a lot but I upped my dose to 600 or more mg and now I have to use it about once a week. The doctors say it should not make a difference but it really works for me. I found out about it by looking on a diabetes peripheral neurapathy site.
I also take Omega 3 (fish oil), ubiquinol (CoQ 10), New Chapter Zaflamend and green sea mussel extract. I have tried lots of other supplements through the years but these seem to help the most.

I have read most of what Dr. R. Blaylock and Dr. H. J. Morris have published about aspartame. It is my impression that only industry funded studies show it is OK. Almost any independent study has shown aspartame as being not good for you. My own experience is that it was terrible.
Thanks,
Chip

Hi Chip,

I've had MS for 26 years, and during these years I have had a range of MS symptoms: Unable to walk for 1.5 years, numbness, inability to write, balance, incontinent bladder etc., the list goes on. But, I found the most relief not from an MS medication, but from acupuncture! After I had my first 2 treatments, the numbness I felt in my legs and hands dissipated; I've been seeing my acupunture doctor in Edmonton, Canada since 1992, and he's allowed me to walk again, write, see straight, control my bladder function, and increase my balance. I would advise you to find an acupuncture doctor close to where you live, and go and see them. They will be able to balance your immune function, so that it will begin to work normally. You could look up acupunture in your local telephone book or on-line! Good luck, Nina

I drank way too much Coke Zero every day for several years at least. I started to get some numbness in my wrists and I asked a neuro who is a semi-friend, and he told me to immediately lay off the Zero (or anything with aspartame) as it was a neuro toxin. Also told me to never take fish oil.

Turns out I have MS, dx'd at 56. No problems at all before 55. Was the MS caused by the aspartame? Who knows.

Hi there,

Aspartane is a known neuro toxin, and it's a shame that it was allowed in so many foods for such a long time. The makers of this agent should all be incarcerated! I am surprised you were told to "never take fish oil," was that due to the possible mercury in the fish? There are so many toxins in the environment these days, that it is difficult to pin point which one caused the MS. I was 21 years old, and in my 4th year of university, when I had my first symptom of MS - optic neuritis! I had many more symptoms in the years that followed, but I kept my wish to become a Registered Psychologist at the forefront, and that's what I am today!