I gave it up and you are right it works! It totally works! My rheumatologist explained that aspartame turns into an incorrectly shaped glutamate molecule in your body, which allows it to cross the blood-brain barrier and then acts as an exitotoxin. Basically it turns into bad stuff and does bad stuff. I gave up lots of foods that contain / produce excitotoxins and stay away from processed foods almost entirely. It has made a significant difference in the amount and severity of my flare ups. Okay, I'll step off my soapbox!

(Thanks for sharing your experience!)

I've never heard of Sun Drops, guess it'n not in my area. But I'm diabetic, so I do use artifical sweeteners. Don't drink much soda, my choice is Diet Dr. Pepper. I hane tried staying away from the sweeteners before, and I couldn't tell any difference, maybe because I've used them so long I'm immune! But I'm glad it's helping you. Could you maybe just cut way back and get the same relief without giving your soda up completely? I'm sure we'd all be better off on an all-natural diet, but it's not always practical, and we give up so much when we have fibro, sometimes we just need our little comforts. hugs

That stuff is poison and should not be used in anything. Chalk it up to another poisonous product allowed to be on the market because the companies producing it pay huge lobbying fees and give huge contributions. Steer clear many with MS have had problems with this poison as well.

I gave it up almost 6 months ago and it hasn't made a difference. I know it isn't very good for you but neither is sugar, brown sugar or Splenda. What are we supposed to put in our coffee??? LOL I don't like Stevia either.

I CAME OFF OF MY DIET PEACH TEA AND AM ON PUR WATER, IT TASTE SO GOOD...AND IT'S MOSTLY FREE....IF IT WORKS STAY WITH IT....LOVE...HELEN

You don't have to give up soda completely!! Just the stuff with Aspertame in it, which is all diet soda except anything made with Splenda. The only one that I know of that has Splenda in it instead of other sweetners is Diet Rite. Diet Rite makes a few different flavors now, niot just the cola. My favorite is Red Raspberry.

I'm glad (and not surprised) it made such a difference for you!

My son informed me yesterday that since the beginning of this school year he has been drinking Fresca w/ aspartame every day at the cafeteria! This is one of the 'healthy' choices the school board has made for food/beverage choices for the kids! I couldn't beleive it! All these kids aged 14-17 only have drinks with aspartame and water to choose from. Today I made him a lunch and sent him with a juice drink instead.

I agree, that stuff is poison!

I am sensitive to asparatame and monosodium glutamate (MSG) and have been since childhood so I never got hooked on "diet" soda or the like.

Sugar, on the other hand...

I'm sensitive to aspartame & MSG as well. I drink only filtered water, but occassionaly I sneak a glass of *gasp* Pepsi! I used to be addicted to Pepsi and it was hard to break that habit when I found out I was diabetic (type 2), but I eventually weaned myself off it.

OMG Aspartame was the death of me! I didnt realize it at first but it really is SUPER BAD for you ! Also, Splenda, Sweet N Low and the other sugar subs. I almost went to the ER. EEEK Be careful. I would say if you HAVE to have sugar, use raw unbleached. Tastes the same.

Any artifical is deadly to most people. It has been proven in a lot of illness,s other than fibro including cfs lupus ms ra and a host of other things.

aspertame = nasty
migraines, sick tummy, diahrea, personality changes eeeeewwww nasty stuff i won't even let my kids have that stuff

I only drink sodas that are sweetened with Splenda. Splenda doesn't affect my pain level at all (I've tried seeing if it made a difference). I don't use other artificial sweeteners because they gave me migraines

I had my last diet dr. pepper yesterday afternoon and I am in a bad mood! But I am hoping it helps.

WOW, I had no idea and would never have thought it either. Thanks for this info