TStew

I'm at day #10 and the same. I have no problems putting away Soup or the Protein shakes but for some reason I'm not liking the Water as much (and I LOVED it before surgery). Water gives me hickups and makes me burp but not the Protein Shakes.... Weird! **ANYONE - DOES THE WATER YOU HAVE IN SHAKES COUNT TOWARDS YOUR 64 oz? However, when I try pudding or Jello I do feel the restriction. I can still eat the whole cup but I actually feel it sitting in my stomach and worry that I'm going past the 'full' stage but that hasn't happened so far.

You should contact your surgeon. It sounds like an allergic reaction to something. I have some allergies to meds that affect my face only - it's like a rosacea flare up.

My first two days were rough. I had pain in both arms and shoulders (sort of an ache that wouldn't go away) and I had bad cramping. It felt like there was a hand around my stomach - squeezing every 30 seconds. It wasn't horrible pain but it did hurt and I wondered if it would ever go away. The left side was sore but once they took the drain out I felt much better. Honestly, I had a fibroid tumor removed from my uterus in August and when I woke up I was pleasantly surprised that this surgery didn't hurt nearly as much as that one! I was even more surprised when I got up to use the bathroom because it just felt like some sore muscles and once I was out of the bed it was fine. The last surgery, my abdomen was so swollen with gas and this time I hardly had any gas at all. My throat was a bit sore and there was a blister on my lip where the breathing tube must have been lodged. The dry mouth wasn't as bad as I anticipated.... I was afraid of that first day but I ended up not wanting anything to drink anyway. I just had my chapstick by my side and was fine. The real trouble started on day #2 when I asked for pain meds and they gave me the sublingual pain pill. Immediate nausea that lasted my entire hospital stay. I had to have them put the IV back in and give me drugs that way. I didn't have dry heaves or anything but I was scared to get to that point so I wouldn't drink anything. I couldn't get hardly any liquids down until about day #4 and by day #5 I was feeling fine and I've had no pain and no nausea whatsoever. No pain meds since I left the hospital. I've had 3 major surgeries and one minor surgery in the past year and I would say that this one was by far the easiest and the fastest recovery.

I just started full liquids today so I'm just dreaming about the future.... lol Eggface (the website with all the great recipes) posted a 'master wrap list'. I don't have the link but I do have the info that I saved to a Word.doc. Some really great ideas!! Master Wrap List: Turkey, Swiss cheese, Avocado Chicken salad Tuna Salad chicken or Turkey, Grilled Veggies (zucchini or eggplant), Provolone (Hot or Cold) Chicken or Turkey, Provolone, Olive Tapenade (Hot or Cold) Grilled Chicken, Romaine Lettuce, Caesar Dressing Grilled Chicken, Romaine Lettuce, Cilantro Yogurt Dip Turkey, Muenster Cheese, Hummus, Sprouts Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese, Cucumber, Dill Roast Beef, Swiss Cheese, Wasabi Mayo Corned Beef, Swiss Cheese, Coleslaw, Thousand Island Dressing Cannelini Bean Salad Goat Cheese, Pesto, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Pine Nuts, Olive Tapenade (Hot or Cold) Green (Pesto) eggs and Ham BLT with fresh Basil (Hot or Cold) Fresh Mozzarella, Basil, Tomatoes or Tomato Sauce (Hot or Cold) Leftover Beef, Chicken or Shrimp Fajitas or Stirfry (Hot or Cold) Turkey, Tomato, Herbed Spreadable Cheese, Baby Spinach (Hot or Cold) Scrambled Eggs, Cheese, Refried Beans Egg Salad and Baby Spinach Peanut Butter and SF Jelly (Hot or Cold) Cream Cheese flavored with some SF Torani strawberry Syrup and sliced banana (Hot or Cold) Peanut Butter and Mashed Banana (Hot or Cold) Here's a few of my latest creations. Check back I will be adding more to the list I'm sure. Tip: Not using your tortillas that quickly? You can freeze and then defrost them for later use. Just place them in an airtight container with a piece of parchment paper between each.

TOUFAYAN Bakeries makes a low carb / low fat wrap and it is simply delicious! I loved it before 'diet' was a part of my life so that says a lot.... www.toufayan.com I purchased them at Henry's (for those of you in SoCal) but I'm sure you can find them in other stores as well (check out the website above). They're thin, huge, and very soft, and actually have a pretty tasty flavor. However, they do have wheat gluten and it's actually listed in the ingredients. Many people are gluten sensitive and don't even realize it. I have yet to find a gluten free wrap that is also low carb. Here's the stats: (keep in mind that they are huge and 1/2 of a wrap is more than enough to make a pretty good size sandwich! Serving: 1 wrap 2 oz Total Fat: 3g (.5 saturated / 0 trans) Cholesterol: 0 Sodium 560mg Total Carb 15g (fiber 8g) Protein 13g

Does anyone on this thread have a copy of this document that they could share? I think she's getting too many requests and no longer responding....(?) Anyone?

I'm using the Biochem Natural as well! Not big on the flavor but now that I'm getting ready for full liquids I can mix it up with something other than Water and experiment a bit. I've been living on All One Weight Loss Formula Cocoa. It has only 1 gram of sugar, and 100 calories but it's only 14g of Protein (but a lot of great Vitamins and minerals as well). However, it's so thin and easy tasting that I've been able to drink them 3-4 times a day and getting closer and closer to that protein requirement! I just bought GNC Pro Performance 100% Whey Unflavored but haven't tried it yet. I don't usually buy from GNC but I read great reviews on this product and it's 21 g protein / 2g sugar and 110 calories. I read that it mixes very well and tastes decent so I'll be using this and the Biochem to mix in with things for extra protein. Not sure if I mentioned the Soup in this thread but check out Pacific Natural Foods organic carton (like the soy milk cartons) soup (in most health food stores). My thin liquid stage got a LOT more interesting when I opened up the French Onion! Looking forward to Sunday (full liquids) to try the Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato and the Butternut Squash!

I'm exactly where you are.... Six days out and until today could barely get anything down and I feel sooooooo hungry I've been just focused on getting liquids down so I'm not dehydrated and now will try to focus on Protein. Everything tastes terrible! Even the sugar free popcycles make me want to hurl because of the artificial sweetner. All the protein powders I bought taste nasty, too. In the past, I could get anything down because I would put away a whole Protein shake in two drinks. Sipping is killing me and then it gets warm and gross.... This is a lot harder than I imagined it would be and I'm already dreaming of mushies!

I think some people actually care about educating people so that they have more power to be their own best health advocates. Thank God for Dr. Oz because people are starting to listen.

I would greatly appreciate a copy! Thanks!

It seems that the more weight you lose before surgery, the safer the procedure and easier recovery. I just had the surgery so I don't have a whole lot of helpful advice but here's a few thoughts that come to mind: -Start a journal. -Take daily Vitamins and eat whole foods to try to be in the best of health at time of surgery (try to go for no sugar / artificial ingredients or processed foods - maybe have one cheat day a week to keep you sane until pre-op diet starts). -Get 20 minutes of direct sun (if you can) between 10-2 PM in shorts/tshirt to optimize your vit D levels (most of us are seriously low). -Have your post-op liquids purchased in advance. -Purchase some weight loss surgery cookbooks (most people have much more luck finding them online than at stores). -Start doing the lung (deep breathing and coughing, ask your doctor for a spirometer thingy) and leg exercizes (stretching the foot at ankle forward and back to improve blood flow) well before surgery. -Take some good 'before' photos from different angles. BEST OF LUCK TO YOU!! This is a really wonderful site and will be extremely helpful for you before and after your life-changing surgery!

Check out this article on agave syrup: food.aspx" rel="external nofollow">http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/03/30/beware-of-the-agave-nectar-health-food.aspx Sorry I loved it, too.

I haven't done a lot of research on Truvia because I would much rather stick to the natural sweetners. At first I read that it is made from Stevia but this is some clever and very misleading marketing. It's actually made mostly from erythratrol and Rebiana (comes from Stevia leaf) is just ONE Of the ingredients. A red flag for me is that the third ingredient is 'natural flavors' which could mean almost anything.

Very happy to read this post! Mine has been in the 90s for the past two years and it scares me! I had a stress EKG (treadmill) before my surgery just to make sure I was okay and the cardiologist said everything is fine. He said that the high heart rate and the fact that my oxygen level drops a bit during exercize is not normal and that he may want me to have a CT Scan on my lungs to make sure I do not have a tumor. I did have breathing work up and a lung x-ray recently and all is well. I'm afraid it is because I was exposed long term to toxic mold in my home. I sure hope that the weight loss works some magic!

There are some really great HEALTHY sweetners! Stevia also comes in flavors so experiment a little before you write it off. You get used to it. Besides Stevia, there is: Lo Han or Liu Han (inulin) Feeds good bacteria in intestines (somewhat expensive but I've recently tried Dr. Mercola's New whey chocolate Protein bars and they were pretty damn tasty!) Yacon – Peruvian Tuber (FOS) Syrup: Amazing therapeutic properties. The body is not able to break it down as sugar and it passes through and then promotes the good bacteria in the intestines. Tastes like a cross between honey and molasses – a good, inexpensive brand is Amazon Therapeutic (brown glass jar and red label) sells for $16 for 16 oz jar (can probably find it cheaper on-line). I use this stuff a lot and I love it! I'm not a fan of honey or molasses but this stuff has a fantastic rich, sweet, taste. I use just a drop in my oatmeal and it tastes fantastic! Xylitol – Has antibacterial properties. You should always carry mints (look for Spry mints) or gum sweetened with this if you can’t brush after a meal. It’s being used more and more in foods and toothpastes and such! Very healthy and affordable! Erithratol (sp) is also antibacterial. This is a sugar alcohol so it can cause digestive upset if you eat too much. It tastes more like 'real' sugar than Splenda or any of the other artificial sweetners. You will have to do a little research to find which ones of these have high glycemic index. I know Erithratol is low but not sure about the others....

Funny, I like my CPAP! I have the nose pillows only and it forces me to keep my mouth closed (so no snoring) and I fall asleep in minutes with it and sleep great. I've had it about a year now and couldn't tolerate the larger masks but the nose pillows are great.

The Potential Dangers of Sucralose (Splenda) Posted By Dr. Mercola | December 03 2000 | 244,463 views Is Splenda Really As Safe As They Claim It to Be? As of 2006, only six human trials have been published on Splenda (sucralose). Of these six trials, only two of the trials were completed and published before the FDA approved sucralose for human consumption. The two published trials had a grand total of 36 total human subjects. 36 people sure doesn't sound like many, but wait, it gets worse, only 23 total were actually given sucralose for testing and here is the real killer: The longest trial at this time had lasted only four days and looked at sucralose in relation to tooth decay, not human tolerance. Why Do You Need to Know About Splenda? Splenda, best known for its marketing ploy, "made from sugar so it tastes like sugar," has taken the sweetener industry by storm. Splenda has become the nation's number one selling artificial sweetener in a very short period of time. Between 2000 and 2004, the percentage of US households using Splenda products jumped from 3 to 20 percent. In a one year period, Splenda sales topped $177 million compared with $62 million spent on aspartame-based Equal and $52 million on saccharin-based Sweet 'N Low. McNeil Nutritionals, in their marketing pitch for Splenda emphasizes that Splenda has endured some of the most rigorous testing to date for any food additive. Enough so to convince the average consumer that it is in fact safe. They claim that over 100 studies have been conducted on Splenda. What they don't tell you is that most of the studies are on animals. Additional Concerns About Splenda Studies There have been no long-term human toxicity studies published until after the FDA approved sucralose for human consumption. Following FDA approval a human toxicity trial was conducted, but lasted only three months, hardly the length of time most Splenda users plan to consume sucralose. No studies have ever been done on children or pregnant women. Much of the controversy surrounding Splenda does not focus just on its safety, but rather on its false advertising claims. The competition among sweeteners is anything but sweet. The sugar industry is currently suing McNeil Nutritionals for implying that Splenda is a natural form of sugar with no calories. Is It REALLY Sugar? There is no question that sucralose starts off as a sugar molecule, it is what goes on in the factory that is concerning. Sucralose is a synthetic chemical that was originally cooked up in a laboratory. In the five step patented process of making sucralose, three chlorine molecules are added to a sucrose or sugar molecule. A sucrose molecule is a disaccharide that contains two single sugars bound together; glucose and fructose. The chemical process to make sucralose alters the chemical composition of the sugar so much that it is somehow converted to a fructo-galactose molecule. This type of sugar molecule does not occur in nature and therefore your body does not possess the ability to properly metabolize it. As a result of this "unique" biochemical make-up, McNeil Nutritionals makes its claim that Splenda is not digested or metabolized by the body, making it have zero calories. It is not that Splenda is naturally zero calories. If your body had the capacity to metabolize it then it would no longer have zero calories. How Much Splenda is Left In Your Body After You Eat It? If you look at the research (which is primarily extrapolated form animal studies) you will see that in fact 15% of sucralose is absorbed into your digestive system and ultimately is stored in your body. To reach a number such as 15% means some people absorb more and some people absorb less. In one human study, one of the eight participants did not excrete any sucralose even after 3 days. Clearly his body was absorbing and metabolizing this chemical. That is what our bodies are supposed to do. The bottom line is that we all have our own unique biochemical make-up. Some of you will absorb and metabolize more than others. If you are healthy and your digestive system works well, you may be at higher risk for breaking down this product in your stomach and intestines. Please understand that it is impossible for the manufacturers of Splenda to make any guarantees based on their limited animal data. If you feel that Splenda affects you adversely, it is valid. Don"t let someone convince you that it is all in your head. You know your body better than anyone else. How to Determine if Splenda is Harming You The best way to determine if Splenda or sucralose is affecting you is to perform an elimination/challenge with it. First eliminate it and other artificial sweeteners from your diet completely for a period of one to two weeks. After this period reintroduce it in sufficient quantity. For example, use it in your beverage in the morning, and eat at least two sucralose containing products the remainder of the day. On this day, avoid other artificial sweeteners so that you are able to differentiate which one may be causing a problem for you. Do this for a period of one to three days. Take notice of how your body is feeling, particularly if it feels different than when you were artificial sweetener free. Splenda May Still Be Harming You If you complete the elimination/challenge trial described above and do not notice any changes then it appears you are able to tolerate Splenda acutely. However, please understand that you are not out of the woods yet. The entire issue of long-term safety has never been established. Let's look at the facts again: There have only been six human trials to date The longest trial lasted three months At LEAST 15% of Splenda is not excreted from your body in a timely manner Considering that Splenda bears more chemical similarity to DDT than it does to sugar, are you willing to bet your health on this data? Remember that fat soluble substances, such as DDT, can remain in your fat for decades and devastate your health. If the above facts don't concern because you believe the FDA would not ever allow a toxic substance into the market then read on. Do You Really Believe These People Are Going to Protect You? Please consider that the only organizations between you and potentially toxic side effects are the FDA and the manufacturers of sucralose (Tate & Lyle) and of Splenda (McNeil Nutritionals). The FDA has a long standing history of ineffective screening and rampant conflict of interests as demonstrated in their inability to identify Vioxx as too dangerous to be on the market. This mistake cost 55,000 people their lives. Now the point I want you to understand here, because it is really important, is that Splenda is not a drug and is only a food additive. As such the number of studies required to receive FDA approval is substantially less than drug. Vioxx had an order of magnitude of more comprehensive clinical trials than Splenda ever did, and despite this rigorous approval process it still killed 55,000 people. So, now you have the primary concerns I have about Splenda and the choices is yours. Read Splenda Horror Stories We have more people on our site that have reported adverse reaction to Splenda than were formally studied in the research submitted for FDA approval. It would seem this collection of data is in some ways superior to the data submitted to the FDA for Splenda approval. You can help us continue our Splenda research by supplying us with your own experience. If you or anyone you know have had an adverse reaction to Splenda or sucralose containing products please tell us your story. <A href="/sites/articles/archive/2000/12/03/sucralose-testimonials.aspx" s_oc="null"> Dr. Mercola's Comments: [/url] Don't let these large companies fool you. There is no magic alternative to sugar when it comes to sweeteners. You simply can not have your cake and eat it too when it comes to this area. It is far too early to tell, as not enough people have consumed this product to observe large numbers of adverse effects. However, I have had a number of patients in our Wellness Center who have had some severe migraines and even seizures possibly from consuming this product. My advice? AVOID Sucralose. I am fond of telling people that if something tastes sweet you probably should spit it out as it is not likely to be to good for you. This of course, is a humorous exaggeration, but for most people who struggle with chronic illness, it is likely to be a helpful guide. PLEASE note this article is being written in 2000. This is one of the first comprehensive clear investigative reports and warnings on sucralose on the Internet. Related Articles: Sucralose (Splenda®) U.S. Product List The Potential Dangers of Sucralose: Reader Testimonials The Dangers of Chlorine and Issues With Sucralose 12 Questions You Need to Have Answered Before You Eat Splenda Sources: Food and Drug Administration "Final Rule " for Sucralose, 21 CFR Part 172, Docket No. 87F-0086. Lord GH, Newberne PM. Renal mineralization -- a ubiquitous lesion in chronic rat studies. Food Chem Toxicol 1990 Jun;28:449-55. Labare MP, Alexander M. Microbial cometabolism of sucralose, a chlorinated disaccharide, in environmental samples. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 1994 Oct;42:173-8. Hunter BT. Sucralose. Consumers' Research Magazine, Oct90, Vol. 73 Issue 10, p8, 2p. Maudlin RK. FDA approves sucralose for expanded use. Modern Medicine, Oct99, Vol. 67 Issue 10, p57, 1/9p Sucralose -- a new artificial sweetener. Medical Letter on Drugs & Therapeutics, 07/03/98, Vol. 40, Issue 1030, p67, 2p. Q&A: Is newly FDA approved sweetener sucralose good for you? Executive Health's Good Health Report, Nov98, Vol. 35 Issue 2, p6, 1p, 1c. Gain B. FDA approves J&J Sweetener. Chemical Week, 04/15/98, Vol. 160 Issue 14, p27, 1/4p. Sucralose Toxicity Information Center Splenda Product Web Site Official Tate & Lyle Sucralose Web Site Endurance News, Issue 26.

New Study of Splenda Reveals Shocking Information About Potential Harmful Effects Posted By Dr. Mercola | February 10 2009 | 296,373 views [/url]James Turner, the chairman of the national consumer education group Citizens for Health, has expressed shock and outrage after reading a new report from scientists outlining the dangers of the artificial sweetener Splenda (sucralose).In animals examined for the study, Splenda reduced the amount of good bacteria in the intestines by 50 percent, increased the pH level in the intestines, contributed to increases in body weight and affected P-glycoprotein (P-gp) levels in such a way that crucial health-related drugs could be rejected. The P-gp effect could result in medications used in chemotherapy, AIDS treatment and treatments for heart conditions being shunted back into the intestines, rather than being absorbed by the body. According to Turner, "The report makes it clear that the artificial sweetener Splenda and its key component sucralose pose a threat to the people who consume the product. Hundreds of consumers have complained to us about side effects from using Splenda and this study ... confirms that the chemicals in the little yellow package should carry a big red warning label." Sources: Globe Newswire September 28, 2008 Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part A 2008;71(21):1415-29 Dr. Mercola's Comments: It’s very important to realize that Splenda (sucralose) is actually NOT sugar, despite its marketing slogan “Made from sugar, so it tastes like sugar”. Rather it’s a chlorinated artificial sweetener in line with aspartame and saccharin, and with detrimental health effects to match. Splenda was approved by the FDA in 1998 as a tabletop sweetener and for use in products such as baked goods, nonalcoholic beverages, chewing gum, frozen dairy Desserts, fruit juices, and gelatins. Sucralose is also permitted as a general-purpose sweetener for all processed foods. The approval was given after the FDA supposedly reviewed more than 110 animal and human safety studies, but as you’ll soon find out, out of these 110 studies, only two were human studies, and the longest one was conducted for four days! There’s overwhelming evidence that consuming artificial sweeteners will likely wreak havoc on your body. Previous news has centered mainly around artificial sweeteners’ ability to impair your appetite regulation and leading to weight gain. For example, it’s been discovered that diet soda increases your risk of metabolic syndrome and, ultimately, heart disease. However, the study mentioned above, published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, found even further disturbing news besides weight gain. Splenda: reduces the amount of good bacteria in your intestines by 50 percent increases the pH level in your intestines, and affects a glycoprotein in your body that can have crucial health effects, particularly if you’re on certain medications They also found unmistakable evidence that Splenda is absorbed by fat, contrary to previous claims. It’s truly disturbing that Splenda can destroy up to 50 percent of your healthy intestinal bacteria, as these bacteria help maintain your body's overall balance of friendly versus unfriendly micro-organisms, and support your general health. Many people are already deficient in healthy bacteria due to choosing highly processed foods. This is why a high quality probiotic is one of the very few supplements I highly recommend for nearly everyone. The Diet Fallacy The belief that consuming artificially sweetened foods and drinks will help you to lose or maintain weight is a carefully orchestrated deception. So if you are still opting for diet choices for this reason, please understand that you have been sorely misled. In reality, these diet foods and drinks can cause serious distortions in your biochemistry and ruin your body's ability to control calories. As a matter of fact, it’s been shown that diet soft drinks can double your risk of obesity! Nearly a decade ago, studies were already revealing that artificial sweeteners can: Stimulate your appetite Increase carbohydrate cravings Stimulate fat storage and weight gain Unfortunately, most public health agencies and nutritionists in the United States still recommend these toxic artificial sweeteners as an acceptable alternative to sugar. Now, I am definitely not a fan of sugar, but if I had to choose between sugar and any artificial sweetener, I would choose sugar, hands down, without question. I strongly believe artificial sweeteners are even more dangerous to your health than an excess of sugar. The Health Dangers of Splenda According to James Turner, the chairman of the national consumer education group Citizens for Health: "This report followed accepted policies and procedures and the results make clear the potential for disturbing side effects from the ingestion of Splenda. It is like putting a pesticide in your body. And this is at levels of intake erroneously approved by the food and Drug Administration. A person eating two slices of cake and drinking two cups of coffee containing Splenda would ingest enough sucralose to affect the P-glycoprotein, while consuming just seven little Splenda packages reduces good bacteria." The web site www.truthaboutsplenda.com lists a variety of consumer complaints from Splenda consumption, such as: Gastrointestinal problems Migraines Seizures Dizziness Blurred vision Allergic reactions Blood sugar increases Weight gain My site also contains a long list of personal testimonials from readers who have suffered side effects from Splenda. In fact, we have more people on our site that have reported adverse reactions to Splenda than were formally studied in the research submitted for FDA approval! The symptoms are so numerous I can’t include them all here, but the following are common symptoms, usually noticed within a 24-hour period following consumption of Splenda products: Skin -- Redness, itching, swelling, blistering, weeping, crusting, rash, eruptions, or hives (itchy bumps or welts). These are the most common allergic symptoms that people have. Lungs -- Wheezing, tightness, cough, or shortness of breath. Head -- Swelling of the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, or throat; headaches and migraines (severe headaches). Nose -- Stuffy nose, runny nose (clear, thin discharge), sneezing. Eyes -- Red (bloodshot), itchy, swollen, or watery. Stomach -- Bloating, gas, pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or bloody diarrhea. Heart -- Palpitations or fluttering. Joints -- Joint pains or aches. Neurological -- Anxiety, dizziness, spaced-out sensation, depression. Beware – You Could be Consuming Splenda Without Your Knowledge You also need to be aware of the fact that although the bulk of Splenda is sold to processed food manufacturers and soft drink bottlers, it could turn up in your medicine as well, as nearly 10 percent of all sucralose is sold to drug companies. Many times sucralose (Splenda) will not be listed in the drug information, so there simply is no way you would know you are consuming a potentially dangerous artificial sweetener. However, if you experience any of the symptoms above even though you’re avoiding Splenda and other artificial sweeteners, then it may be worth investigating the ingredients of any medications you’re taking as well. Splenda Has NEVER Been Proven Safe for Human Consumption As of 2006, only six human trials have been published on Splenda. Of these six trials, only two of the trials were completed and published before the FDA approved sucralose for human consumption, and the two published trials had a grand total of 36 total human subjects. 36 people sure doesn't sound like many, but wait, it gets worse: only 23 total were actually given sucralose for testing, and here is the real kicker -- The longest trial at this time had lasted only four days, and looked at sucralose in relation to tooth decay, not human tolerance. Even more shocking, the absorption of Splenda into the human body was studied on a grand total of six men! Based on that one human study, the FDA allowed the findings to be generalized as being representative of the entire human population. Including women, children, the elderly, and those with any chronic illness -- none of whom were ever examined. The FDA claims they reviewed over 100 studies conducted on Splenda. What they don't tell you is that most of the studies were on animals. And, those animal studies reveal plenty of problems, such as: Decreased red blood cells -- sign of anemia -- at levels above 1,500 mg/kg/day Increased male infertility by interfering with sperm production and vitality, as well as brain lesions at higher doses Enlarged and calcified kidneys (McNeil stated this is often seen with poorly absorbed substances and was of no toxicological significance. The FDA Final Rule agreed that these are findings that are common in aged female rats and are not significant.) Spontaneous abortions in nearly half the rabbit population given sucralose, compared to zero aborted pregnancies in the control group A 23 percent death rate in rabbits, compared to a 6 percent death rate in the control group Chemically, Splenda is More Similar to DDT Than Sugar Yes. Splenda bears more chemical similarity to DDT than it does to sugar. Sucralose is in fact a synthetic chemical that was originally cooked up in a laboratory. It does start off as a sugar molecule. Then, in a five-step patented process of making sucralose, three chlorine molecules are added to a sucrose (sugar) molecule. The chemical process to make sucralose alters the chemical composition of the sugar so much that it is somehow converted to a fructo-galactose molecule. This type of sugar molecule does not occur in nature, and therefore your body does not possess the ability to properly metabolize it. As a result of this "unique" biochemical make-up, McNeil Nutritionals makes its claim that Splenda is not digested or metabolized by the body, hence it has zero calories. But, if you look at the research (which is primarily extrapolated form animal studies) you will see that in fact an average of 15 percent of sucralose IS absorbed into your digestive system, and according to this latest study, it is also absorbed into your fat cells. Unfortunately, if you are healthy and your digestive system works well, you may be at HIGHER risk for breaking down this product in your stomach and intestines! Your Healthiest Alternatives If you have a craving for sweets, rather than trying to find "healthier" ways to continue indulging in them, it is in your best interest to learn ways to relieve your cravings. The obvious one would be to stop eating any of the products to begin with. But sweets are powerfully addictive – sugar has even been shown to be more addictive than cocaine. Stevia is a preferable natural substitute, which can be used in making most dishes and drinks. However, complete avoidance of sweets is often necessary to break your addictive cycle, as your hormones insulin and leptin likely play an important role in your cravings. If you are unable to achieve abstinence from sweets, your emotional connection to cravings might be an important factor for you. One of the most profound methods I know of for diminishing the effects of food cravings is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). EFT is the psychological acupressure technique routinely used in my practice to help people reduce their cravings. There is enough evidence showing the dangers of consuming artificial sweeteners to fill an entire book -- which is exactly why I wrote Sweet Deception. If you or your loved ones drink diet beverages or eat diet foods, this book will explain how you've been deceived about the truth behind artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose -- for greed, for profits ... and at the expense of your own health.

Hi, I'm just a few days out of surgery and I've had terrible thrush since I woke up from surgery and it's driving me crazy! I scrape my tongue daily anyway but it's not helping at all! Did you end up getting an Rx? What did they give you? Thanks, Tami

I haven't started Vitamins yet as I'm barely 4 days out and still pretty queasy. Just wanted to let you know that I found liquid Centrum at Walmart. Centrum is not a very high quality Vitamin but better than nothing! I also found liquid (spray) Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 at Mercola.com.

MMMmmm, lucky girl! lol Hummus! I'm dreaming of hummus and only a few days into clear liquids! Also, refried Beans (both pinto and black). Cooked, pureed vegetables. Soft Cereal like soaked corn flakes?

I'm not sure about taking cold meds, hopefully you'll get some replies from the experts! But can't you try one of those Vicks sniff tubes to clear your nose enough to do a sinus rinse? A sinus rinse would really loosen things up and probably bring you great relief!

My blood pressure has been high for a few weeks (180/90 I think). This happened a few years back but it went back to normal without meds. I was worried about this and my high resting heart rate (90s) so I had a stress EKG last week (treadmill) and everything is fine with my heart but he is concerned about my pressure and told me that he doesn't know why I would have a high heart rate and my oxygen level would go down during exercize but in rare cases it could be a blood clot in the lung. I had a lung x-ray and breathing tests in Dec and everything was fine. Doctor said that if I had a clot it would likely have shown on those tests. I'm supposed to have surgery THIS FRIDAY and I'm worried. Feedback? I'm guessing that high blood pressure and heart rate are not unusual for the overweight. Did any of you have these issues when you had surgery? I just had surgery last Aug with no problems and the heart rate was the same then....

Titanium is still magnetic, right? I'm thinking it is because my pans are titanium and I use them on an induction cook top. So this means you could never have an MRI, correct?

Hi Kelly! That's great! I hope I see you there and I really hope I don't chicken out again....