<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p>Hi had my surgery more than a year ago, have lost 60 odd pounds – My problem is recently when I consume splenda I get severe Abdominal pain and cramps ; the splenda can be in the form of crystal light or with my coffee.<o:p></o:p>

I was wondering if any other member have experienced this?:thumbup:<o:p></o:p>

Earlier I would pop a Tums or a Gasx to get rid of the cramps but soon they stopped being affective and did not curtail the discomfort !<o:p></o:p>

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I would go through bouts of agonizing pain! After a lot of trial and error I have isolated the cause to splenda! Any information would be helpful –Thanks! <o:p></o:p>

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Well, artificial sweeteners are known to cause diarrhoea and gas, so its probably exactly as you say.

It really is best just to train your palate to not need the sweetness. Giving up sweetener in coffee, for example, is really one of the easier dietary challenges, it only takes about two weeks of cold turkey before you dont miss it anymore.

Oh gosh, I would be in agony if I had splenda regularly. Even one packet of it is hard for me to digest. Those symptoms are not something that can be fixed with tums or anything else, except not eating it. Try a natural zero cal sweetner like stevia instead. I've heard this is easy to digest. My husband uses it and likes it.

Trixie

Hi. I am a new lapbander, day 10! But before the surgery, I had gastro problems like you described. I saw an article on Splenda on TV that said this product can have this effect on some people. I wondered if that was my problem as I used Splenda evryday on my oatmeal. I stopped the Splenda the next day and my symptoms immediately went away. I try to stay away from anything containing Splenda now. I hope this helps.

I had HUGE issues with Splenda. I had horrible abdominal pains..like ridiculous. Ive had 2 big 9lbs+ babies naturally and this pain was almost as bad..lol I also retained fluid and swelled up really bad, had headaches and all disappeared when I removed splenda. Its like poison to my body. Google dangers of splenda and you will be surprised.

It affects me that way too. I could never figure out why I would have those pains in the night when I had my Crystal Light and I figured out it was the artificial sugars. I have quit that and now just do 1/2 1/2 tea with lemon and I am satisfied. My Dr. told me the best thing to do was to use natural sugar- but in extremem moderation (like the tea) to add a little sweet, but not damage my body.

I understand you being worried, the first couple times it happened to me, I thought something was wrong with my band...then, by process of elimination, I figured out what it was- removed it- and now I'm happy!