Artificial sweeteners

Who knows - though I can probably say that most of us in the UK didn't eat/drink anything like as much of that sort of stuff before PMR hit. The drinking habits of our generation in the UK are less focused on sodas - a nice cup of tea or coffee is more likely!  If it were that then there would be a far higher incidence in the USA than in the UK and I don't think that is the case. 

Though who is to say that it wasn't the final straw? But it could also have been the lovely holiday or something else.

Aaaarrrrhh now then Karen!!!,,  I decided I was drinking far too much coffee, possibly 10 to 15 cups a day depending on my shift in work! Then I went all health conscious stopped the coffee, and I mean STOP not reduce, and replaced the 10 to 15 cups of coffee with Green Tea!!! That was in November 2014, on Christmas Day that year I was struck down with PMR!! 

Hi Karen, sorry I can't help you there, I don't use artificial sweeteners although I'm sure I must eat some processed foods that contain them. Some foods I eat are fat free but just things like milk and yogurt. I have no idea what a crystal light is? Regards, christina 

I've never opted for artificial sweeteners, they always make me feel sick, and they are in soooo many things that you don't expect them to be in.

I should think if you drink gallons of anything (except water!) they would not be healthy.

I should imagine it was the stress of the holiday, plus the heat, that caused the flare of PMR.  

Every BODY is indeed different.  

I had a really bad fall in June 2013 about 2 months before the main symptoms of PMR developed suddenly.

I was working and had to ascend twenty stone steps to collect a large platter of meat for the BBQ. I turned to come down anf forgot I was up steps and stepped into space. I fell flat on my stomach   didnt drop the plate of meat... however I winded myself very badly and my blood preussure went sky high. I had not broken anything or cut myself or damaged my head.. paramedic didnt take me to hospital but stayed with me for one hour until I normalised and then took me home to my daughters to recover.

I went to work normally the next day. Apart from some bruises..mainly where my hip hit the gas bottle for the BBQ I ws OK.

I am 72 and quite fit.. most people my age would have fractured everything in a fall like that.

In September I woke up one morning unable to lift my arms, wash my hair and found it difficult to walk...like wearing a lead suit with divers boots.

I had had some neck stiffness for a bit but tought it was just bruising from the fall...made it difficult to drive. Was diagnosed with PMR late September.

Hi I don't drink cold drink much at all so the artificial sweetener wouldn't have been my trigger, although I did have the flu jab in 2014 and thought it was that.  However I had the flu jab agin in 2015 and it didn't affect my PMR .  I think PMR seems to rampage through you body at such speed it naturally thought it's one of the things you've had out of the ordinary but maybe it's just coincidence.

regards angelcake 

I have avoided all artificial sweeteners, before GCA and after. my body didn't and doesn't care for them. If you do try them, try them all because each one is different. some folks I know like the "natural sweeteners" like stevia or agave. the artificial sweeteners are just chemicals imho. ick. I don't trust them.

Karen - I used to drink untold cups of strong black coffee when I was at work - but that was 15 years ago.  Still drink espresso from my Bialetti coffee pot on the hob, but I have never drunk milk or had sugar, I have had a lactose problem since birth.  Still drink around the same amount pre and post diagnosed with PMR .   The same would apply to red wine - just a small glass during the evening meal.