People with MSG induced "vertigo"

"A few years ago I had to go to emergency room and the doctors diagnosed me with Vertigo....I hope my story can help others discover if they have similar reactions to MSG.  I also wouldn't be surprised if statistically there are many people unaware they suffer from MSG because its so hard to pin point."

Thanks, C
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"For the past two years I have been healthy! I have no vertigo today; it is
completely gone! I have tested myself over the past two years, introducing
MSG on the weekends when I don't have to work, and every time I have a
reaction to it that manifests itself through dizziness. I have discovered
that I am extremely sensitive even to the smallest amount.

Today I feel like a completely new person. I have the liberty to travel
without worry, and I can focus more on living life to the fullest."

I wish you all the best in your endeavors. Keep fighting the good fight!  E.
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"What was worse was that I was feeling really suicidal.  It would come and go, often very suddenly....[Now] Occasionally I
will have a sudden attack of hopelessness and find myself wondering why people bother to live. Then the swooshing starts and I am
relieved to know that it was something I ate."

Thank you so much for the service you do.  K.
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"I have been allergic to MSG for years and I thought I knew what to stay away from. I get migraines."

Thanks for solving my puzzle. D.
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"...my daughter doesn't suffer from migraines at all...I believe she has suffered horrible allergic reactions to PROCESSED FREE GLUTAMIC ACIDS... Thank you, thank you."

With kindest regards, C
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"Thank you Truth in Labeling campaign for being my most reliable source the past few years for tracking down my migraine triggers.  For over 30 years I have searched to discover my triggers.  With your help I have been able to significantly reduce the number of migraines I have."

Sincerely, CL
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"Am thankful that someone out there is offering this warning to the public.
For years I have been getting terrible migraines that put me in bed for a day, usually once a week, and sometime twice. I'd discovered the great offender, MSG, 15 years ago, or more and have avoided it like the plague.
About 6 years ago I started getting these bad "barometric weather headaches".  All this time I had been eating Sun Chips"....a great tasting chip that didn't have MSG on the label! So, re-reading the ingrediants I decided to look up "hydrolyzed soy protein".  Voila!  And that brought me to your site.  It also contains "Autolyzed yeast extract"....in their ingredients. And the laughable coup de grace, they are touting an advertizement about
how they are helping to fight breast cancer!  So glad they are interested in our health...."

Sincerely, JM
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"Put me on the list of people affected by MSG.   I have been able to get my migraines from 10 a month town to three or four a month by eliminating MSG, my problem is I don't know all of the ways it is hidden."

Thanks N
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"So now we know that her allergies are not just allergies that they have tested her for but MSG. I [think] her doctor has tested her for the wrong allergenes.  Thanks to your link I hope she takes copies to her doctor. Since I took her off all MSG products  she has had no headaches.  Thank you so much."

PF
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"hello my name is T...  and i need your help..i suffer from migriane headaches...this i have found to be linked with msg and i need a list of foods that don't contain msg. i am in a lot of pain and yes ok  chinese is my fav food but to the point of vomiting and need to change the things i eat please if u have any kind of ideas or food list with no msg i need you now to write back to me..."
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My husband suffers from migraine headaches and sometimes I think he has seizures to go along with it.  I didn’t realize the hidden names that MSG has.  Also to think that I am giving my children food that I think has NO MSG and it does.  This makes me sick to my stomach.  I am doing more research on the affects of MSG and what products actually contain it.  Hidden or not.

Thank you. V
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"I had been diagnosed with Meniere's disease and had
had severe vertiginous episodes for ten years, from age 29 to 39."

I wish you all the best in your endeavors. Keep fighting the good fight!

E
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People with MSG induced anxiety and panic attacks

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I am just one more body that reacts to MSG with panic attacks, anxiety, thirst, headaches, swollen hands....etc. Thanks to your site I am getting rid of my "healthy" isolated proteins and anything else on your list.  I feel both a schmuck and elated simultaneously.

"So many years of gym work and protein drinks and getting off "food" and only doing whey and isolated protein to clean out and all along I am poisoning myself and going crazy.  Paxil and Elevil and all those SSRIs can't and won't eliminate the effects that hidden MSG has had on me.  There is hope.

"God Bless You! RA"
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"With the information you've presented I've been able to identify that my illness was
indeed due to MSG and I've been able to avoid it almost completely for over
a year now.

Ever since my mid-twenties (I'm 45 now), I had been suffering continuously from what I called "attacks". They were like an awful combination of a
hangover and an allergic reaction: headache, sinus congestion, watery eyes, upset stomach, bowel disorder, aching muscles in the neck and shoulders,
facial puffiness, general malaise and depression, irritability and anger. This would last from six to 18 hours, relentlessly. There was
almost nothing I could do about them, except sometimes a combination of pseudoephedrine and aspirin would help a little. These attacks would
strike unpredictably, sometimes as long as a month apart but sometimes three times in a week....

"It wasn't until I learned the many guises of MSG from your website that it all finally came together and I found relief....

"There are still occasional times when I'll get the reaction, sometimes I suspect due to MSG from a restaurant or dinner at friends'
houses. And I also think there are certain combinations of food which can somehow aggravate my response. For example, I can drink wine OR eat
chocolate without problems, but on at least five separate occasions I've been able to identify an attack associated with wine AND chocolate (and no
other known MSG). Very complicated!"

"With Deepest Gratitude, GB"
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"Four years ago I stated having dizziness, headaches and feeling slightly off balance.  At first I thought it was my eyes.  But every so often these feelings returned.  After a while I realized that there was one produced that caused these symptoms.  I avoided that, but because this did not happen all the time that I did not read every label.  But from today on I will.  Last night I eat ... Bar-B-Que potato chips two hours I was feeling of balance then at the night progressed my head felt like it was going to drop off.  My stomach was quizzing my hands shaking.  When I finally went to bed my head so heavy that when I moved my room appeared to be spinning.  Now it is thirteen hours since I ingested this product I still feel unwell. But all night I was wondering what caused this sickness, I came down stairs to check this chip bag to find MSG....I

"Thank you and continue informing the public.

"Sincerely, C"
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"Ii used to use msg in my diet n my head used to spin i.e. i had a feeling of drowsiness for 2 days same effect as artificial sweetners. u guys r doing a great job by informing the people of the harmful effects of msg. keep it up.

"regards"
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"My 17 year old son suffers from Type I Diabetes. For the past year or so, he has been suffering from petit mal seizures. We thought it had something to do with his Diabetes. This past Memorial Day weekend, as usual, we had stocked up on Diet Sodas. Then, to unknowingly make matters worse, we ate at a Chinese Restaurant on Memorial Day. Our son's seizures increased drastically!....

"The doctor was stymied. All Matt's bloodwork and MRI came back normal. We had an appt. w/a neurologist, until I discovered your website. We have eliminated, as much as possible, the MSG, and absolutely have eliminated all aspartame from his diet....He no longer is having seizures, but he still is getting pretty intense headaches each day, which tells me we are somehow still serving him MSG-laced food....

"Your website was a God-send...I have spread the word like wildfire and will continue doing so.

"Looking forward to hearing from you!!

"Sincerely, S"
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"I have been treated by 3 different neurologists for seizures, and I am currently taking three medications but still having problems. Many prayers have been prayed for an answer, and finally it seems that there may be one- MSG could be the cause of all this! So I just wanted to say thank you, thank you, a thousand times thank you for the work you do on this website! You are truly a God-send!"

Thanks! E
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"About 11 years ago I totally fell apart. I felt like I was going crazy. I was moody, depressed, had anxiety and more....they told me all problems stemmed from my husband and father....I then read a book about MSG. Within 1 year I was in control of my life again except the times I ate food with MSG."

D
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"We have many symptoms, esp the swelling and headaches, facial pressure, and depression.  Both of my daughters have been prescribed meds for depression and find that when they stick with a diet low in MSG and processed foods that they do not need to take the medications."
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"6 hours later, I get depressed, my skin started itching severely, and shortly after, my skin breaks out again in the exact same locations as always.  By the way, I now have permanent dark areas on my skin where I break out."

I would like to thank you  for what information you have made available to the average layman like me. S.
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"Personally I am absolutely convinced the rise in violence among youngsters seen world-wide is a direct
result of MSG consumption. I have seen it many years ago with my younger brother growing up on a diet rich
in MSG. He was very emotionally irrational, turned violent for “nothing” and had general lack of focus in
life – like so many kids today. I started propagating against MSG and after some time of having
reduced/removed MSG from his diet, even he himself acknowledged that he felt less “irrational” and easily
“aggressively irritated”. His school grades also improved."

R.
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"I am a college student and my dining hall has some foods loke pre packaged seasoning and salad dressings contain MSG.  when I consume MSG I frequently go to the bathroom.  Just wanted to tell you this,"

Sincerely, M
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"The symptoms are always the same: urinary frequency, rapid heartbeat, inability to sleep, and -- really bad -- some song or poem or such as that going "round and round" in my head."

 I wish MSG could be banned from food because I know for a fact that it does damage.  J
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"On your list of adverse reactions, bladder pain (with frequency) should be
added in the "urological" section.  I am an Interstitial Cystitis sufferer
and I have talked to many fellow sufferers on an IC message board.  Most all
of us have MSG sensitivity.  Many IC sufferers have MSG sensitivity and
don't know it."

M
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"I suffered (and suffered is the right word!) from pancreatitis in 1990 (the
result of a blocked duct, not from too much alcohol). On occasions after
that, I would suffer very painful bouts of "mini-pancreatitis" -- same
symptoms, but not quite as severe and lasting "only" a couple of days. My
doctor decided these must be ulcers, and gave me the usual list of things to
avoid.

"Then one day it happened again after I had eaten a very bland meal. The
meal, CHINESE FOOD, was notable for its blandness. That's when it hit me
that it must be MSG causing this."
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"I believe after reading your information that I am full of MSG.  I had stopped eating Chinese food 6 years ago because the MSG caused cranial pressure and head "fog" for days....Thanks for your help."

G
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"My husband has been having a problem with a-fib since October.  After many doctors etc., I think I have found the cause and that being MSG.  He is scheduled for ablation at the end of the month but now I wonder if that is something like "treating the symptoms and not treating the cause"

Sincerely,   P
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"The loss of sleep is in itself a serious problem, but I also notice arhythmia going on at the same time -- and rapid heartbeat, also."

I wish MSG could be banned from food because I know for a fact that it does damage.

J.
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People with MSG induced tachycardia

"I have been following your advice to avoid MSG and processed foods and my attacks of tacky cardia (severe heart racing and feinting) have not occurred in a month! Thank you thank you thank you!"  A.
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 "The symptoms are always the same:  urinary frequency, rapid heartbeat, inability to sleep, and -- really bad -- some song or poem or such as that going "round and round" in my head."

 I wish MSG could be banned from food because I know for a fact that it does damage. J
_________________________

"I mistakenly had some salad dressing without checking the label.  I have blurred vision, extreme tightness of legs and feet ... and numbness and tingling of most of my extremities....as well as severe edema...  After discovering your web site, I was horrified to read all of my symptoms being displayed, one after another.  My symptoms have become more severe with each new instance of MSG ingestion, and I am becoming increasingly alarmed and
want to take every precaution to avoid any further exposure."

Regards, R
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"My husband is very sensitive to [MSG]and it has made his life a living hell! He is 48 yrs. old and has not been able to enjoy a normal, lifestyle for over 20 yrs"

Sincerely, Mrs. C
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"I discovered [hives] through word of mouth inquiries. I think it is a food trigger for him, and since it doesn't seem to be related to one "family" of foods, I became suspicious of what was in those food that set off the hives....Thank you for your time and information."
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"I was just hospitalized for possible MSG allergy.  I'm not certain because I did not save the label from the product.  I had made taco's from Old El Paso complete dinner package.  I was awaken to itching approx. 6 to 7 hrs later.  I took benadryl, because I had the same occurrence from Chinese food that contained MSG.  I got short of breath, and then was gasping.  My husband had to call the rescue squad, I then passed out....  This reaction was much worse than the first.  I had nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and bloody diarrhea....

"R."
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"i am from Sydney Australia, i am 22 years of age. i've suffered from a severe rash on my face for the past 2 and half years-i've been to doctors, naturopaths, skin specialists none have yet helped! I have researched MSG and your website and am glad to report:  2 weeks and no rash! i am so much happier and relieved... THANKYOU!!!

"E."
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"6 hours later, I get depressed, my skin started itching severely, and shortly after, my skin breaks out again in the exact same locations as always.  By the way, I now have permanent dark areas on my skin where I break out."

I would like to thank you  for what information you have made available to the average layman like me. S.
________________________________________________________________

"6 hours later, I get depressed, my skin started itching severely, and shortly after, my skin breaks out again in the exact same locations as always.  By the way, I now have permanent dark areas on my skin where I break out."

I would like to thank you  for what information you have made available to the average layman like me. S.
____________________________________________

"Several months ago I began to experience tingling in my hands and feet, which occasionally was quite painful. I also had headaches to which I attributed the use of caffeine as the culprit. I occasionally have a metallic taste in my mouth. I underwent an MRI fearing that I had MS. The neurologists ruled this out and have requested that I return if any symptoms resume.

"Two nights ago I prepared and ate "Lipton Alfredo Noodles," a prepackaged processed food. Prior to going to sleep around 10 p.m. that night I had want felt like a sledge hammer hit me in the right side of the head. The tingling in the extremities returned and a violent headache were still with me in the morning and now 48 hours later are just beginning to subside. I knew that the type of headache I was experienceing was much like the ones I get with Chinese food (which I now avoid). I searched on the internet and found that the additive in the packaged food was called sodium caseinate and the information led me to you."
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"I have had severe asthma since I was able to understand it was hard to breathe but was not diagnosed until I was at a much later age....When I realized that MSG and aspartame affected me in similar ways, I started to read labels. Then I did some more research on natural forms of MSG because I am very sensitive to tomato sauce. As the years went on I stopped taking things I thought were making me ill and an interesting thing happened, I started getting better. Aside from stopping all medication, I began watching everything I ate and what affect it had on my body. You were right about it taking hours sometimes to get a reaction, this made it harder to determine what the exact thing I ate or medicine I took, that caused a reaction. I do not take any more asthma medication because I think I may have cured myself."

Hope to hear your thoughts
Thank you
R.
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"The symptoms are always the same:  urinary frequency, rapid heartbeat, inability to sleep, and -- really bad -- some song or poem or such as that going "round and round" in my head."

 I wish MSG could be banned from food because I know for a fact that it does damage. J
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adandjack@aol.com 858/481-9333 http://www.truthinlabeling.org

This page was last updated on March 2, 2008

IF MSG ISN'T HARMFUL, WHY IS IT HIDDEN?