Migraines and Nutrasweet

  : : I am 33, and have had migraines for about 10 years. They start with some visual affects with an annoying headache that lasts a few hours to more than a day.  I'm active, play hockey , run, walk etc.  I have heard from less than reliable sources that Nutrasweet may be associated with visual problems and headaches - is there some truth to this?  My migraines started to occur around the same time (within a few years) I switched to diet pop.  Also, in Sept 98 I had open heart surgery to repair an ascending aorta aneurysm and aortic valve (repaired).  Recovery was speedy however the frequency of migraines has gone from one every two to three month to one every other week.  This seems especially odd since I'm now taking 50mg/day Tropol (beta-blocker) to prevent other aneurysms.  Could the tropol be causing this?  Is there anything I should try or have checked out?  I drink an average of 2 diet Cokes a day, sometimes none, sometimes more.  I don't drink coffee nor smoke.  Heart rate and BP are normal.  Thanks for any help.
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  : WEBMASTERS NOTE:
  :                    Reports say that only 2% of the population are "Phenylketonurics".
  :                    From the number of people who have stated they have either
  :                    immediate, or rapid onset of problems that they can attribute to the
  :                    consumption of an aspartame-laced product, there must be a LARGE
  :                    number of "borderline" cases. A great number of people mention
  :                    headaches, seizures, mental confusion or memory loss, hives, and
  :                    gastrointestinal problems (among others).
  :                    This begs the question... If aspartame earned over a billion dollars in
  :                    1996, and if it is truly "safe", what can possibly be the Monsanto,
  :                    Searle, NutraSweet objection against ONE more test to PROVE it?
  :                    If you, the visitor to DORway have read much... the answer is all too
  :                    obvious!
  :                     It IS not, and CANNOT be proven to be safe!
  :
  :           Phenylketonurics and PKU carriers are not the only people that should avoid phenylalanine.
  :           Dr. Louis J. Elsas, II, Director of Medical Genetics at Emory University School of
  :           Medicine, "recommends that pregnant women avoid aspartame sweeteners" because it is
  :           unknown what quantity is considered safe (qtd. In Assc. Of Birth Defect Children 2). Dr.
  :           Roberts also suggests to avoid aspartame products during pregnancy due to increased levels
  :           of phenylalanine on the "fetal side of the placenta." Increases levels of phenylalanine may
  :           "interfere with the growth of the fetus brain" (181).
  :           In an article published in the Association of Birth Defect Children, Karen Mills argues that
  :           aspartame may be responsible for her son's health problems. Unaware of the dangers of
  :           aspartame, she consumed four to six diet sodas a day and also took phenylalanine capsules
  :           to relieve fatigue during her pregnancy. She was in good health and did not smoke or drink
  :           during this time. Her pregnancy was considered normal and prenatal testing ruled out any
  :           genetic birth defects. Her delivery was also normal. When her son Brandon was born, he was
  :           severely retarded with serious neurological problems. All of his x-rays, genetic studies, and
  :           blood tests came back normal. Karen states, "I am suspicious that NutraSweet