Low Blood Pressure Caused by Stevia?

I'm not sure low blood pressure is my issue, but hopefully someone can help me to gain some perpspective. I'm going to see my endocrinologist Friday a.m.

I had been a stevia user for about 5 years. I'd have it about 3-4 times a day - and worked up to a dropper full each time. Very shortly after starting to use stevia, I started to develop horrific gas and constipation and had a very difficult time losing weight. At the time I attributed it to a lost pregnancy. I've been to countless specialists and had numerous unpleasant gastro tests performed, all to normal results.

From March 2007 to mid-October 2007 I walked at a brisk pace every day for an hour. In October 2007 I started working out in a pilates move based class that uses 3-12 pound weights. I worked my way up from 3s to 12s within 2 months. I got down to 147 pounds (female, 42). By the time I got to 12s, after every workout I felt so drained that I either wanted to throw up or pass out. A few times I felt myself about to faint, but was able to stop it. So, on the advice of the gym owner and my instructor and best friend who is a personal trainer (not working at the gym), I started adding more protein to my diet. This didn't really help. The only thing that made me have strong workouts was eating a sizeable lunch of rice and veggies, but the amount of food that made me have a good workout (without leaving me feeling like I could pass out), made me start gaining weight. So, I cut back on the food and resumed weak workouts. I began to make a point of noting what I ate/drank when I felt the worst. At first I throught it was coffee. Then I thought it was tea. Then I realized I felt the worst working out after a workout where I had stevia with my drink with my meal before working out.

So, I have now been off of Stevia for about 2 weeks. And now I am experiencing scary symptoms. I am having dizzy spells. They come after I've had food, drinks or gum that has been sweetened - with anything. I'm prescribed Armour thyroid and stopped taking that to in hopes that was the culprit, but no, it's not. The symptoms persist.

Ever since I stopped using stevia, my digestive system has vastly improved to what I can happily call normal/ A few other aggravating issues are gone now too, but now I feel dizzy a great part of the day. Eating salty things helps me to feel better, but can't eat salty all day.

I'm wondering what the heck stevia did to my system and if there's a way to recover from this.

Thanks so much. Tweet