TarHeel- you asked if you had become addicted to artificial sweeteners, well, I think I have!
I CRAVE diet soda sometimes. And I mean a vicious craving. I was a diet soda drinker even before my LC days, and it is the hardest thing to give up. If I let myself have one, then I'll drink it every day until I can knock some sense into my self. Luckily, maltitol and other SA's don't trigger cravings for me, or make me feel crummy, so I can have SOME sweeties.