Stay away from caffiene too?

Hey, I have stopped drinking coffee and am avoiding most caffeine as well. My rheumatologist didn't instruct me too, so I don't know the reasons why (though you should bring itup with your doctor), but I felt like it was aggravating my RA symptoms, so I decided to give it up and see how I felt.  I do think it has helped, though not necessarily tremendously.

For the hot, milky beverage craving, I drink tea (usually decaf) with hot milk instead, which has helped in those moments when I crave the habit of having a coffee.  I have noticed for myself that caffeine in tea seems to affect me differently, so sometimes I go ahead and have that. Obviously if your dr. said no caffeine at all, then that might not be such a good idea. You could go to a natural foods store and see if they could recommend some kind of natural energy supplement to take instead of caffeine.

Good luck-it's a hard thing to give up, but it may help the RA some.

Sara

Oh gosh! I would hate to give up my morning coffee. Actually, I think the coffee helps the pain medications work faster and the pain med I take has caffiene in it. I don't drink a lot of coffee, but we have to deal with so much as it is why give up one of the comfort things we have? All my Rheumy said was to make sure you drink more water because coffee will dehydrate you so replace the fluids you lose by drinking 2 cups water for 1 cup coffee. I can deal with that.

Bon