Like I mentioned before, Zevia sodas are great, they are all natural, sweetened with stevia.

I used to drink up to two, 2 liter bottles of diet coke/Pepsi a day. I added a cup of coffee from McDonald's. I stopped on my way to works every day and got a coffee and diet coke. Then I'd drink more pop.

Back in may, I started taking NuVigil for sleepiness and fatigue, and couple of weeks into taking it, the day of my first ever massage, I did not drink the bottle of diet pop I had with me. I took a sip and just couldn't drink more. I even joked that the massage therapist must've pushed a button somewhere that turned off my pop cravings.

I believe it was the fact that thanks to NuVigil, I wasn't as sleepy as I used to be andmy body didn't need the caffeine anymore.

I still drink either sparcling water or Ginger Ale sometimes. The last couple weeks because of stomach issues, I've been drinking Ginger Ale and sprite quite a bit. Drinking plain water makes the nausea even worse.

I believe caffeine made the sleep more difficult. I use Cpap and take the gabapentin as well as NuVigil, and most of the time, the sleepiness and the fatigue are better.

As for caffeine making the pain worse, its hard to tell since my pain used to be really bad and constant before may, but I started pain meds in Med so i contribute the improvement to that rather than stopping caffeine. I still get lost of pain especially on work days or when i overdo it.

This is interesting. I went off caffiene and sugar for 3 months straight, when I was diagnosed. It has made a big difference for me. I drink teecinno. It is an herbal coffee. After being off coffee for the 3 months I craved it so bad, that this was an easy adjustment. I ordered thier sampler, found my favorite kind, and bingo... I enjoy drinking my "coffee" again each morning :) I still am off sugar and can tell when I eat extra, like ketchup. Sometimes I can go several days like normal, then I'll have a bad day! I found when I have a bad day, that if I drink more water, the next day will be better. I drink iced herbal tea :) Gentle hugs everyone! Martha

I am incredibly grateful I found this site!! I thought I was going crazy and now know I am not. I used to be a big tea drinker and got up one morning, got my tea, took a sip and almost gagged. I switched to coffee, but its starting to bother me. (or maybe it HAS been bothering me and I just don't see it. crazy huh?) I'm afraid of eating most of the time anymore. Its not fun.

Babedoll, I know what you mean...I stopped drinking sodas a long time ago, they just started bothering me. I now drink about half a can maybe once a month if that.

I gave up all caffeine and it didn't help my symptoms at all. I struggle with fatigue so much. I drink one cup of coffee in the morning to help jump start me. I also drink the occasional Diet Coke but only with Splenda, not aspartame.

I have never had a problem with caffeine. But as someone said. We are all different and react differently to the same thing. For me fatigue comes in spurts. This week and last week I have been very easily fatigued. Next week I might be fine. I have noticed that artificial sweeteners can trigger a flare. So I avoid those.

Caffeine is actually not a diuretic though it does make you urinate more. I find that caffiene causes a spike and crash type of response with regards to fatigue but havent noticed a correlation between that and pain. Alcohol though will cause pain the next day. The more I drink, the more days I will feel it.

Well it is all in the semantics... :0)
..."This was all about answering the question 'Is coffee a diuretic?' The fact is that coffee and almost any beverage in fact, does lead to mild effects as a diuretic. Coffee consumers however, have a higher tolerance to the mild diuretic effect of coffee. On the contrary, coffee is said to be a powerful stimulant of the bowel, which in turn is responsible for preventing constipation. However, excess of coffee can also lead to very loose bowel movements."

The last part of the statement is more a problem with me...

Yeah I know what you mean, I had to give up coffee, Iam very sensitive to caffeine and am stuggling to give up my pop. I drink diet coke and now I am drinking caffeine free diet, which I never thougth I would. I get tired so I drink it but if I drink to much caffeine I get panic attacks and get jittery . so I have to stay away from it. I drink decaf tea, I drink decaf coffee once in a blue moon. So I have to be strongand tell myself no. But I can do it. I like crystal light, do not get metabolism or energy ones for they have caffeine in them , I did not pay attention to them and boy was that a mistake. Well diet drinks I know are not all that good for you but baby steps and I will get it.

if u can stand it a phenominal pain dr. rcommended the Mediterreanen diet to me for pain. i'm too much of a baby to restrict myself that much but i could understand why it would work.

Like some of the others, I have found I am very reactive to sugar and caffeine....I did some research online on "sugar intolerance" and "caffeine intolerance"....I went off sugar totally, and have very little caffeine at all. I haven't had any major crashes since then....It's really been a big help.

Like jon said, I've also really limited my carbs, and stick mainly to protein and veggies in my diet. Its also helped, and I've also lost a few pounds as an added bonus :)

HUGS from down south :)