I just read that moderate drinking (at least one drink three times a week) has been shown to prevent or improve rheumatoid arthritis, probably because it "reduces immune activity." Wonder if it could help my MG.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/07/27....html?hpt=Sbin

I've never been much of a drinker, especially since I got MG. I'm wobbly enough already. But my husband thinks this is a good experiment for us to try, and pledges to be my drinking buddy.

Abby

I drink one glass of wine everyday. Before my MG, I used to drink two, maybe I should go back to that scheme...?
Maurice.

I say do whatever works for you. I think it doesn't work for most though. Some doc wrote up his reasons for telling MG patients not to drink much: http://www.4-mga.org/f1/f3d1.htm

Abby, You sound desperate! Alcohol, really? I know, wine is supposed to have effects on the immune system. But the article was sketchy at best and you have to ask yourself what EXACTLY in the wine is good? Is it the alcohol or the grapes? Is it the blood thinning effects? I wouldn't doubt if the study was done by a wine manufacturer.

I can't even sip on alcohol or I'll wake up in the middle of the night choking and unable to breathe well. It's not really worth the risk, at least for me!

Your husband may want to watch you drink instead because he'll have to be alert if he needs to drive you to the ER or dial 911.

Annie

Annie,

Thanks. I wrote that when I was doing quite well, and could have handled a glass of wine a day. Now I'm a lot weaker, and wouldn't try it. Oh, well. I was thinking it would be nice, to sit with my husband sipping wine. I guess we'll have to do herbal tea or something instead...

OK, now I'm going to make up an article about how chocolate is actually quite beneficial, and all MG patients should eat snickers bars.

Abby

Abby,
Thanks for the chocolate laugh...I do think dark chocolate is healthy for us, if I remember right it is high in Magnesium and some other mineral(iron?), but only the good chocolate without all the additives. I bought some raw cocoa powder (not the regular kind that is alkali processed) and I cook with it, adding it to some soups and with bean dishes, and find it delicious.

As for wine...I can't drink it on my normal MG days, but sometimes when I am having those good days and then I get stressed I have had a little (very little!) red wine and it does help me with the stress a tiny bit. I wouldn't recommend alcohol for anyone with MG though, could be dangerous.

Lots of smiles for your chocolate joke.

Snickers = lots of chewing though! LOL. Now I have Snickers on the brain, oh no.

I think you're all drunk.

You know that chocolate has caffeine and caffeine is a cholinesterase inhibitor just like Mestinon . . . but that's not why I like it. Dark chocolate tastes so damn good. I like the dark chocolate chips cause you don't need a lot to be satisfied and can keep the calories down.

Hi Abby,
I can't even have a drop of alcohol anymore...makes me like a newborn baby...
Sorry girl,
Jessica