Caffeine and MS: My Risky Love Affair with Iced Coffee

Coffee and I have a complicated relationship.

It’s not casual. It’s not polite. It’s emotional. I love it like a fool who knows better. My favorite is iced coffee with oat milk, a little honey, and just a tiny bit of creamer. That’s it. Cold, sweet, and smooth. Every sip makes me happy, even while my body plots against me.

Living with multiple sclerosis means almost every choice comes with conditions. Coffee is one of them. It helps me focus, gives me energy, and makes mornings less miserable. But the trade-off? It sends my bladder into panic mode. Some days, it feels like I’m going to piss on myself. And sometimes, I do. That’s the truth no one puts on inspirational posters.

Still, I drink it.

Every morning. Without fail.

It’s part of my routine, my mental ignition switch. Once I take that first sip, the fog that MS brings starts to lift. I put on my headphones, hit play on my endless playlist of over 250 hours of music, and I can finally think. My brain starts connecting again. I feel sharper, more capable, more me.

That’s the magic part of caffeine. Studies show it can boost alertness, concentration, and short-term memory. It gives your central nervous system a small jolt, helping you stay awake and focused. For many people with MS, that little spark can make a big difference when fatigue feels like a full-time job.

But there’s the other side. The one nobody romanticizes.

Caffeine is a diuretic. It makes you pee more. For people with MS, that can be a problem, especially if you already deal with bladder urgency or incontinence. It can also upset your stomach or make anxiety worse if you have a lot of it. And if you drink it too late in the day, it can wreck your sleep.

So why do I still do it? Because it helps me start the day. Because it’s one of the few pleasures that still feels like mine. Because the smell of coffee in the morning makes me feel human before the rest of the world starts demanding things.

I know what the experts say. Keep it under 400 milligrams a day. Avoid it if it triggers symptoms. Listen to your body. And I do. But my relationship with caffeine isn’t about perfection. It’s about balance. Some days I win. Some days I lose. But most days, I get through the morning feeling awake and present, and that’s worth it.

Yes, my bladder might betray me. And yes, I can practically hear myself getting fat from the oat milk and honey. But that first sip is peace. It’s clarity. It’s control in a body that doesn’t always cooperate.

So no, caffeine and MS don’t make the healthiest couple. But like every messy relationship worth having, we make it work.

Author’s Note:

Living with MS means choosing your battles. Some days, it’s walking. Some days, it’s bladder control. And some days, it’s deciding whether coffee is worth the risk. For me, it usually is. Because life with MS isn’t about perfection. It’s about finding small joys in the middle of the mess. This story is one of mine.

— Me, Myself and MS