hi Deb,

All of those things you listed can trigger a flare. And sometimes, it's just the way the planets are aligned Certainly the weather, and the decreasing light levels with shorter days is a contributing factor.

If you suspect that the sf puddings are a trigger, then it would be a good idea to stop those. Do other foods with aspartame trigger a similar reaction? Aspartame can trigger migraines for me .. but it's usually dose-related, and I can tolerate a small amount very infrequently. There may be other problem ingredients in the pudding mix as welll, such as starch. There is some evidence that allergy to grains such as wheat and corn can worsen arthritis pain and inflammation.


Doreen