Question:
Why no caffeine after RNY? Even small amounts okay?
How do you prevent withdrawal headahces? I know coffee may be forbidden for a while, but what about tea or caffeine infused water? — gail J. (posted on July 10, 2005)
July 10, 2005
Being a suffer of Migraine headaches all my life I had to stop Pop a month
before my but my doctor approved Tea with equal. I even had to result to
taking a couple of viveren tablets for a caffeine boost.....What is good
for one person I realize is not good for another but those were my options.
I hope I could help in some way
God Bless
Anita
— No one N.
July 10, 2005
I am a confirmed caffeine addict-- particularly in the form of freshly
brewed full-strenght coffee-- and was particularly worried about
restrictions on this nectar of the gods following my RNY. Generally,
caffeine early on is not advised because it acts as a diuretic, which can
be particularly problematic when you are struggling to stay hydrated in the
first few months after surgery. Also, for many people, coffee was a
trigger food-- its consumption in some of our peers is always linked to
donuts or muffins or some other high-carb food. For these reasons it is
best to work with your surgeon and/or nutritionist if you feel you can't
live without coffee. I couldn't survive with the intense withdrawal
headaches for more than a few days after surgery. As a result, I started
having about 1/2 cup in the morning to take the edge off of the withdrawal
symptoms. Then, at around six months out, when actual hunger returned, I
used a little more coffee to help take the edge off. Now, of course, I'm
back to taking in coffee by the bucketful. Some things of which to be
mindful-- if caffeine has a diuretic effect on you, don't count those
beverages in attaining your liquid for the day, which means that you will
need to be particularly vigilent about getting in enough fluids. Secondly,
recognize that how you sweeten or lighten it will add carbs to your daily
intake (even though most artificial sweeteners only contain less than one
carb per packet, if you add up all those packets you might find that you
are consuming an extra 5-10 carbs per day). And of course, with any food
or beverage that you feel you can't live without, try to determine for
yourself what it is about those things that creates the strong draw for you
and then see if you can't moderate your cravings. Good luck.
— SteveColarossi
July 10, 2005
You could take this opportunity to break yet another addiction, the
addiction to coffee. I was a hard-core coffee drinker for the last 20
years. I am really happy to be completely addiction free. I am not
addicted to anything. I am not a slave to anything. No substance rules me
or my body. It feels good to be able to say that. Good luck!
— Gina T.
July 10, 2005
I was never told to remove caffeine from my diet; just to limit it in the
early months for the exact reason that Steve suggested. I quit drinking
soda at the time I had surgery so that pretty much cut my caffeine intake
in half. Perhaps you can try replacing half of your beverages with the
non-caffeine 'look alike'. I did that with iced tea, but still drink my
coffee loaded.<br><br>If you are truly concerned about
withdrawal headaches, you should probably cut back prior to surgery. Keep
in mind that you will be in the hospital for 3-5 days w/o caffeine, and
that is generally when the headaches show up.
— RebeccaP
July 10, 2005
I was allowed to drink two cups of coffee a day at first. If is it wasn't
for the coffee and tea at first I don't know what I would have done. My
doctor told me I could have it. Have you had surgery yet?
— rywc4life
July 10, 2005
we are told no caffeine at all...ever!! caffeine is a stomach irritant so
it is forbidden. i have heard of several people that are allowed. i will
say that i (although not consuming caffeine) still consider myself a
caffeine addict. it is amazing. i still crave it like mad but the headaches
are gone. i decided to give it up before surgery to make it easier. i
decreased down to one coffee in the AM. the 3 first days i gave it up i
had a headache and just wanted to sleep sleep sleep. i still miss the
caffeine buzz in the morning and right after lunch. i do think it was
better to give it up ahead of time..one less thing to worry about.
goodluck!!!!!
— [Deactivated Member]
July 10, 2005
rny restricts water consumption with meals and you need fluids yet dont
want to flush the pouch or your intestines, caffine is a strong diruretic.
a contridiction to having hydration after a rny, one reason i choose the
ds, no dietary restrictions. check it out on the ds forum
— walter A.
July 10, 2005
My surgeon said I could have coffee as soon as I could tolerate it. There
are people all over the map on caffeine and such. I believe in a life of
moderation.
— Anna B.
July 10, 2005
My surgeon said that caffiene is a diarrhetic (sp?). There is nothing
WRONG with cafiene, other than the faact that you must drink twice the
amount of non caffinated products to counteract the caffiene. I would stay
the I am about 85% compliant to this.
— Fixnmyself
July 10, 2005
The nutritionist told me that caffiene was banned because it increases the
production of insulin, which therefore increases hunger and sabotages
weight loss. I wonder what percentage of us were addicted to caffeine
(coffee, tea, sodas) BEFORE surgery? I was told decaf coffee and tea were
fine. You might start drinking half regular and half decaf the gradually
make it all decaf to help reduce the withdrawal symptoms.
— Kim 6.
July 11, 2005
I was told that I can have 2 cups of caffeine a day. Too much caffeine
intake can mess with vatamin absorption.
— lbruzzese
July 11, 2005
I have to agree with Kim. I was told that it stimulated the appetite and
sabatoged the weight lose. I think that anyting in moderation is okay. He
says we can have it occasionally, but not daily.
— jk_harris
July 11, 2005
Those caffeine withdrawal headaches are horrible! About a month before my
surgery, I continued drinking the same amount of coffee, but I slowly
replaced the regular with decaf. For example, the first week, I was
drinking 3/4 regular and 1/4 decaf. The next week, 1/2 and 1/2. By the time
my surgery date came, I was completely on decaf and no headaches!
— Yolanda J.
July 12, 2005
I had no restrictions on caffeine...........I started out trying to do the
decaf because I love coffee but that wasn't too good so now I drink two
cups of regular in the morning then switch to decaf if I have any more than
that. I still do take one pepcid AC everyday though and have had no
problems. Lots of people drink tea regularly but wouldn't dream of touching
coffee with caffiene.....can't see the difference myself and have seen
several reports lately where the "experts" are saying that
caffeine does not act as a diuretic......but as we always say, follow your
doctor's guidelines. If they say no caffeine, don't do caffeine.
— scbabe
July 12, 2005
I was told no caffeine following my LAP RNY because it messes with vitamin
absorption and we have enough problems with that to start with. It also
acts as a diuretic and you'd have to drink extra water to make up for it
and most people wouldn't, so the best plan to protect the pouch is to
abstain.
— Cathy S.
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