I was put on the preop diet yesterday. I used to drink a lot of coffee. I am now suffering from the caffeine withdrawal rebound headace. Any suggestions? Anyone else had this?

had it bad, bad....but after my surgery. I drank my 1 cup a day through the pre-op

You may be able to take Tylenol for the headache - just don't take any NSAIDS. Check with your surgeon though to make sure. Also, make sure you get lots of water in - that will help some (at least it did for me). I stopped drinking my caffeine on May 18 - well before my surgery so I wouldn't have to experience withdrawls at the same time.

I have until Monday to get over it. I only have a week of preop. It is getting better after my Super wonderful Muscle Milk Banana creme protein shake... that stuff is like crack! Sooo Goood! I am also drinking diet cranberry juice and water. I think the hydration is helping the headache. Thanks so much for everyone who has a suggestion that would help. I will only take tylenol.. thanks for the reminder!

Ugh! I am going through the same thing. I decided to start early so I wouldn't have to deal with this post-op. I was drinking 2-3 cups of coffee, and I can't even imagine how much sweet tea I was drinking. I took Tylenol and it is turning the major headache into a dull roar. This definitely is not fun.

I hope it only takes 2-3 days.

Yesterday (day 1) the headache started after lunch. I usually drink two cups in the morning and one after lunch. It was crazy painful all evening and even through the night. It woke me up at 5am. I just tried to doze until 7. After I had my shake, it got MUCH better. I am staying hydrated and it is keeping it at a minimum right now. I hope it will be over by the days end. I quite caffeine once when I was pregnant and stopped smoking on the same day and it lasted three days. I was not hydrated though and it could have been the combo that made it so bad. Good luck to you and I hope yours subsides too. Try the protein shake and lots of water.

Forensikchic - I'm going throught the same thing and this is DAY 3. My headache is still bad and I think it has to do with lack of caffeine and lack of calories. I am only allowed to have 4 shakes and one Protein bar per day. Today I cheated and had a slice of low salt bacon. I know I shouldn't have but shrinking the liver has to do with the restriction of carbs and sugar. I didn't have any of that.... and I was soooo hungry.

Anyway, I know we can both get through this successfully and make it to surgery I plan on buying some SF popsicles today.

My doctor advised me to switch to decaf coffe with 2 extra strength Tylenol. I did that for the first 4 days of my pre-op diet and it worked just fine. Never really had a headache and I was a 5-6 cup a day coffee drinker. I am still drinking 3-4 cups of decaf a day.

I went cold turkey no caffeine last month (still 5 months away from surgery).

drink PLENTY of Gatorade or Water, and take any medication you can to reduce swelling. (Caffeine withdrawal headache is actually caused by something in our brains being swelled up.)

I was miserable for 2 days... couldn't even go to work. Then I was fine.

I am drinking 1 cup of decaf in the am and one after lunch. I am only allowed 2 protein shakes a day but I do get to eat 3 oz of meat and a non starchy vegetable for dinner. My headache is not as bad. No meds today! Woohooo! Its getting better!