Caffeine withdrawals!

[McButterpants 2,846]

Pre-sleever here...I am 6 weeks from my surgery date.

The doctor told me to start cutting caffeine about 4 weeks from date of surgery, but I'm prepping in so many ways I thought "I'll start now."

Let me tell you...No caffeine = SUCKS

I didn't go cold turkey, I only had one cup of coffee this morning. Around the time I would normally have my 2nd cup, I start getting this low grade headache. About an hour later, my head was pounding! I took some ibuprofen and a 45 minute nap. I'm a little better now, but wholly cow! I would have NEVER thought it would have hit me like that.

Apparently I had a bigger caffeine dependency than I realized! I may have to go for a half caff / half decaff in a little bit.

[Teachamy 1,042]

I hear you! I am so coffee-dependent! Caffeine is my drug of choice. I didn't start my weaning process until I started the pre-op diet! (I was originally scheduled for surgery July 31, but it had to be postponed because it was discovered I have AFib). Now the AFib has been successfully treated, but I have picked back up on my coffee habit since I won't have surgery until December. I need to start the half-caf. plan for a few weeks to begin to prepare myself.

[cpeycke 16]

I have the same concern I think I have been trying to avoid the point. I only have 3 weeks to surgery and am worried. I think I'll try to quit when I start my Pre op diet.. I still love coffee, I was a Barista for 5 years, I only drink one tumbler a day but am scared to stop! Wish you well at least your smart enough to start early. I'm sure most of it maybe mental!

[newat52 1,612]

Do it very slow. I am about a 2 cup a day girl. I Started out with my usual, second cup was half caf. Did that for about a week. then both cups were half caf. Again, about a week, then half caf first, Decaf second. It didn't bother me at all.

Post op pretty much did reverse. It took about 3 weeks to even want to have coffee and it took about 2 months to get back where I was an am now.

Good luck!

[McButterpants 2,846]

Do it very slow. I am about a 2 cup a day girl. I Started out with my usual, second cup was half caf. Did that for about a week. then both cups were half caf. Again, about a week, then half caf first, Decaf second. It didn't bother me at all.

Post op pretty much did reverse. It took about 3 weeks to even want to have coffee and it took about 2 months to get back where I was an am now.

Good luck!

Thanks - I thought about that once the icepick in my left eye was removed! :-)

I'm enjoying a half caff/half decaff now.

Good plan to titrate down and then back up again!

Thanks for your feedback. Much appreciated.

And congrats on your 63 pounds lost! Inspiring!!!!!

[Blondiee 278]

I totally understand. My plan was similar to Newat52...did half calf for one week and then Decaf after. Good luck to you on your journey!

[Peggy D 123]

I took the 3-month supervised diet time to wean myself off of caffeine & carbonated sodas. I gradually replaced regular coffee with Decaf until it was all decaf. I used a "cold-brewed" Toddy coffee maker & it took about 7 scoops to make it about once a week. It took nearly two months but I never had a caffeine withdrawal headache nor problems with staying awake mid-morning as I would before if I didn't have that coffee. As for the carbonated sodas, first I replaced diet cola with caffeine-free diet cola & diet root beer & then had only one a day instead of two, then one every other day, etc.

[gomekast 559]

I tried to quit the coffee yesterday...the pounding started at 3-4pm.

6pm I felt like I was going to barf.

8pm if I moved at all I could see my heart beat with little spots in the outer edges in my field of vision.

3am I got out of bed to take another dose of Tylenol PM. Still had the pounding.

Needless to say I had one cup today. I see the surgeon tomorrow and get my surgery date.

[murmart 21]

I stared the process of quitting caffeine a month before surgery. Caffeine is a VERY powerful drug and it takes time to wean off it. I first cut down my intake to 2 cups and spread them over a day next week I went down to 1 cup and started Decaf. The next 2 weeks got myself down to zero caffeine. That last week was the worst. Headaches, irritability but I could control it pretty well. But I'm so happy I did it is making my recovery that much easier you do not want caffeine withdraw after surgery.

[newat52 1,612]

I tried to quit the coffee yesterday...the pounding started at 3-4pm.

6pm I felt like I was going to barf.

8pm if I moved at all I could see my heart beat with little spots in the outer edges in my field of vision.

3am I got out of bed to take another dose of Tylenol PM. Still had the pounding.

Needless to say I had one cup today. I see the surgeon tomorrow and get my surgery date.

My head hurts just reading this post.

Talk to your Doc and maybe see if they will agree with step down.

Good luck, it will be worth it!

[gomekast 559]

My head hurts just reading this post. Talk to your Doc and maybe see if they will agree with step down. Good luck' date=' it will be worth it![/quote']

I go in tomorrow to check in with the nurse and I meet my surgeon. I will bring it up with them for sure. It's odd because I only drink 1 cup a day...but I switched back to the Keurig today, so I'm hoping the smaller amount of grounds used will help the weaning off part.

:-)