HELP! I need to give up caffeine - right??

Angelsma · 06-03-2008, 12:30 PM

I understand that we can't have any caffeine before, during and immediately after surgery. I am trying to give it up or wean myself off (don't have a surgery date yet). Any suggestions? More importantly, how long do I really need to be off the stuff? The withdrawal symptoms are monstros...I feel for drug addicts who are in withdrawal.

It's_Christine · 06-03-2008, 12:44 PM

I had to switch to decaf before surgery and my program recommends I stay off for at least one month after banding. Since I was on a 6 month supervised diet prior to surgery I used that time to slowly withdraw. For my coffee made at home I just replaced one scoop of "caffed" coffee beans with a scoop of decaffed beans when I brewed and drank "1/2 caffs" outside the house. Once I was down to all decaf at home I switched to decaf outside the house too. I miss the kick but overall the withdrawal was manageable. I am thinking of staying decaf now as long as I have gone through this.

What have you done so far?

LundyLane · 06-03-2008, 12:46 PM

I LOVE MY COFFEE TOO

........I'm not saying you should do what I have done,

but I was told the same because caffeine causes hunger.

I drank coffee up to the day before my band and I gave caffeine up for two days after my band and it wasn't hard because your not hungry after you wake up and to be honest I did not even want to drink coffee at all and day two I did have decaf because I was constipated and coffee helps that with me, so I took a couple of sips and had no desire to drink anymore. At about 4 days out I started drinking regular coffee, washing it down with a protein shake or water so it would not sit on my stomach, but now 6 days out from surgery I am back to drinking a cup or two in the morning just like I did before surgery and I haven’t had a problem. I don’t care for decaf so I am just sticking with good old Folders and I will deal with the hunger if that becomes a problem.

Northwest_Nance · 06-03-2008, 12:51 PM

My doctor didn't instruct me to give up coffee, but I gave it up during the pre-op liquid diet phase, and for the first week or so after surgery (May 15th). I've had my usual one cup of coffee every morning since. As tired as I am today though, I'm really thinking about having that rare mid-morning cup!

savimama · 06-03-2008, 01:16 PM

I was a big coffee drinker prior to being banded-6-8cups per day.My doctor said I could have a few sips a day right after surgery. I was banded on 5/28/08 and still cannot drink even a cup just upsets my stomache too much. So the few sips is working for me right now- I'm not as perky/wired but realized dont really need that much coffee.Loving the band lost 12 lbs already and not hungry:)

Ollie123 · 06-03-2008, 01:18 PM

I still drink my coffee but in a Iced Lattee. 2 cups, ff milk = 18 gr protein, with sugar free sweetner, ice and coffee.

Gets me through the morning just fine.

Ollie

Rugrat682 · 06-03-2008, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by savimama

I was a big coffee drinker prior to being banded-6-8cups per day.My doctor said I could have a few sips a day right after surgery. I was banded on 5/28/08 and still cannot drink even a cup just upsets my stomache too much. So the few sips is working for me right now- I'm not as perky/wired but realized dont really need that much coffee.Loving the band lost 12 lbs already and not hungry:)

Hi - don't give up on your coffee completely if you love it. I tried coffee twice during the first month and it really upset my stomach too. However, I am now a month out and tried coffee again yesterday and it was just fine! I had it again today. My dr. allowed me one cup a day and I am very happy to be able to have it again. As long as you use skim milk and splenda! :) Good Luck.

vkcse03 · 06-03-2008, 01:27 PM

I'm a one cup a day drinker too. I'm being banded this Friday so on Sunday I only drank 1/2 cup instead of my usual 20oz cup. Then I took an Advil for the headache. I felt sluggish that day but kept myself busy so that I would not think about it too much. Yesterday I did a little less than 1/2 cup and was fine. Today I'm a little tired and missing the caffine kick but I've given up coffee twice before ( while pregnant) so maybe this time I'll give it up for good.

DebNH · 06-03-2008, 01:49 PM

Wean yourself slowly to avoid headaches and other such related effects. I'd also recommend doing the 1/2 reg and 1/2 decaf for a week then totally switch over to full decaf. Good luck

Angelsma · 06-03-2008, 02:14 PM

I was drinking herbal tea in place of my one (big cup) at home early a.m. and then another cup of reg. once I got to work. That was ok M-F but by noon on Saturday I guzzled a diet coke. Then on Sunday after church I couldn't understand why I had a sickening headache. I chugging another diet coke at 9pm Sunday night!! I won't do that again. So, I'm going to dry the 1/2 caf 1/2 reg and gradually go 100% decaf and ultimately 0 caffeine. Prayerfully, once I lose the weight I won't need a fake engergy booster. Thanks everybody for you kind and helpful feedback.

kdlee · 06-03-2008, 02:16 PM

My surgeon requires you to stop drinking all caffeine prior to surgery, and none after surgery for several weeks. Giving up caffeine was one of the hardest things I've done! I used to drink a 20oz black coffee in am and 40-60oz of Diet Coke a day! I took one week to reduce that and then stopped completely. The headaches were horrible! I was moody and sleepy all the time. I was in bed everynight for that first week by 8pm. It was terrible!

But...let me tell you how much better I feel now! I used to blame not sleeping well at night on being a Mom and listening for my kids during the night. I now know that it was the caffeine. I used to wake up 4-5 times a night when drinking caffeine. I never had problems falling asleep, just staying asleep. Not anymore though, I now sleep through the night. Also, if I didn't have caffeine in by 10am at the latest, I would get a really bad headache. Not anymore! Even after surgery I will never go back to drinking caffeine. It's just too addictive for me. Trust me, if I can stop drinking it, so can you. It's one of the hardest things I've done, but just set your mind to it and do it!