[Laupala]

Hi all,

I'm wondering if anyone (i.e. Mark) has any insight into why exactly caffeine is bad for PCS. I've cut it out (had started drinking coffee again about 4 months after for a few weeks, didn't seem to bug me, then cut it out again after a relapse due to a backpacking trip). Essentially, I just really miss coffee, and was wondering if decaf would be OK to enjoy, even though there's some caffeine in it.

[Mark in Idaho]

The caffeine in decaf should be fine. The research suggest a single serving of caffeine a day is OK.

I occasionally take an 80 mg caffeine pill. It can lift me out of the doldrums when I need to be more functional.

Do not use caffeine to overcome the sedating effects of other meds, especially benzos (Xanax, Klonopin, Valium etc)

[poetrymom]

Hello!

I quit caffeine for about a year. Then, in the winter I let myself have one or maybe 2 cups of decaf and that was OK.

I tried a little bit of caffeine coffee in my decaf in April and whoooooooo I got a big old caffeine high. And I put in maybe 1.5 inches of real java, but I could not handle it. I had to walk it off.

Decaf has been a good middle ground for me and it has that wee trace which I like. So, maybe decaf can help you too.

I am not going to get back on the caffeine train I was on pre injury though and I know I don't handle it well either.

Take care

poetrymom

[SuperElectric]

I've cut out caffeine too but have been having a single cup of black tea when I get up, can't say I've noticed any bad effect from it. Decaf coffee does contain a little caffeine I notice it in a cafe in town I go in I get a very slight buzz after being caffeine free for 5 months lol. I think the reason caffeine is bad is that it can heighten anxiety by stimulating the brain. I would ease your self back onto caffeine over time.

[Laupala]

Thanks for the replies, looking forward to the enjoying the taste of coffee again! I guess it'll be a while before I return (if I even do) to my normal 25-30 oz of strong black coffee a day, but even a small cup of decaf will make me feel more normal.

[EsthersDoll]

I had to abstain for a while.

But I typically drink 1-2 cups every morning.

I can tell when I've over drunk it - it makes me crash; like it makes my brain stop functioning well.

But the 1-2 cups in the morning often helps get me going.

It can be a fine line that can change - you just have to watch it for yourself as everyone's tolerance can be very different.

Take it easy with baby steps at first.