Espresso?

[Charisse]

Since last week I have cut A LOT of foods from my diet. After reading the IC list I've figured out I was basically eating everything acidic on this planet. I am having a really hard time with caffeine withdrawals though. I don't have any headaches but just major bad mood, brain fog and crankiness. I have caved and had caffeine of some sort for the past 4 days. Friday through Sunday it was an espresso with milk (and 2 Prelief). Today I tried a Dr. Pepper with Prelief and don't think it went over so well. Just wondering if anyone here has had success in giving up coffee or if you still drink it along with Prelief?? The espressos seem okay actually but the Dr. Pepper seemed to cause me immediate urgency. Charisse

[Katief1976]

I completely sympathize with you! I love and need my coffee in the morning and I prefer strong coffee! I used to drink Dr. Pepper for my 3:00 afternoon slump. I gave up the soda completely and cut back from 3 cups of coffee in the morning to 1 or 2 but it took me a while and now I feel I have adjusted. Hang in there it does get easier. I can still drink my 1 to 2 cups of regular coffee in the morning and I do not have much pain. I also try to be very careful with my diet. I also used to eat chocolate every single day and have cut all chocolate out of my diet. Boy do I miss that! I am going to stop by my local health food store to pick up some carob and try it as a chocolate replacement.
Good luck! You are not alone!
Katie

[lasrlsrps]

I usally don't have much caffine since I have Menier's Disease witch is ringing in the ears, if I have alot of caffine or salt it goes ski rocketed and it sounds like a freight train going though my head, not good. I also get so nauses and sick for hours with the headach that comply's with this. I have also noticed also with these products that my IC flair up! To deal with both at the same time, I'd have to have an injection of morfine or vidion in my system. I have so far advoided this since I don't like ER visit's and I will be going back to my doctor, I find diet drinks ok, but that also depends. Try Crytal light or having decaf coffee for breakfast and see if that helps, my husband likes his stong too, so I know! I hope you find an alteritive. Does prelief work? Can you get something like that over the counter? I can't afford it here online right now, but it would sure be nice to have.

Lori

[dg2901]

I have 2 espressos every night. There are certain things that I wont give up and one of them is coffee. I do however take a couple of Prelief just so I know I at least attempted to ward off any discomfort the coffee may cause.

[Charisse]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who can't give up my coffee!! I have been using Prelief when I drink the espressos and so far I have not noticed it causing any significant pain. I have totally given up soda and even chocolate which I thought I could never do. I can't drink Crystal Light either -it's the hardest on my bladder out of anything. It gives me immediate urgency issues. Charisse

[ICNDonna]

I can have a cup of coffee in the morning if it's low acid. I've been getting it from Trader Joe's --- it's not caffeine free, but for me the problem is acid. I also have a toddy maker, which further reduces the acid without giving up the caffeine.

I did, however, totally give up carbonated beverages, It just isn't worth it.

Donna

[Charisse]

Donna I don't think soda is worth it to me either. I have had a couple of A&W root beers over ice and they seem okay but no more cola or sprite. I guess diet sodas are even worse. It is funny trying to explain this diet to people because they just don't get it. They ask "even Sprite or diet soda?" It's the coffee I really crave. I will have to look for that low-acid coffee at TJ's. I bought the Folgers brand which is actually not bad although I'm a huge espresso fan so regular coffee doesn't usually cut it for me. I will have to research to see if they make low-acid espresso. I am pretty sure they don't because I recall reading that it's the heat and compression of the espresso that pulls the acid into it. I bought some Teeccino from Whole Foods which is a coffee substitute that is acid-free. It actually tastes very good -almost better than real coffee although it pretty much tastes like coffee. I thought it would taste horrible but it didn't. However there's no caffeine in it so I was missing my energy boost. Thanks again for responding everyone. This website has been so helpful to me!! Oh and one last question. Can anyone here tolerate Splenda? I know Aspartame is on the no-list but just wondering about Splenda? Charisse

[Jcdc35]

I am brand new and I just received my IC diet yesterday. I almost burst into tears when she told me I could have 1 8oz cup of coffee a day. I drink at least 64 oz a day. She said that is a huge part of the problem for me. After reading these posts I am feeling so much better. Thank goodness you folks are here

[pingpong]

Recently I read somewhere that espresso beans are lower in acid than regular beans because the longer roasting time somehow reduces the acid. I have no idea how reliable this information is - has anyone else read or heard something along these lines? Giving up coffee is a major sacrifice for me, so I've been using low-acid coffee in my toddy (it's a cold-brew method that is supposed to minimize the amount of acid in the coffee - ICDonna has referred to it several times) and I still need to limit myself to one cup a day. Luckily, I've never been much of a soft drink fan, other than the original Coke in the 6-1/2 oz. glass bottles! (It just doesn't taste the same from a can or a 2-liter plastic bottle.)

[Briza]

Coffee was hard for me to give up, but have found that one cup of decaf with half milk is tolerable. I've never drank much soda, just an occasional diet Coke, and I do miss that, but it does a number on me so I think I've had only 3 since 2003. I like rootbeer, some report that it is more tolerable than other sodas, so I occasionally get one at Dairy Queen, they put a lot of that great crushed ice in it and haven't had any problems with that.
What I really found though, was that it was the actual ritual of making coffee in the mornings before work and sitting down to sip it before heading off to wrk was what I missed the most, so I started making a fresh iced chammolie tea (don't like hot tea) in the mornings and that has become my main ritual now, and reserve the coffee for the weekends. It's hot where I live most of the time, so the iced chammomile tea is really refreshing.
I get the decaf espresso beans, grind them, and have a fun Italian stovetop espresso maker, so weekend coffee has become a real treat.

[runningshoe]

If you live on the east coast Hannaford stores are now stocking low acid coffee. I bought the Toddy maker AND use low acid coffee. I only have a little though.....

[slaston]

If prelief is too expensive, just try drinking an 8oz glass of water with a tsp of baking soda in it. That's what my urologist told me to do.

[Jcdc35]

I am a coffee junkie. A major reason why I'm here today I have been drinking Trader Joe's low acid decaf. I have been drinking 8 oz a day and have had no problem. I just wanted to share that. I have also ordered Teeccino and am going to try that over the weekend. I will be looking for the rest of my life for a coffee substitute. I cannot give up that taste.

[Charisse]

Let me know how you like the Teecino. I really love the vanilla nut one but am afraid to drink too much because it contains high amounts of inulin fiber which has upset my IBS in the past. Anyone else notice this from Teecino?

[Jcdc35]

The Vanilla nut is my favorite so far. I have tried the Maya Mocha and the Maya Java. I got a sample pack with 10 packs. I try a different flavor every work day. I like them all so far but none of it is coffee to me. I still have my 8 oz regular in the morning but I'm going to make the switch to 8 oz low acid decaf because it's not really worth it. I'll finish the samples and let you know what flavor was best.

Denise