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Caffeine Intolerance?

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Posted 5/29/2009 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone else suffer from this? I assume it's all part of the nervous system problems, but I CANNOT tolerate caffeine. My symptoms become extremely worse. I am still a Lyme/Possible MS person, but since all of this I've had to stop drinking coffee, and recently, anything else with caffeine in it.

I still find the caffeine thing rather strange...although I can explain it, I rarely hear many people speak of it.

Also, does anyone suffer terribly the day after drinking alcohol? My symptoms are also a thousand times worse. I decided two days ago that I need to cut out alcohol as well. I know Lyme loves sugar, so along with the immune factors alcohol has - not a good combo.

Anyone else?

Posted 5/29/2009 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I have terrible brain fog. I have seen all of your posts regarding this also. Have you been officially diagnosed? I am still not sure if I have MS (I hope not) or Lyme. I fit both categories well.

I see my LLMD on Monday, possibly for retesting. I only had a few positive/ind bands on my first two tests. My results are posted on a thread I believe was yours asking what everyone got on their western blots.

But back to the caffeine...???
Posted 5/29/2009 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
i know this isnt good for me but i live off Mt. dew and so far it hasnt bothered me at all. i can no longer drink tho. so who really knows
Posted 5/29/2009 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
For as long as I can remember I'd always get horrible hangovers and could get tipsy from just a few sips. No kidding! lol Makes me thing I've been dealing with this lyme stuff for much longer than I originally thought.

Never had a bad reaction from caffeine and actually coffee and soda were my addictions for many years. I gave up soda when I became really sick a few years ago and somehow managed to give up coffee when I started treatment a few months ago. I don't miss it as much as I thought I would be there are times when I do and there are also times when I wish I could have a cocktail just for the heck of it. lol
Posted 5/29/2009 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I get very ill from caffeine. I used to be able to handle the caffeine in tea ok, in fact it would calm me down. But not anymore.
Posted 5/30/2009 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
I've read that excessive amount of caffeine can deplete vitamin B12 stores.

Couple this with, as we age, our ability to absorb this vitamin diminishes.

So caffeine may be causing the B12 deficiency funk you are experiencing.

B12 deficiency and Lyme Disease symptoms overlap enough to make one go either "hmmmm" or "aha!"
Posted 5/30/2009 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
caffeine makes my heart go CRAZY. cutting out my morning cups of joe was a very, very sad day indeed.
Posted 5/30/2009 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
On my fourth cup, and yeah, it makes not only me tense, but my body tense.

I need to stop. But I cannot. Alas...
Posted 5/31/2009 7:59 AM (GMT 0)
HopingToFindCure,

One way to kick a habit is to find something better to replace the coffee with...like herbal tea or something like that. Some people like Gensing tea because it can give an energy boost without the same negative effects as caffeine. And don't try to quit the coffee cold-turkey, that'll just make you feel lousier...

Good luck,
Posted 6/1/2009 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the encouragement Razzle. It is the opposite of anti-inflammatory -- caffeine, including chocolate. So, when my neck swells up, why do I wonder?

I like the idea of herbal tea. I have plenty around. It's hard to explain, but I don't like the way spouse looks at me askance or says "That's weird" when I do my herbal infusing process. Oh well.
Posted 6/21/2009 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
I suffer from a caffeine intolerance, but I don't have Lyme disease.
One small cup of coffee or cup of cola will make me quite ill. I get palpitations, I sweat, have pallor, nausea and vomiting, it goes straight few me within about 2 hours (severe diarrhoea), stomach cramps (like you've swallowed a hedgehog) and I get really skitty and trip out. My eyes also don't dilate properly to light, which is strange. All of my busy 9-5 desk job friends are horrified when I tell them that I have to survive without it and always have done. lol

I've never met anyone who's the same without previously drinking large amounts of coffee habitually (which is apparently the main cause of 'normal' caffiene intolerance) and can't obviously comment on the Lyme disease.
Posted 6/21/2009 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
i used to be able to drink soda all day long, but within the last month, if i drink soda my heart goes crazy and then i start to have an anxiety attack... sound like lyme?
Posted 6/22/2009 4:15 AM (GMT 0)
robotkitsch- do you know what you have? i have a similar reaction to caffeine.

james from missouri - that is the reaction i have as well. a small amount of caffeine, sometimes even decaf will do it!, and my heart rate goes way up and i have panic attacks. like hours long panic attacks until the caffeine is out of my system. no good. however, i don't know that i have lyme's. jury's still out on that one.... not sure i'm ready to accept it yet!
Posted 6/22/2009 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
what are the effects of caffiene and/or chocolate - on folks with Lyme
Posted 6/23/2011 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
i get bad swollen/painful lymph node on my neck,plus headaches
Posted 6/23/2011 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
Those who are infected with tbi's (tick-borne infections) have a lot of over-the-top reactions to everyday type of things.

Gracietiger, if you are having that strong of a reaction, I would strongly recommend that you be sure to avoid caffeine. It's not something you need to have, and it actually makes stressed out adrenal glands even worse!!

For those who have a more moderate reaction to caffeine, but still want to drink it, give '1/2 caff' coffee a try. That's what I drink now. My Acupuncture Doc told me to drink no more than 3 cups in a day though. It did take a little adjusting for me, but now that I'm used to it, I'm doing just fine!!!

Hope this helps a bit!
Posted 6/29/2011 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
 

Jendays247,

I am also sensitive to caffeine and alcohol.  Do you tend to consume artificial sweeters in your coffee, too?  There's a documemtary connecting artificial sweeteners to MS--it's called Sweet Remedy.

Best wishes on your journey toward health!

 

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