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Posted 10/28/2008 12:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hello. I have been released from the hospital for almost a month now (Had to go in because of bad flare) and currently I am down to 10 mg of prednisone and I seem to be doing okay....(crosses fingers) I've been sticking to a pretty good diet. However, I miss coffee. Does anyone drink coffee and not have a problem? I hear it is bad for stomach cramping but I really want to incorporate coffee back into my life, at least just in the morning. Just wanted to hear other thoughts....
Posted 10/28/2008 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
I still drink coffe, I can't live without the stuff. I don't notice any cramps from it but some on the board say it will increase your D if you're going through a nasty flare.
Posted 10/28/2008 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Katie!  I really missed coffee, too--but I couldn't stand what it was doing to my stomach.  I switched to tea instead and that seems to be a lot more gentle on my stomach while still giving me my warm caffeine in the morning. 

You can always try a weakly brewed coffee and see how you feel. 

Posted 10/28/2008 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
Coffee does not seem to bother me...but honestly, with a few exceptions, most foods/drinks do not seem to bother me. Cutting out things like corn, popcorn, and high sugar/high carb foods helps me a little...overall all though if I am going to flare I just do and cutting out foods does not do a thing to stop it...
Posted 10/28/2008 2:13 PM (GMT 0)
I drink one cup at home in the morning a few hours before I leave-I actually thinks it helps me the rest of the day because it helps get "everything" out.  I find if I then eat lightly at work I can get through (severe flares excepted).  Other than helping me to get going in the morning, I haven't seen negative side effects.

Posted 10/28/2008 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
I love it but I know it bothers me. I keep to one (big) cup in the morning, starting at least an hour before I have to leave. My Naturopath said it is an irritant, but "allowed" it. It does clean you out!!

Tea is better, I agree, so I try to do that instead sometimes.
Posted 10/28/2008 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't ever really had a problem with coffee. However even people without and IBD have problems with it. I know folgers makes a type that is supposed to be easier for the stomach to digest. Maybe you could try that?
Posted 10/28/2008 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
I can't have any type of coffee while flaring even decaf I think it's the acidity, it increases my bm's and urgency.

I limit it when not flaring b/c I love it, but if I have too much I get symptomatic again.

Try drinking tea, I still get the caffeine and am ok with it.
Posted 10/28/2008 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
I drink a cup or two each morning, I think I'd be a zombie without it because of the drugs Dr (not GI) has me on that I take at night but still has effects in he a.m. Coffee doesn't give me diarrhea, but I never really have diarrhea in a flare. It may speed along anything that's going to happen in the a.m., but that's about it.
Hope you can find a balance and enjoy some coffee without upsetting your GI system!
Jenjim
Posted 10/28/2008 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
Coffee is a natural bowel stimulator basically because of the caffeine...try decaff and see how it goes.

:)
Posted 10/28/2008 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
Because I love it I still drink about 2 6 oz  (not a huge mug!) cups a day.  When I'm flaring, though, I back down to about 1/2 cup a day and just gradually increase it as I feel better. 

Posted 10/28/2008 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
I drink coffee, but not all coffee agrees with me. Starbucks...horrific taste and effects!

i would try milder coffee...there's a brand for sensitive stomachs I believe..folgers..worth a try.

Yes, coffee is a bowel stimulant, but if you have it in the mornings, it's good to get the constitution going. That's the best time for bms for me...

If I have coffee during the day, they don't trigger bms..but if I were flaring, I wouldn't drink as much as to keep my butt quiet.

Decaf or mixing half and half might be the way to go for you...make sure it's one that tastes good to you.

Experiment.
quincy
Posted 10/28/2008 10:48 PM (GMT 0)
Try instant coffee, it is much less harsh. Tasters Choice makes a vanilla flavor that's good
I know, coffee aficianados will be horrified.
I also can't do Starbucks, too strong for me.
Posted 10/29/2008 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everybody for the input. I think I might wait and see though for a little while longer.... I'm still a little nervous about it. Plus I'm still on the prednisone with makes me jittery enough. Probably don't need to add coffee to that right now....




Katie
Age 25
Diagnosed UC March 2008
2 Lialda daily
10 mg prednisone (tapering)
Remicade every 6 weeks
Posted 10/29/2008 5:35 AM (GMT 0)
If you're not allergic to ragweed, why not try chamomile tea everyday...it's a natural anti-inflammatory, I drink a couple of cups first thing when I wake up before eating anything (I don't usually eat until much later in the day anyways when my gut gets a little more settled).

I was a big coffee drinker but stopped it all together and traded it for tea, much better for me.

:)
Posted 10/29/2008 11:09 AM (GMT 0)
I love coffee but stick to 1 big cup early in the morning. It does get you going in more ways than one. Better at home than on the way to or at work!
Posted 10/29/2008 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
     When in a flare I cannot drink anything with caffeine.  Now in remission, I drink one cup in the morning....love it!
Posted 10/29/2008 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
When I was at the beginning of my flare and at the worst part of it coffee did bother me. However, it was one thing I couldn't give up! A gluten for punishment! I did do everything else the doctor advised me to do like eat a bland diet. Now that I am heading toward remission the coffee isn't bothering me.

Gigi1227
Posted 10/29/2008 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
I have found that i can only tolerate Organic Coffee. Regular brands bother me right away, but I do just fine on 1 cup of Organic a day.
Posted 10/29/2008 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
Coffee seems to increase frequency for me, I think decafe has the same effect but I'm not sure.

NBT
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