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Caffene Effects?

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Posted 12/9/2006 8:02 AM (GMT -6)
  Have a question for you all,  I have been avoiding caffene since my Cath removal. During Cath time I was on med's (Avodart...i think?) for bladder spasams.  I have some mild leakage using 5 of the insert type pads per 24/ hr period.  The other day I was doing my "mall walking" and I decided to have a 20oz soft drink in a cup with ice.  From the time I got home from my walk until the next morning I was gushing.  The next day I switched back to my water, juice, milk... only routine.  I seemed to stop the gushing and back to my occasional leaking.  I go to the Dr. on Monday for my 1 month Post Cathiter exam and 1st Post Op PSA test.  Was just wondering if any of you have had this type of experence?

 

Posted 12/9/2006 8:19 AM (GMT -6)
Hi kw,

I was also advised after surgery that I should avoid caffeine for a while, but after 2 days I was back on the coffee. Maybe that is the reason it took 10 weeks for me to finally get dry. If you are noticing such dramatic affects from the caffeine it may be an indication your system is particularly sensitive to it. In any case you should avoid futher caffeine consumption, and tell your urologist. Good luck on Monday.

Glen
Posted 12/9/2006 11:30 AM (GMT -6)
Hi kw (& Glen): As a caffeine addict, I'm interested in your experience, anticipating surgery after New Year. Not scheduled yet. After my prostate biopsies, caffeine was what triggered my ability to pee. I welcomed it at the time. But post-cath removal it might not be such a great idea. Will have to come slowly off the caffeine in the next several wks - I guess. Best wishes for your visit with the doc. Tom
Posted 12/9/2006 12:30 PM (GMT -6)
Tom -- perhaps you will get by if you just cut way back but not completely off the caffeine. Bob was drinking 2 or 3 cups of coffee in the morning and cut back to just one and it helped get the control back, without him having to completely give it up.

Note to kw - perhaps it was the sudden 20 oz that did it for you . . that's a lot more than one cup of coffee. All of my life (the wife) I've had to make extra trips to the bathroom after drinking pop of any kind, whether it contained caffeine or not. . . .so perhaps you would be able to introduce coffee, but just one cup.

Good luck.
Posted 12/9/2006 5:33 PM (GMT -6)
Caffine is a  mild diuretic. Unless one drinks it routinely the body says hey cells, release fluid you aren't using, in response to the caffine. For people who don't have much of an intake it wouldn't take much to open the flood gates. Incorporate caffine back into your diet and you'll see things go back to normal in a few days....otherwise, get used to the "uncolas" tongue

I, on the other hand, drink large amounts of green tea and black coffee. It would take all of Columbia and half oc China for me to get enough caffine to cause a reaction. tongue

Swim

Posted 12/9/2006 5:56 PM (GMT -6)
I no longer drink coffee because  different kinds affected me to varying extent, probably because of the different caffene content due to the type of beans, method of roasting and brewing etc.

If it was important for one to continue to drink coffee, some varieties or well roasted could well be easier on the system than others, so it might need some trying different kinds.

In my case, I now drink mainly green or black tea, veg juice and ginger punch from drred which is formulated to be high in anti oxidants, and has had success in killing PC cells in lab tests.

Posted 12/9/2006 10:31 PM (GMT -6)
Okay,
I keep hearing about ginger punch. I know there's no caffene in it. How's the taste? Ginger can be sooo strong.
Posted 12/9/2006 10:48 PM (GMT -6)
i don't know if it is the same thing, but we juice a slice of ginger in the juicer plus about half an apple, pour in fizzy water, and call it ginger ale.
Posted 12/10/2006 5:40 AM (GMT -6)
The known anti-oxidant qualities of red wine have been advanced by a vineyard in Brisbane with their  production of various products which have a lot more anti-oxidant ingrediants than wine.  (grape skin and seeds, olive concentrate, ginger etc).

Their original  "ginger punch prostate formula" tastes good (if you like ginger).

"ginger FX" is a concentrate which does not taste good but is mixed with whatever you like.

"blueberry punch"  is their recent more powerful product which tastes good.

It seems a lot of the contents are good for promoting the immune system, and their lab results have been good for killing PC cells.  They are currently undertaking animal trials.

Their web site is www.drred.com.au

John

Posted 12/10/2006 9:00 AM (GMT -6)
Thanks John,

Good for me isn't as important as how something tastes when it comes to drinks. My family either drops from heart by 60 or live for flippin ever! Besides, we swallow enough vitimans and eat very well. I'd like something that just plain tastes good :>) There has to be something other than water tea and coffee. Even as a kid I didn't care for sweet drinks. Since ginger is good for a lot of things...pies, cookies annnnnd...it settles the tummy, I may try to make some something using ginger.

Swim
Posted 12/10/2006 11:02 AM (GMT -6)
Hi Kingsport,

If you classify 4+ cups of coffee a day as caffeine addiction, I'm guilty but as a former PWC tax guy coffee was vital to job performance. Back then 6-10 cups a day was average consumption for the 8 weeks prior to April 15th (fortunately I was not involved in corprate returns). I guess I may have built up some immunity to the effects of caffeine, and this may be true for you as well. In any case Good Luck to you, and keep practicing those Kegels.

Glen
Posted 12/10/2006 8:01 PM (GMT -6)
Hey KW,

In response to your other post, Jeff is down to 2 pads a day. But since you had to have the catheter in a week longer than he did and had complications, that could account for the other 3 pads. He doesn't drink too much caffeine - maybe a sweet tea a couple of times a week. I don't know if that accounts for anything or not. Anyway, it doesn't sound like your too far off. Hope your appt. goes well. Our Dr. doesn't take the PSA until 3 months out - I wish it was sooner! Since Jeff had cancer in the margin it's just a worry in the back of out minds.

bec
Posted 12/10/2006 9:57 PM (GMT -6)
Hi KW…



Keeping you extra close in our thoughts and prayers as you go in on Monday for your PSA….



Buddy had a great recovery with urinary continence and we attribute it to no caffeine intake.



After the catheter is removed….

Excerpt from Dr. Patrick C. Walsh’s “Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer

> Until your urinary control has returned to an acceptable level, don’t force fluids.



>Once the catheter is out, you’ve got to slow the pace considerably. Avoid drinking excessive amounts of fluids, and stay away from caffeine in all forms---coffee, tea, even soft drinks. Caffeine, especially, is a powerful pharmacological agent that increases the frequency and urgency with which you need to urinate.



Also ~ make sure you’re doing your kegels and walking stairs when possible.



I think everybody's body is different....... so figuring out what's best ~ is trial and error for sure. Glad we can pull from all the postings and see what fits in our path.



Take care and let us know how things go once you have a few days without the caffeine or at least not quite the 20 oz tongue



In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy
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