What is the coffee impact on the UC course?

Hello,

Everyone reacts a little differently to coffee. I can drink coffee anytime I want, in pretty unlimited quantities, thought I try not to drink too much. I don't drink coffee when i am in the middle of a flare, but will resume as soon as possible (usually when I stop seeing blood). I have been a coffee addict for well over 10 years.

Keep in mind that coffee stimulates the bowel. When i drink coffee in the morning it speeds up he process a bit (which can be used to your advantage). When I was first dx'd my first doc said no caffeine. I went over a year with no coffee, pop, chocolate, nothing with caffiene. Then i had enough. I went back to my normal highly caffienated self. And nothing happened.

There are others who cannot tolerate coffee. I would suggest trying it a little. Especially if you don't know if you like coffee. What makes you want to start drinking coffee?

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Kelly, 29

Left sided UC diagnosed 1/98 age 19, Pan colitis diagnosed 1/07
Currently on 4x3 Asacol, Rowasa every other night, down to 20 mg pred.
75mg Imuran starting 8/23/07---fingers crossed!
Prontonix once daily for acid reflux, zofran twice daily for nausea

agree w/Kelly it affects each person individually. For me, it makes me go a lot more and I believe aggravates my uc in the rectum, by not allowing it rest. Plus I don't want to go anymore than I have to, I don't need help in that department. Also, sometimes the acidity bothers my stomach.

If you can tolerate it well, then drink up and have one for me........ah, ice coffee! I had one this weekend and it was delicious and almost had more, so easy for me to fall into drinking it. For me the more I drink the more it aggravates me, kind of sneaks up.

It's all trial and error.

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Beth, 31

From what I've read, caffeine in general is a bad idea for anyone with UC as it's a stimulant that can irritate an already sensitive gut. Coffee, in particular, is known to be irritating to the colon. As kb5 says, alot of folks use it as a stimulant to make them have a bowel movement. It's on the "do not eat" list of several IBD books I have. Of course, there are always individual exceptions to the rule, but since you're not already a coffee lover, I don't see any benefit in drinking it now.

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Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis spring 1999

Yeah, I can't drink coffee. Though I don't mind because I personally really dislike the taste of it! But it does make me have to go to the bathroom almost instantly after drinking it. And it stains your teeth!

Although I did have this DELICIOUS oreo mint coffee drink once, it was like a milkshake with caffeine... But it had mint, caffeine, and dairy in it so my stomach was NOT happy after. Mint is another thing that is meant to speed up the digestive tract (that's why they give you mints after dinner- not for your breath but to make you poop out the food! Haha) and it always makes my stomach overactive :(

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Female, 22, Ulcerative colitis (pancolitis) since 1999; GERD; gastritis; osteopenia in hip & lumbar region of spine from long term prednisone use

Current Meds:
Primadophilus Reuteri
40 mg Citalopram (for depression/social anxiety)
125mg Imuran

I drink coffee, every morning. Does it bother me? Well, as of this moment, I'm not flaring and it doesn't make any difference for me. Do I go more often? No, I don't drink but a cup or two and at the most maybe three a day. I must also mention that I drink lots of water and that's about it. I don't drink juices, milk, soday, etc. I am not saying I never drink those things, I just don't on a daily basis and will sometimes but my normal day is the coffee and water.