Question about caffeine

Diseases & Conditions GERD & Acid Reflux
1
Hi all,
   I know that I shouldn't even be drinking caffeine.....but it helps with my fatigue.  I usually just have a coke in the morning.  What's weird is, it doesn't bother my GERD!  But.....if I have iced tea or sometimes coffee....then it bothers me.  Have any of you found that you can have some types of caffeine, but not others?  What's really weird is water bothers me most of all!
2
I stopped drinking diet Coke and Diet Dr. Pepper :( because I'm convinced it was hurting my stomach and it's not good when you have IBS. It gave me the bloats and seemed to make me hungry. The caffeine sometimes gave me palpitations too. I can't do coffee either. I just realized I haven't had any caffeine in over a month. It's a strange feeling. Sometimes I'm so calm at work, people must think I'm taking valium or something :-)
3
Niki, I've been wondering how you are doing. You were a great inspiration when I decided, once again, to TRY to get off the PPIs.  Are you still PPI-free?  I finally screwed up courage after going  low-carb (25-30 grams) for a couple of weeks. This is day 4.  So far so good, although I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. You must know the feeling. (I'm almost afraid to talk about it.)
 
By the way, I'm much, much calmer these days, too. I attribute that to the change in diet. I used to be up and down like an elevator, depending on my sugar highs or lows. This is certainly a healthier regime for me -- protein and lots of veggies every day. Energy level is high, too. I've recently discovered hemp hearts. Don't know whether you can buy them where you live. They're high protein, low carb, with lots of omega-3.  They make a great shake.  Take care. Hope your digestion is behaving. 
 
Seagal
4
Hey Seagal,
I'm still doing well and still no PPIs. I have my prescription sitting on my kitchen counter 'Just in case' though. It's my safety net. Thanks for thinking about me. I was sick Monday and Tuesday and I thought, "Oh no!", but I had a fever so I think it was a legitimate virus and I'm doing better now. Every morning when I get up I take stock of myself and wonder if the pain is going to come back. Feeling yucky for so long has made me very paranoid.

Okay, what is a hemp heart and where do you get them? I just discovered that avocados are really tasty and now I think I might branch out into artichokes. I'd be willing to try a hemp heart too.

How is your hunger since you've started lowering the carbs? It's strange, but I eat all my meals and some snacks (which is more than I used to), but I've lost those ravenous almost sick hunger pains I used to have. They used to come like clockwork the last hour of work or sometimes even during the night. I had a boyfriend who knew to get out of my way when I was feeling that way.

I hope you keep feeling well!

~Niki
5

Hi Niki:

I'm so glad you're doing well. I can identify with the fear of an attack. I don't go anywhere without two or three antacids.  I think stress is a big factor, so I am trying to stay positive and calm.  Like you, I used to get ravenously hungry -- to the point where I could think of nothing but food. My sweetheart soon learned that when I said I wanted to eat, I meant NOW! That has changed radically. Sometimes I think I could go a whole day without eating, and without much discomfort.

about the hemp hearts -- hemp is a plant from which fibres are made, but is now becoming popular as a food source (hemp oil and shelled seeds).  A shake made with the hearts (2.5 carbs plus a few berries) has loads of staying power. Don't know whether you live in Canada, but if so you should be able to get them at a health-food store. There's also a protein powder. The products come from farms in western Canada. Not sure about the States. A store in Nova Scotia sells on-line.  I was glad to discover hemp hearts because I really need a meatless source of low-carb protein.  I was a vegetarian for 20 years and still am not happy about eating meat.  I ate so much soy during those years, I thought it might be giving me digestive problems. Maybe not, though.

This is Day 5. Not even a Zantac today (so far). I'll take Maalox at bedtime, though. I'm keeping my carbs very low -- still about 25 -- until I get more confidence. Also taking digestive enzymes, bitters, DGL and a motility drug, so I'm not exactly drug-free.

Take care. Hope you continue to progress!

Seagal

6
Thanks, Seagal I'll look for it at the health store.

I had some heartburn Friday and Saturday. I think it's related to my IBS because I had a bad attack of that Friday night and had lots of gas. I love veggies, but I think I ate too many with dinner on Friday. How come something so good for you can make the body rebel? :(
7
Hi Nikib5, your symptoms always sound so identical to mine! I've found that lots of cooked veggies give me terrible gas which is so painful! It does make me wonder about IBS and whether I have this too?
8
NikiB, how are you doing?  I was sorry to hear about your heartburn on the weekend.  I had one bad reflux on the weekend, too, caused, I'm pretty sure, from too big a meal -- like you, too many veggies.  I don't have IBS, though.  I'm on Day Nine. I've read that artichoke extract is good for digestion. It's one of the few supplements I haven't tried. I could open a health food store.
 
Seagal