[ricardo29]

I was wondering, if anybody out there has issues with coffee and/or caffeine. I struggle a lot with my energy and sometimes it seems to make things better and sometimes (coffee) it seems to make things worse. Any ideas?

[Joni63]

Yes, I have terrible issues with caffeine. I cut out regular coffee and only drink decaf and still am having problems. I had a full strength cup about a week ago and I felt like I was going 10 times faster than I should. I was shaky and had butterflies in my stomach. It was awful. Also, it makes me have highs and lows with energy just like you.

I notice even chocolate affects me if I have to much. I'm still working on eliminating that one though, it's one of my saving graces since the gluten free diet.

[lizard00]

I can't really handle caffeine much either. It hurts my stomach ALOT! Very sad though, since I love coffee. But I gave it up a few weeks ago. How long have you been gluten-free? My two biggest symptoms were headache and exhaustion. It took me a few weeks (or maybe even a little longer) to not wake up exhausted and get worse through the day. But since being gluten-free I truly feel better, like I don't have to have caffeine to get me through the day.

[Ursa Major]

Coffee will give me a stomach ache (and I haven't had gluten in two and a quarter years), and it makes me really tired. So, obviously, I don't drink it. Most people have it to wake them up! I wished there was something that would wake me up when I need it.

[ricardo29]

lizard00, on Jan 10 2008, 12:46 PM, said:

I can't really handle caffeine much either. It hurts my stomach ALOT! Very sad though, since I love coffee. But I gave it up a few weeks ago. How long have you been gluten-free? My two biggest symptoms were headache and exhaustion. It took me a few weeks (or maybe even a little longer) to not wake up exhausted and get worse through the day. But since being gluten-free I truly feel better, like I don't have to have caffeine to get me through the day.

have been gluten free for 7 months, it's made a big difference, it's just sometimes i get in these low energy holes and it takes a superhuman effort to pull me out, then i 'll drink coffee and get energy but i will feel so much worse later, i am just looking for something to help me, i am already on a supplements protocol, i think it is the natural course of healing of a celiac, but thank u

[VioletBlue]

I can only handle moderate amounts of caffeine. Before I was diagnosed I drank the fully leaded coffee without problem. Once I went gluten free the caffeine started to really bother me. It was no longer an energy boost so much as a manic moment. I drank mostly decaf for about nine months after that. Now days I can drink moderate amounts of caffeine and it is pleasantly stimulating. But if I go overboard it zaps my energy and causes concentration issues. If I remember right, caffeine also interferes with iron absorption and that can further impact your energy levels. For me the key is moderation. Well, that and a good espresso machine. Espresso is the only way I can tolerate the taste of decaf.

Violet

ricardo29, on Jan 10 2008, 06:34 AM, said:

I was wondering, if anybody out there has issues with coffee and/or caffeine. I struggle a lot with my energy and sometimes it seems to make things better and sometimes (coffee) it seems to make things worse. Any ideas?

[Cynbd]

I never thought in a million years that I would give up caffeine, and this past summer I did. (If I have to give up my wine, there will be nothing left (I didn't even go decaf when I was pregnant (I did cut back).)
I was having a lot of stomach trouble and truly believed it was the caffeine. It didn't always hit me right away, but I was finding I couldn't eat for several hours after my coffee. So in the interest of my gut, I went decaf. And it has helped A LOT.
The withdrawals were not fun, that was bad, but it was totally worth it, and I am glad I did it.
The decaf does bother my stomach sometimes, but I find I don't drink as much decaf in the morning, and if I feel like I might have a bad morning, then I just have my one cup. I am not driven to have more because of the caffeine.

If you suspect it's giving you problems, you should try to give it up. It's made a huge difference for me.

Now if I I can just give up Smarties

Good luck!