Forums:
One topic that did come up in the meeting was coffee. It seems to be more people's vice than just me! Thank goodness. Matia said that caffeine for about 90% of the people did not bother them and that for the 10% it did, de-caf was usually fine. Most people do BETTER on Bold or more intense coffees. I work for Starbucks and can attest to this. The BOLDER the coffee DOES NOT mean it has more caffeine, actually just the opposite. The more mild the coffee usually means more caffeine and more importantly, more acidity. Customers always say "give me the bold, I need the caffeine!" I don't try and educate them anymore. Also, I have come across information stating that coffee when it is being grown absorbs many toxins so it is better to buy organic when you can. If you are a Starbucks fan, we carry two organic coffees: Organic Mexican Shade Grown which is a MILD coffee and brand new is the Yukon Blend. We had Yukon a while back and then I think discontinued it and then brought it back as a organic coffee. The Yukon Blend is a BOLD coffee, so you may want to try that. Keep in mind that if you ask a barista to grind the coffee in the store, it can no longer be technically considered organic because we grind conventionally grown beans in the grinder as well. Hope this helps! The coffee that has the LEAST caffeine, ironically is espresso, which is why the only coffee I drink is Americanos which is espresso with water (either iced or cold)...
Coffee
Makes my adrenals freak out, and def. causes itching in my women area:( Both decaf and caffinated, and green tea causes me to flare. I am so sick of water............:(Thats so funny that people ask for bold thinking it means more caffine..lol
americanos
Wow, I don't know how I got to drinking Americanos but it doesn't bother my bladder. The only thing I craved when I was first in treatment was not sweets, it was coffee. So when my bladder was strong enough to drink it again, I felt good drinking Americanos at Starbuck's. They started to become really expensive, so I bought a stovetop espresso maker and a nice ceramic carry mug and brew my own, tastes even better. Thanks for the info, now I understand why my bladder likes Americanos, I sometimes can't wait for the morning, so I can drink my favourite drink :)
Yumi
Well..this is synchronicity!
Well..this is synchronicity! I just this past week threw caution to the wind and tried a gift of a stovetop moka pot...I am so excited to find I can tolerate 1 espresso cup of this coffee per day or regular cup Americano!...It truly makes my day! Also..I tried earlier in treatment with no luck, So for me, it's a new development! I have to be careful as I look forward to it maybe too much and see potentilal for getting hooked. I can't tolerate non-organic or drip???Yumi..what kind of maker do you have. I just have a made in China cheapie and it is now not working well. I am looking at a Biliatti?? ....Does anyone put anything in their coffee? like maybe rice milk or agave or ?
Hi Lois, My friend actually
Hi Lois,
My friend actually gave me her old Ikea Moka stovetop maker, it works really well. I don't add anything, I drink my coffee black, I actually prefer it that way.
Thanks for info, Yumi. I just
Thanks for info, Yumi. I just came in with a new Bialetti one so will see how that goes...Ikea, next time in the big city...learning more about coffee and roasts and stuff,,very interesting
I am so tempted
To go out and get some Organic Coffee and try to have a cup! I drank coffee every morning until just a month and a half ago, I quit because I didn't know WHAT was bothering my bladder... still don't.... but I have been doing diet list 1 for 2 weeks today. I feel pretty good on it ( I have had some awful days too ). I thought i would never be able to have coffee again so I was surprised that Matia lets you have it when you are ready.I miss coffee more than sugar by far!!!! Ok, my question is, how long does it usually take to be able to have it again? And would it be really bad if I tried to have a cup ( Organic black ) before I see Matia ( in two weeks ) if I notice it doesn't bother my bladder???Thanks if anyone has input.....
Coffee
I know what you mean! When I was like you and waiting to see Matia I was flaring and had so much inflammation that everything was kind of bothering me and coffee was just too intense for me. My thinking is -maybe the best idea would be to wait until you get to move over to list 2 but some of Matia's patients don't do well with coffee and for many they do fine. I would make sure I got plenty of water and hydration but if you are doing okay on the diet and so on- you could make your OWN coffee with real spring water. invite a friend. make sure water isnot filtered and not distilled Spring water!- and have a little half cup and see how it goes. I waited a full 2 months of being on list 1 and then when I moved to list 2 I caustiosly moved over back to coffee. I could care less about cookies and treats now. coffee is all I need for a treat! Coffee is a warming herb and can bring some peoplea kind of mild releif. it does for me since I kind of suffer from sensations of numbness/stagnation in my pelvis! Others find it makes me urinate more or it messes with their sleep! use caution and go slow. I like Paul newmans organic ccoffee - Nells breakfast blend is yummy. not too acidic. Good luck! -Mary
Coffee -Hopeful
I am on list 2, and have been with Matia for 3 months now, and I still cant do coffee, even natural decaf makes me itch down in my women area and my face turns red and I certainly flare more than when I dont drink it. So, we are all different with the amount of time it takes before being able to drink it again. coffee also effects my adrenals poorly as well, one cup keeps me up all night even if it was at 8am! But you may be one of the lucky ones:O)
coffee
I am 1.5 years in and still can't seem to tolerate coffee and I so..................... miss it. I have alsmost settled for the fact that it may never happen.
Thanks
Thanks for all your thoughts! I really miss it, I guess I will wait until I see Matia. I used to drink 2 cups a day, and it never seemed to bother me more than anything else. But I guess when I cut out everything and start seeing what does cause me problems it will be different. I did always have to drink it in the morning, and have had problems with insomnia for a long time... but even without it I don't see a difference in sleep, as long as I was drinking it in the morning. I am realizing more and more how different we all are! I will try and wait it out till I see Matia. I am very confused on what water I should be drinking, so I guess I should try and figure that out first!It is just hard, as I keep getting invited to go to "coffee" with my friends, and I usually would have a decaf plain with little cream no sugar. But now since I am trying to cut out anything that could be making my IC worse, it is hard! There is nothing to drink... and when you tell most people you can't even have tea, " Not even tea?!! But why?". This disease is so hard to explain to people! Even close friends. Since you look fine on the outside, but inside you feel like you have poison in you! At least I do...Anywho back to coffee! Ha I will wait... but hopefully I can have some sooner than later...
Hopeful
yes, it is very sad. I SOO miss enjoying a starbucks with friends. I also find it insane we cant even get anything to drink with friends..No one gets it. They change the subject and act like you are not even sick. They almost dont believe you. I live where its very cold out for at least 7 months out of the year, and guess what all my friends do..Go out to eat or go out for coffee! AHHHHH! I end up going and not getting anything, and I have gotten used to that/\.I cant WAIT for the day where I can finally tolerate tea. I cant even do green tea at this point. At first when I first started treatment I drank coffee, and did not think it effected me. BUT, I was not improving, and then took out the coffee and when I brought it back after that, I notices a huge increase in all over body symptoms. But, I do know some other ICers who claim it helps there IC, because it is a warming herb.
Gosh...
I wonder if that will be the way it is with me too... I wouldn't be surprised. I mean realizing coffee was making things much worse! It is hard to be with friends who look at you like you are a bit crazy or maybe being a little to tight, even if they are good friends... Sometimes I just want to scream " Do you know what it feels like to have to pee 30 times a day!!!!?" ( among all the other things that are hard with having IC ). People just nod there head and say ah ha? When you tell them... I wish that IC was more known as the disease it is, don't you? Everyone I tell, or that finds out has NO idea what I am talking about when I tell them what it is. It is so frusterating to me.Well, maybe I will get lucky and can have coffee sometime without it bothering me. But I guess that we all need to remember, that if we let our bodies heal completely, even if it takes a long time, then we can have that cup of coffee in moderation some day with out it bothering us! I try and tell myself that : )
coffee choices
I am fortunate enought to be able to drink coffee. But, i was wondering if those of you who have problems might be able to drink coffee made from your "good water" at home. Who knows what kind of water the coffee is made from when you get it out!
good water
I have tried coffee with the best waters, I SO wanted to be able to have it. It gives me a lot more symptoms than just bladder to..so I know the herb itself effects my body negatively, my face turns all red, my fingers get a little bloated, along with itchyness in my area down there and frequnecy..even decaf. I REALLY hope one day I can tolerate it! But, we should be able to because she brings us back to FULL health and that means our bladders should be fully healed and able to tolerate a cup a day (sugar free:)