Caffeine: helps, hurts or makes no difference?

[Johnskip]

I think it's a double edge sword helps a little then crash harder

 

[mirshine]

It depends on how i'm doing. My head nearly always needs it. But sometimes my body is just too done already and can't handle the heart rate boost. Some days i manage 3 cups. On bad head days 4. Other days i'm lucky if i manage my morning cup.

 

[Hugo]

I have some use of caffeine if I drink it like one or two days during the week. If I start drinking it every day, several cups or other beverages with caffeine its not good for me and then I get headache and loose energy.

 

[dr. Arf]

3 cups a day, I do not think it is a mayor factor..

 

[NelliePledge]

One cup at lunchtime (accidentally as I forgot to ask for decaf) a couple of weeks ago kept me awake all night horrendous wired feeling. Yuck

 

[M Paine]

I think it helps during mild times, but not during heavy PEM. When really tired, have a rest instead.

 

[Knockknock]

I drink a small pure expreso innthe morning and seems to wake me up a little be, i make sure to jave my salt tableta d drink fluids to hydrate

 

[Dechi]

I only drink decaf now. Does the job without the overexcitement.

 

[Wishful]

It doesn't help me. Caffeine never, even when I was healthy, seemed to boost my energy level. strong coffee would make me feel jittery (and nauseated), but not more energetic. I gave up coffee for a couple of years during this disorder, then had it again: no effect either way. I switched to decaf a while back because it was starting to cause insomnia.

 

[Murph]

I believe it can help the body deal with exercising/activity...

 

[TigerLilea]

I'm very caffeine sensitive so I haven't been able to drink regular coffee for over 25 years. I'm okay with occasional cups of decaf.

 

[wastwater]

I need tea and choc bars,I'm not sure there good for health but I like them.

 

[arewenearlythereyet]

I got myself into a bit of a pickle with espresso, while I was first I'll. I ended up having 20 shots a day each with a heaped spoonful of sugar in each ....didn't really help. I'm now only on 2 shots first thing in the morning with d ribose and feel a lot better without all that caffeine. I could eliminate the last 2 since I have a good decaf alternative ... ...just heard that caffeine was supposed to be good in small quantities so kept this in.

 

[wastwater]

I loathe the idea of caffeine free its like alcohol free beer,why bother

 

[TigerLilea]

I loathe the idea of caffeine free its like alcohol free beer,why bother

I might have agreed with you at once up a time, however, when my heart was racing all of the time and causing me to feel light headed, my attitude towards caffeine changed really quickly. Decaf is better than no coffee at all.

 

[arewenearlythereyet]

I loathe the idea of caffeine free its like alcohol free beer,why bother

I'm with you on that and instant coffee (shudders) ....but the decaf one I've got for my nespresso machine changed my mind. It's the arpeggio decaf ...you can't really tell

 

[Dechi]

I loathe the idea of caffeine free its like alcohol free beer,why bother

@wastwater I would agree with if you drink coffee specifically because of the effect of caffeine. In my case I also love the taste of good coffee. I can appreciate the taste of different coffee beans and my cup of coffee is a pleasure to drink every morning. We lose so much with this illness, coffee is one thing I decided to keep. I don't find being decaffeinated alters the taste.

 

[me/cfs 27931]

I seem to tolerate the mild amount of caffeine in green and white teas well. I drink about 3 cups a day (mostly sencha green tea).

Some caffeine seems to help with my 2-3 hour wakeup period.

 

[Dechi]

@Webdog I have 2 unrelated questions for you : what do you mean by " 2-3 hour wake-up period " ? Do you mean you sleep 21 hours per day ?

Why are you diagnosed 84%-91 % ? Just curious, these are very precise numbers, and why not completely diagnosed ?

 

[tinacarroll27]

I can't tolerate coffee and have never drank if for 20 years. Just smelling it gives me a really bad headache and makes me feel sick. I have a lot of food intolerances though.