BFS Symptoms: Caffeine and Beyond

Highlights Only
J

jeffthered

Active member
Well I've been struggling with all symptoms in the BFS-textbook for more than a year and a half now.New things keep commin' up, so I've tried to skip coffee, Coca-Cola (miss that one a LOT!) and alcohol. In addition to that I eat magnesium, vitamin B and D.I haven't really noticed any difference, so what do you think? Have you benefitted from staying off caffeine or haven't you noticed any big differences before and after?//Peter
 
I gave up coffee for a few months and was more miserable than ever (and the twitches didn't slow down a bit.) I'm back on coffee, diet coke, and alcohol. Part of getting over BFS is enjoying life. I find I enjoy my vices quite a bit.
 
I drink beer but dont drink a lot of coffee. I think the potential benefits, in the sense that they both come with recreation and relaxation ( R & R)which is good is helping with the anxiety, totally outweigh the pitfalls. Having said that-everything in moderation of course. You gotta have some enjoyment in you life man! To pander to this 'thing' is to give in to it! No way!!!cheersRodger
 
Caffeine can increase tremors and some twitching and fasiculations. Alcohol interestingly enough has been noted to decrease tremors in Benign Essential Tremors. So, in general I would recommend not taking up a 5 espresso a day habit but caffeine whether in the form of coffee/soda/tea etc in moderation should not be a problem. Alcohol is a CNS depressant which means that it will decrease central nervous system input and output and for many of us has decreased our twitching while we are drinking. Of course it is often reported that the twitching increases the next day whick is more likely do to the dehydration that occurs with alcohol. Caffeine also has a a tendency to dehydrate. So to combat that drink what you like in moderation...relax a bit...make sure you stay well hydrated with water.Smooches,Kit
 
Can't live without my morning coffee. I gave it up a few times to see if my BFS got better, and was awful to live with. Plus it didn't make a difference.I've been trying to identify what makes my BFS better/worse for five years. In year four I finally tried gluten free and it seems to be working. I think it's different for everyone. Some people might have Vit. D definciencies, some might have heavy metal poisoning, some might be anxiety ridden - you get the idea. Guess what I'm saying is, try to eliminate things for a while, and if you don't get better, resume your old habits and live your life until you think of something else to try! Life is too short.
 
I didn't find it made a difference for me. But I mostly drink diet coke and coke zero. Not much of a coffee drinker.I don't drink very much beer. But every once in a while. Had a beer last night. Very tastey. I say enjoy in moderation.
 
I've never had coffee in my life, but I did down about five cans of Coke this weekend. It makes no difference in my twitches. They're still there, but they rarely ever bother me because I don't let them anymore.
 
Some years ago I could drink 5 or 6 espressos per day and I was ok. Then I began to feel a bit more "electrical" with it and I reduced. Now when I drink 2 coffees it's a little bit more difficult to get to sleep. So I try to keep my morning espresso and, the rest of the day, to drink decaff.And that's a pitty, because we have very good espressos down here in Portugal!Anyway, I tried not to drink coffee at all during some weeks: it was awful and the fascics didn't stop at all. Like one of you has said, it induces relaxation, so it should be good for us BFS'ers. I don't think it changes anything.Carlos
 
Actually, I recently (about two weeks ago) began to take two coffees again and I was happy with that - with no increased twitching nor soemthing similar. Once I even had three, and I was ok, even for sleeping issues. So, please, have your beer and your coffee: you will feel better, not worse.Carlos
 
Caffeine doesn't seem to make much difference (except by improving my generalized fatigue). I cut it out and it made no difference as far as twitches or sensory symptoms.Alcohol masks the symptoms while I'm drinking, but the next day the sensory symptoms are sometimes worse.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top