Ok so now we can't drink coffee, how to quit?

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, Neuro ICU, Trauma ICU,.

With the caffeine-miscarriage studies now out, I guess we have to quit the coffee! I'm looking to start a family soon and I can't remember the last time Ive gone without a few cups a day. I'll admit it, I'm addicted! So badly that my head pounds if I haven't had any within a few hours of waking. If I can't get to some coffee, I carry Excedrin migraine (caffeine included!)

To make matters worse, I start working nights next week!!

Anyone out there quit drinking (caffeine) and have some tips for the rest of us?

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Specializes in Telemetry.
With the caffeine-miscarriage studies now out, I guess we have to quit the coffee! I'm looking to start a family soon and I can't remember the last time Ive gone without a few cups a day. I'll admit it, I'm addicted! So badly that my head pounds if I haven't had any within a few hours of waking. If I can't get to some coffee, I carry Excedrin migraine (caffeine included!)

To make matters worse, I start working nights next week!!

Anyone out there quit drinking (caffeine) and have some tips for the rest of us?

I've always heard to cut back slowly... you could start brewing half decaf and half regular at home.

During my last pregnancy suddenly I couldn't stand the taste of coffee, and back then before I got pregnant I drank nearly a pot by myself every morning.

I hadn't heard anything new about caffeine causing miscarriages- have they found new links to it? I'd always heard that it was ok to have 1 cup per day, but then again my youngest turns 6 in March, so its been awhile!

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.

I heard this.. also heard an OB/GYN talking about it and another study that was larger than the one that brought about this result. She said 1 cup a day is fine when you're pregnant and the miscarriage rate of the larger study did not indicate a higher increase in miscarriages.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

My dad had to quit coffee because of GI problems. It was horrible...until he learned he could forestall the withdrawal symptoms with as little as one half ounce instant coffee bid.

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Specializes in CMSRN.

Cutting back slowly sound like a good idea. You may need very little just to stave off the headaches like the previous post.

Just keep in mind coffee is not the only culprit. Tea and chocolate.

I would never give up chocolate though. I would really be a b****

then.

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Yeah, I think I have read somewhere that you need to ween yourself off until you are at 100mg/day....then you should be able to quit completely without the withdrawal symptoms.

Also, my aunt quit drinking coffee and instead drinks a cup of hot water in the morning now. Kind of weird, but she says it has helped her..whether it be psychological or not, it still has helped her.

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From my own experience ...ahem, ahem... cutting back slowly is a GREAT idea. I went from 10+ cups a day to 1 to 2 a day. One way you can can help yourself getting rid of such "nasty" habit (notice sarcasm please) is by changing the size of your coffee pot. If you use a 12 cup size...well you'll be more likely to drink more coffee... switch to a 6 cup one, just for starters. Also try to carry your own coffee and drink your own, instead of drinking the one on your floor or unit.

Hope you can quit, and say goodbye to Juan Valdez and his club of avid coffee drinkers. Good luck :)

Vivi

PS: haven't heard/read about the miscarriage association thing either.

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

when i first read the heading i thought you were talking about your hospital banning coffee!!! i just had to look to see which institution would be game enough to do this; even more to the point - how???

:lol_hitti

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Specializes in nursery, L and D.

I read that study, and the results were bad enough that I agree with you, if you are pregnant, or trying to conceive, I wouldn't risk caffeine. At least until we have more facts about it.

The study was adjusted for morning sickness, b/c claims were made that other studies that said caffeine intake was bad hadn't taken into consideration that people with no morning sickness keep drinking coffee. In essence they were saying that people with unhealthy pregnancy didn't have morning sickness could drink coffee, that those pregnancies were doomed anyway, and the caffeine didn't do it.

Whoa, I can hardly understand that, lol. I'll try to find the write up about it, it explains it better than I can.

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Specializes in nursery, L and D.

Well, I can't find the article that has the link to the actual study, but this explains it better about the morning sickness issue.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/21/health/21caffeine.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

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Specializes in OB, Telephone Triage, Chart Review/Code.

Hmmm, I haven't heard about the study either.

I am a heavy coffee drinker, always have been. I have only been pregnant 3 times and delivered all 3, even drinking coffee throughout pregnancy.

I can drink decaf and not tell the difference.

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