Serious(ly Stupid) Question

[Guest Speed Racer]

Okay, so under 'normal' circumstances, I generally drink 1.5-2 pots of coffee a day, a Diet Coke, and maybe a cup of green/black tea (yes, I am aware of how ghastly that is). I sleep like a baby, though I come off a little high strung.

 

BUT. Lately (past two/three weeks), after about three cups of coffee I get really anxious, lightheaded and shakey - I how I used to feel after 2.5 pots of coffee. My hypothesis is that this could be a winter thing (this is the first year since I was 10 where caffeine is the only extra chemical in my system).

 

Does anyone experience greater levels of caffeine sensitivity in the winter, or has my body finally decided that my consumption should more closely resemble that of mortals?

 

And as long as we're here, what's everyone else's daily caffeine consumption?

[j4lackey]

Aout a pot of coffee, usually one half to one third decaf, stopping by dinner, unless I gotta work 12-14 hours on something, then it's the same amount, just all caf.

 

It's possible you are tired or run down, and just don't know it with the boost of large amounts of caffeine. It's good to take it down to just green tea every so often, unless that kind of thing is intolerable to you. Dehydration is also a possible cause of the shakiness.

[Lammycat]

It may be an age thing. I get the same kind of anxiety often after one cup of regular coffee these days. Not every time, but often. It's a very unpleasant feeling. So, I usually drink de-caf if I drink coffee. I like the taste of coffee, so that works fine for me. I don't drink it for the rush as I did when I was younger.

 

Coffee contains a lot more caffeine than typical sodas, particularly the drip type from the machine. Your body requires larger and larger doses to produce the same effect over time (that of triggering the dopamine that gives you the pleasure feel of the caffeine rush).

 

The reason I say it may be due to age is that regular coffee and the amount of caffeine in it hits the central nervous system pretty hard and effects your blood pressure. As you get older, these parts of your body become more sensitive, I think. At least it feels that way to me at almost 41 years old.

 

Then again, maybe it's a winter thing....

 

 

Dehydration is also a possible cause of the shakiness.

And a good point here. Caffeine dehydrates you. Coffee has a boatload of caffeine in it. Dehydration causes headaches.

[jenbobblehead]

i can drink cokes and tea all day and night long with no trouble, but give me one cup of real coffee and i feel like i'm having an anxiety attack. I would ease off on the coffee, but not so much that it gives you terrible headaches, and try to drink more water.

[Edie]

BUT. Lately (past two/three weeks), after about three cups of coffee I get really anxious, lightheaded and shakey - I how I used to feel after 2.5 pots of coffee. My hypothesis is that this could be a winter thing (this is the first year since I was 10 where caffeine is the only extra chemical in my system).

 

When I was suffering from panic disorder/depression, I had similar reactions anytime I had caffeine. So, for about 10 years I avoided it (and all drugs except some alcohol) like the plague. Now (and for the past couple years) I drink about 2-3 cups of black tea each day with no issues, with an occasional high test espresso after dinner. So far so good.

 

So, my suggestion would be to consider what else is going on in your life -- xmas stress, relationships, professional career etc etc. TBH, 2 pots of coffee can't be good for you, so cutting back can only help.

[Guest Speed Racer]

I started drinking coffee when I was 3, with milk and sugar (I'd beg sips off my parents and they would give me 'coffee' that was essentially 6 oz. warm milk with enough coffee until it was brown). As I grew, the ratios swapped, and I started drinking it black when I was 10. Every day at 13. Current level of consumption has held strong for 5 years.

 

I usually do 6-8 glasses of water on top of everything else, more in the summer after long runs (god, this thread is making me sound like there's not a minute of the day where there's not a glass to my lips ), and since I tend to do/eat the same things every day I don't think it's a hydration issue.

 

Like I said, this is the first time in a decade/plus that there's no other chemicals but caffeine in my blood system. So maybe the last of the renegades are working their way out of my body and I *am* sensitive to caffeine after all and never knew it. Or it's a winter thing. Ha!

 

I know that vitamin D can be depleted in the winter on account of lack of sun, and that serotonin/dopamine can also go wonky in the winter. I'm high strung generally, so maybe things get wound tighter in the winter and the caffeine on top of that just makes me extra apeshit?

[Guest Speed Racer]

TBH, 2 pots of coffee can't be good for you, so cutting back can only help.

 

Oh, I know! I have really (REALLY) thick brown hair that tends to stand on-end, and the joke within my circle is that I was born a thin-haired blond.

 

Thanks, all, for the advice so far!

[ZenLunatic]

I started drinking coffee when I was 3, with milk and sugar (I'd beg sips off my parents and they would give me 'coffee' that was essentially 6 oz. warm milk with enough coffee until it was brown). As I grew, the ratios swapped, and I started drinking it black when I was 10. Every day at 13. Current level of consumption has held strong for 5 years.

 

Like I said, this is the first time in a decade/plus that there's no other chemicals but caffeine in my blood system. So maybe the last of the renegades are working their way out of my body and I *am* sensitive to caffeine after all and never knew it. Or it's a winter thing. Ha!

 

So what chemicals did you have in your body besides caffeine? Maybe the chemicals your body was used to for the last 10 years that you now dont have is making you feel that way. If it was a winter thing, wouldnt it happen every winter?

 

I do think you drink more coffee than anyone I ever heard of for as long as you did. I believe caffeine is chemically addictive and not good for you at those doses, so I would be careful. Take care of your body, your health is directly connected to your moods.

 

I drink one to a few cups of tea a day, mostly green. Drink coffee very rarely, but I do like mine black when I do.

[hollow]

I started drinking coffee when I was 3, with milk and sugar (I'd beg sips off my parents and they would give me 'coffee' that was essentially 6 oz. warm milk with enough coffee until it was brown). As I grew, the ratios swapped, and I started drinking it black when I was 10. Every day at 13. Current level of consumption has held strong for 5 years.

At least now I know my parents weren't the only ones who started their kids early on the coffee habit! My brother and I had coffee with milk and sugar starting at 3 -- only no begging involved, it was just served. Drank it daily, up to 1.5 pots a day during grad school, but when I was 25 I got the flu, and got sick on coffee (all I'd had before the flu vomiting started). Once I get sick on something, I can't eat or drink it again. So, I did the cold turkey thing while I had the flu, when I felt awful anyway.

 

Now, I drink 1-2 cups of tea in the morning. I have terrible insomnia, which I never had when I drank coffee. The caffeine never affected my sleep, but no matter what I do now, I can't sleep. That's a whole different thread though!

[froggie]

i usually have one large black one in the morning... and the girl at the counter gives it an extra shot cause she knows i like it strong (doesnt even charge me for the extra, heehee)

 

 

 

oh, and who's that on your avatar photo?

[bjorn_skurj]

I used to pound coffee, but nowadays if I have more than two cups a day, I put myself at risk for tachycardia, which I don't like too much, so I limit myself. As we get older, our bodies change (generally not for the better, it seems) and we react to things differently. Drinking less coffee has also helped control my blood pressure some. I fear if I stopped caffeinating completely, I would have to go into a nine-month coma to catch up on my sleep.

 

At least now I know my parents weren't the only ones who started their kids early on the coffee habit! My brother and I had coffee with milk and sugar starting at 3 -- only no begging involved, it was just served. Drank it daily, up to 1.5 pots a day during grad school, but when I was 25 I got the flu, and got sick on coffee (all I'd had before the flu vomiting started). Once I get sick on something, I can't eat or drink it again. So, I did the cold turkey thing while I had the flu, when I felt awful anyway.

 

Now, I drink 1-2 cups of tea in the morning. I have terrible insomnia, which I never had when I drank coffee. The caffeine never affected my sleep, but no matter what I do now, I can't sleep. That's a whole different thread though!

You tried melatonin?

[hollow]

You tried melatonin?

Yep, melatonin and also all the prescription sleep medications. Nothing has worked, and those sleep meds have some unpleasant side effects. Now my doc is trying to get me to go to a sleep clinic... ugh.

[Atticus]

I started drinking coffee when I was 3

 

you don't happen to have a brother named Tweek Tweak do you?

[hollow]

oh, and who's that on your avatar photo?

If you're referring to Speed Racer's avatar, it's Ellen Feis from the Apple "switch" advertising campaign from a couple of years ago:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2-UuIEOcss

[bjorn_skurj]

Yep, melatonin and also all the prescription sleep medications. Nothing has worked, and those sleep meds have some unpleasant side effects. Now my doc is trying to get me to go to a sleep clinic... ugh.

Aww. That must be very frustrating.

[tongue-tied lightning]

not one cup of coffee has entered my body

[austrya]

Coffee is nasty.

 

Anyways, I used to drink way more caffiene than should be allowed. I drank it in the form of Diet Pepsi and Diet Coke. I decided that all of that caffiene can't be good for me (not to mention the aspartame, but that's another thread) so I switched to caffiene free. I still drink pop with caffiene in it when we go out.

 

I feel soooo much better. I used to have a hard time getting a good night's sleep and would always nap. Now, I hardly ever feel the overwhelming need to nap and I sleep better at night.

 

I never noticed how my body felt when I had so much caffiene in my system because I was used to it. Now, if I have some, I can definitely feel the effects.

[Mr. Kinsley]

Just curious, those of you who started drinking coffee at an insanely young age - how tall are you? People always say that coffee will stunt a kid's growth, so... did it?

 

Also, it's kind of funny that this thread came up now. Just the other day I had a Dr. Pepper and then later a Peppermint Mocha at Starbucks, which I forgot to order as decaf. I didn't even bother going to bed at my usual time and instead stayed up goofing off around here. The next day I had a horrible headache, was totally dragging and just wanted nothing more than either a nap... or more caffeine. I decided to tough it out and make a concerted effort to cut out caffeine from my diet as much as possible. Say what you will about Mormons, but they were way ahead of the curve on this one!

[hollow]

Just curious, those of you who started drinking coffee at an insanely young age - how tall are you? People always say that coffee will stunt a kid's growth, so... did it?

I started drinking coffee at 3 with breakfast, stopped at age 25 (but still drink tea, but only have caffeine early in the day) - I'm 5'8" and female, so above average height.

[Guest Speed Racer]

So what chemicals did you have in your body besides caffeine? Maybe the chemicals your body was used to for the last 10 years that you now dont have is making you feel that way. If it was a winter thing, wouldnt it happen every winter?

 

As with autrya's aspertame stories, that's for a whole other thread. Suffice to say that for seven of the ten, it was prescribed medications that could have affected caffeine, and for the final three, well, those could affect caffeine as well. But it's been just caffeine for 7 months and I've felt about the same for 7 months until now, which is why I ask about the winter thing.

 

Just curious, those of you who started drinking coffee at an insanely young age - how tall are you? People always say that coffee will stunt a kid's growth, so... did it?

 

If it did affect me, I'd have been She-Hulk without it. I'm 5'11" with a 34-inch inseam. My sister didn't start drinking caffeine until she was 16 or so, and she's 6'1" with a 32-inch inseam. She got proportion, I got character.

 

Tachycardia - that would be that weird rapid heartbeat thing that's been happening a couple times a week, no...?

[cryptique]

I used to get caffeine headaches (at least, that's what I decided they were) so I basically quit caffeine. I still have an occasional soda with caffeine, but only when nothing caffeine-free (and diet) is available. I'd say I probably drink three or four sodas a month that have caffeine, but otherwise I go without.

 

Since I adopted this stance (at least a couple of years ago), I've not had those headaches. Coincidence? I think not.

[poppydawn]

When I was suffering from panic disorder/depression, I had similar reactions anytime I had caffeine. So, for about 10 years I avoided it (and all drugs except some alcohol) like the plague. Now (and for the past couple years) I drink about 2-3 cups of black tea each day with no issues, with an occasional high test espresso after dinner. So far so good.

 

So, my suggestion would be to consider what else is going on in your life -- xmas stress, relationships, professional career etc etc. TBH, 2 pots of coffee can't be good for you, so cutting back can only help.

 

Word.

 

I experienced the same thing. If I'm having an anxiety/panic flare-up, caffeine's effects are definitely intensified. When all's well in my life, I drink crazy amounts of coffee and tea, and maybe the occasional Coke. But as soon as I start getting stressed, I cut back.

 

A friend of mine recently described the same thing about caffeine affecting her differently now than it used to, and it definitely seems to be related to the levels of stress in her life.

 

I'm barely 5'3" tall, but was predicted to be 5'8" on those silly growth charts they whip out when kids are little. My granny started giving my coffee - boiled in a perolator, no less - when I was 7 or 8. I also drank lots and lots of caffeinated tea as a kid. So yep, I'm stunted.

[jenbobblehead]

Speed Racer: if you're having an irregular heartbeat, you should really see your doctor. Really soon, ok?!

[bjorn_skurj]

Yeah. I once wore this apparatus on my chest for some 24 hours to try to get to the root of my tachycardia and tried as I might, I could not get it to happen. It got a lot better when they started putting pseudoephedrine behind the counter and replaced the decongestant pills' active ingredient with phenylephrine. I was told that tachycardia rarely kills people, but it is something that should be checked out. I was also advised to blend regular coffee with decaf, which helped wean me off of massive caffeine neediness.

[hollow]

It got a lot better when they started putting pseudoephedrine behind the counter and replaced the decongestant pills' active ingredient with phenylephrine. I was told that tachycardia rarely kills people, but it is something that should be checked out.

I won't take cold/allergy meds with pseudoephedrine in them because when I do, it feels like my heart is racing. Although I think it's silly that you have to get those products from a pharmacist now, and show ID to boot.