Editor’s Update: I wrote this back in 2016 when I tested out going coffee-free. Currently, I have been coffee-free for the last 1.5 years due to an on-going flare up. My body just couldn’t tolerate any amount of coffee–decaf or otherwise. I am now on the road to remission and am able to tolerate coffee on special occasions. I drink matcha lattes most mornings and occasionally switch it out for an earl grey tea.
Let me start off by explaining how much I love coffee. I do. So much. I love it in every form imaginable – iced, hot, black, latte, even coffee ice cream. You add coffee to it and I will drink it. This love affair has been going on for quite a while now. It began in high school when I drank it just to keep me awake in US History class.
When I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, I was told I would be fine drinking coffee, even during a flare-up. However, I began to notice that I felt significantly better during flare-ups. My symptoms were less severe when I abstained from my regular cup(s) of java. So I decided to remove coffee from my diet during flare-ups and only drink it in remission. Rinse and repeat.
Even in remission, coffee never sat well in my stomach. I always had to rush to the bathroom within 30 minutes of my first cup. But I loved it so much that I just wrote this behavior off as normal and continued to drink my usual two cups a day. I finally took the leap and experimented with how I feel sans coffee (gasp!). This was not an easy decision for me and I wrestled with it for a while. I knew I should at least try it, but didn’t want to give it up.
Three weeks ago, I decided it was time to take the plunge and really start listening to my body. I so selfishly wanted to keep it in my daily routine. However, remission from UC beats coffee any day. In this experiment, I wanted to try what it was like for coffee and colitis to bid farewell to each other. I am giving myself a little grace and mercy and allowing an occasional splurge. Hello, artisanal pour-overs that taste as smooth as silk! My eventual goal is to remove caffeine altogether as that can also cause digestive distress. However, I know that I need to make it a very gradual transition before going cold turkey.
So, how do I feel?
Week 1
Sluggish and fatigued
I felt like I was going in slow motion and the severe fatigue really hit me. I always used coffee as a boost to keep my fatigued, UC-ridden body going at full speed. Instead, I have opted to take short naps during the day, which is probably better for my body anyway.
Lack of sleep
The first week I had an incredibly difficult time getting to sleep and staying asleep. I then felt exhausted when I woke up. This could have been due to other variables, but nonetheless, my sleep pattern was “off”.
Foggy brain
I had such a hard time concentrating in class. In my early morning organic chemistry class I felt like I wasn’t absorbing any of the information. It took all of my energy just to show up and focus.
Week 2-3
My stomach thanks me
I have had almost zero hurried trips to the bathroom and only a handful of upset stomach episodes. I finally feel like my body is beginning to heal itself and it is such a great feeling.
Less bloating
Most of the bloating I had been experiencing the past few months receded after stopping coffee. There is still a little bit of bloating, but it is less noticeable now.
More energized
I no longer have the mental fog and severe fatigue that I experienced in the first week. I still have a limited reservoir of energy compared to the normal 20-something thanks to UC. However, I no longer feel like I’m dragging in the morning. I also no longer need a strong pick-me-up to get through my day.
Improved sleep
My sleep pattern returned to normal and I began to feel rested when I woke up. With the third week of no coffee came quality sleep. While coffee and colitis can coexist, my sleep clearly prefers if they don’t. At least not during a flare up.
Coffee Substitutes
As with all great loves, they are hard and sometimes impossible to replace. I have managed to find ways to satisfy my need for a comforting morning beverage. I found that having a bold, hot beverage in a mug helps a lot; it may not taste the same, but it helps me wean my way off of my addiction.
Here are some of my favorites so far:
- Four Sigmatic Mushroom Elixirs– Chaga, Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps
- Homemade Golden Milk – Almond Milk, turmeric, black pepper, and honey
- Teeccino Herbal Coffee
- Matcha Tea–Matcha tea powder, nut milk or water, and honey
Are you sick and tired of feeling sick and tired?
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