Life Without Coffee
12/17/04 10:26 AM
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belinda
Reged: 10/09/03
Posts: 474
Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Andrew:
Oh, how I loved coffee! But now its taste is but a very distant memory. The last cup I had (actually it was a very watered down quarter cup of coffee) was more than 20 years ago. I didn't even realize I had IBS then and I didn't know coffee was bad for IBS. I only knew that I suffered severe stomach cramps and got very sick every time I tried drinking coffee -- even decaffinated coffee.
I can't say life has always been easy without coffee. I'm required to attend lots of meetings in my job and I often have trouble staying awake if the meetings are boring! It would definite help if I could drink some coffee, but sadly I cannot.
I think perhaps the coffee issue is hitting you especially hard because it is bringing home the reality of what having IBS entails. Coping with IBS means many dietary and lifestyle changes and the denial of many things that others (non-IBS people) take for granted. Coffee is just one of those things.
I can only say that coffee, and other deprivations due to IBS, have never stopped me from accomplishing anything I've set my mind to. I have two university degrees and I have worked in demanding, professional fields for more than 20 years now.
Once the dust settles, you may come to realize that despite the many things you can't and won't be able to eat or drink because of your IBS, the IBS diet/lifestyle is much healthier than the average North American diet/lifestyle. For example, you can't eat things like junk food and ideally you should eat only organic food.
I believe in time you will find ways to work around the negatives of IBS and accomplish your goals, including your university studies. Of course, having IBS will necessitate you to be creative to find ways to do things without provoking IBS attacks.
Please don't give up on your studies! Eventually you will find a way to get through without coffee! For me, personally, I've found an excellent energy booster is working out at the gym. I have high energy for several days afterwards. I don't think coffee could even remotely compete with an exercise-induced, energy rush!
Please take care and keep us posted on how things go.
Belinda
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