I'm an addict.

[rootofnewt]

So, the headache settles in. Headaches are something I have little tolerance for, since the cause is almost always treatable (in my case). Lately, I've been prone to TMJD issues, so I've been quick to find the NSAIDS when I feel the twinge. Today, I realized that I wasn't feeling sinus or eyestrain or jaw pain--it's caffeine withdrawal. I hadn't realized, but I've had a lot of caffeine over the last couple of weeks or more--visiting in-laws, getting sick and needing it for decongestion, asthma, etc. So, the cure is simple--more caffeine. There's no way I'm suffering through withdrawal right now.

No biggie, I go to make some espresso. I clean the espresso pot.

I'm out of coffee.

Well, that's not quite accurate. I have several small bags with an ounce or so of ground coffee in them, dating to august. I don't have a coffee grinder, so I grind very small amounts at a time. Ground coffee begins to taste like dust as it gets old, so I don't use it once the aroma has peaked. I don't toss the bags as they pass their prime, I save them up for mass coffee brewing in my coffee pot. The azaleas get the brewed coffee (azalea and hydrangea love acid), the compost heap gets the grounds.

Anyhow, here I am, in the throes of a caffeine headache, threatening to turn into a migraine because my jaw is joining the tension game. And I have no freshly roasted and ground coffee beans. I briefly consider going to starbucks for a fix, but realize that traffic right now would render me homicidal.

Fortunately, I found some yerba mate. This will suffice until I can buy more coffee.

I hope.

Comments

[exxoblivion.livejournal.com]

I had this headache last night it was a bitch.. I thought it might be because I didnt have my usual amount of caffine or something that day but I had.. I couldve just taken some Alieve or something but I was like screw this and went to bed :]
Headaches suck.

[compostwormbin.livejournal.com]

Maybe you already know this, but I just thought I should mention that caffeine can make fibro worse in many people. It exacerbates sleep disorders. I personally cannot tolerate it for that reason.

Could you gradually cut back to minimize the discomfort? Or do the "water torture" method, and go cold turkey? The withdrawal shouldn't last more than a few days.

I have been through both caffeine and sugar withdrawal. It sucked but in the end wasn't as bad as I feared.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

I've given up caffeine for very long stretches of time (months, years) with absolutely no difference in fibro pain or sleep. I typically only consume it regularly when allergy season is in swing, as it's a bit safer for my body than massive amounts of pseudoephedrine.

I've been through caffeine withdrawal several times. It's not horrid--two weeks of migraine. That's small beans, but miserable little beans.

Right now there's really no point--in less than a month, spring allergy season will be in full force and I will *need* a decongestant every single day. Been through this many times and med-free doesn't work for me. Caffeine's at least a rather benign drug.

[compostwormbin.livejournal.com]

You know your body best and have tried different options enough times to have a good sense from the standpoint of experience.

Two weeks of migraine??? That sounds quite severe to me. I guess I was fortunate.

[kesara.livejournal.com]

I'll second that. My sleep is utter crap whether I drink caffeine or not, and caffeine helps my breathing without the use of an inhaler.

I'm also working under a mass amount of stress right now, undoubtedly this is why I have 10-12 consistent trigger points these days rather than the normal 4-6. For me, mild caffeine consumption acts as enough of a mood elevator that it holds off the depression.

Yeah, the withdrawal symptoms are a bitch, but all in all, there's little harm in moderate caffeine consumption.

[dwolfe.livejournal.com]

Headache cure!!!

Don't laugh, these work!

Method 1) Drink 2 large glasses of water as fast as you can. Listen to your favorite music while slowly rolling your head/neck for several minutes.

Method 2) The big-O. The body is programmed to flush out pain in the event of sex. Just thinking about sex can make a man damn near impervious to all but vital injuries. Women, need to go a little further and sometimes just can't make it given the distraction. But if you can, it works! Now if you are real skilled, you can also use it to convince your SO to do stuff for you too.

Both work most the time!

[dwolfe.livejournal.com]

BTW, is your cat icon suppose to be blinking, or have super fast flashy eyes like it appears to me?

It is freaking me out.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

GreyKitty is eating your soul.

[dwolfe.livejournal.com]

OH NOEZ! MAH SOUL!

*wraps self in aluminum foil*

I thwart GreyKitty!