Surgery and Caffeine Headaches

arbojenn
arbojenn Member Posts: 118
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
You know how you have to fast before surgery? That means NO COFFEE OR CAFFEINE! Every surgery I have ever had has resulted in a severe headache to the point of throwing up due to caffeine deprivation. I ALWAYS have a severe headache before the operation and most often still have it afterward. (Doctors don't seem to realize how much these hurt!) My last surgery was ten years ago, though. I am facing another one end of August. Does anyone else experience caffeine withdrawal? Can anything be done about it nowdays?

Comments

  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    #2
    Caffeine
    Have you looked into patches? Or maybe a bucketful of pills the night before?..OK you probably wouldn't sleep. I would ask your doctor about this.
    Hugs Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • arbojenn
    arbojenn Member Posts: 118
    #3
    tasha_111 said:

    Caffeine
    Have you looked into patches? Or maybe a bucketful of pills the night before?..OK you probably wouldn't sleep. I would ask your doctor about this.
    Hugs Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    I just love your posts,
    I just love your posts, Tasha! I laughed so hard at the idea of patches or a pail of pills--but you know, I think that is an excellent solution and I am definitely going to ask about it!
  • CR1954
    CR1954 Member Posts: 1,390 Member
    #4
    arbojenn......
    I am a literal coffee-holic. I feel your pain. But I have not experienced the severe headaches before or after surgery. Just the desperate longing for them to "get going", so that I could stop thinking about coffee!

    As soon as I am awake enough after surgery, I beg them for coffee. Sometimes they will take my word for it that it will not make me sick. Other times,they make me wait.

    I'm not sure if anything can be done to ease your discomfort, but it certainly is something that you should discuss with your surgeon, IMHO.

    Hugs,

    CR
  • arbojenn
    arbojenn Member Posts: 118
    #5
    I googled surgery and
    I googled surgery and caffeine headaches and it appears you can get caffeine intravenously! CR, maybe we should look into this for non surgery days, too! I guess this makes me a true caffeine junkie!
  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    #6
    arbojenn said:

    I googled surgery and
    I googled surgery and caffeine headaches and it appears you can get caffeine intravenously! CR, maybe we should look into this for non surgery days, too! I guess this makes me a true caffeine junkie!

    Caffeine Rush
    I am a true Tea-Swilling Limey.......I don't know if I would survive one day without my 'FIX'.... One of the first things I researched about Canada (Cambodia?) before re-locating here was........"Do You Have Tetley Tea?"...

    YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

    OK I moved.

    Hugs Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • CR1954
    CR1954 Member Posts: 1,390 Member
    #7
    arbojenn said:

    I googled surgery and
    I googled surgery and caffeine headaches and it appears you can get caffeine intravenously! CR, maybe we should look into this for non surgery days, too! I guess this makes me a true caffeine junkie!

    OMG!
    Caffeine intravenously! Just think of the time that would save!! Sign me up..lol!!

    CR
  • CR1954
    CR1954 Member Posts: 1,390 Member
    #8
    The day...
    The day of my surgery was pure torture because the hospital has a Tim Horton's in the lobby. And everyone coming into the large waiting room where I had to wait before going to pre-op, was drinking coffee and eating donuts!! It was maddening! I still remember the smell of the coffeeeeee.............

    CR
  • cabbott
    cabbott Member Posts: 1,039 Member
    #9
    Caffine Fix
    One morning I had surgery the anesthesiologist (sp?) came out to go over my allergies just before I headed to the OR. He had a pill in a cup and offered it to me in case I was used to morning coffee. He said there was no reason to have a headache if I was used to a morning cup. He did not give me a full glass of water--just a sip or two. But I don't remember a headache later. Guess it worked! You might ask your nurses and doctors just in case you can also have something to avoid that woe. If not, the drugs they give you after surgery will probably work too.

    C. Abbott
  • confused123
    confused123 Member Posts: 251
    #10
    cabbott said:

    Caffine Fix
    One morning I had surgery the anesthesiologist (sp?) came out to go over my allergies just before I headed to the OR. He had a pill in a cup and offered it to me in case I was used to morning coffee. He said there was no reason to have a headache if I was used to a morning cup. He did not give me a full glass of water--just a sip or two. But I don't remember a headache later. Guess it worked! You might ask your nurses and doctors just in case you can also have something to avoid that woe. If not, the drugs they give you after surgery will probably work too.

    C. Abbott

    I was told I could have 8
    I was told I could have 8 ounces of a clear liquid the morning of surgery which could be Pepsi(I know it is not clear), black coffee of black tea. I also get headaches without caffeine and had tea before surgery.

    Kim
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    #11
    Another possibility....
    I am a coffee-a-holic (chocolate too!) and I did not have caffeine the morning of my surgery. However, this has never effected any previous surgeries I have ever had. When I woke up I had a mild headache that worsened the 2 hour ride home. By the time I got home to bed, I was in such severe pain from the headache that by the next day my hubby wanted to rush me to the hospital. I couldn't even lift my head off the pillow without moaning in pain. This was scaring him (poor guy). Thankfully it subsided day two.
    I mentioned the ordeal at my first visit with my Surgeon post-op. He explained that I was describing a reaction to the anestesia type they used. Back home was probably a different mixture and he would be sure to note my chart. So it is a possibility that it was not caffeine withdrawl, but from the anestesia. It would be wise to make sure your Doctor hass been informed of the incident and to remember to tell the anestisiologist if you ever have surgery again! :) Pammy
  • arbojenn
    arbojenn Member Posts: 118
    #12
    tasha_111 said:

    Caffeine Rush
    I am a true Tea-Swilling Limey.......I don't know if I would survive one day without my 'FIX'.... One of the first things I researched about Canada (Cambodia?) before re-locating here was........"Do You Have Tetley Tea?"...

    YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

    OK I moved.

    Hugs Jxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    Thanks for reminding me! I
    Thanks for reminding me! I need to pack some Tetley British Blend tea bags before I go to the hosptial! I am a Tetley devotee, too! (I like the black tea best, hence I go for the British Blend. But any Tetley will do in a pinch! Can't STAND any other kind!)

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