22 replies to this topic

[blakeperkins]

I'm a 20 year old college student and coffee/caffeine was my lifeline prior to my injury. Like most acute SCI patients I've spoken with, I'm battling urinary tract infections and am in need of some energy source for those long days and nights, and early mornings. Is caffeine a no-no? And if so, is anyone else experienced with alternatives?

[Django]

I take a multivitamin b12 & gensing

[qbounce]

I feel, as long as you stay hydrated with H20, I don't see why you can't drink coffee or caffein based drinks as well.

[Edinburgh Colin]

I drink a lot of coffee including doubles or sometimes even triple spoonfulls of instant in the mornings! No uti's but I do vibrate a bit sometimes.
My compadre Goose is also a big coffee fan and may pitch in later when the time zones suit her.
EC

[ThomasR]

I drink at least 4-5 cups of coffee a day and hardly ever have UTIs. And I think those small 5-hour energy drinks also work wonders if you need to pull an all nighter.

[A trophy guy]

I am a caffeine addict, I drink coffee and a high-caffeine pre-workout powder and I've never had a UTI. Like others have said, hydration is important, as caffeine is a mild diuretic.

[coffeecups]

I drink a lot of coffee, especially in the winter. I've only had 2 UTIs in the past two years.

[A trophy guy]

coffeecups, on 07 January 2012 - 02:00 AM, said:

I drink a lot of coffee, especially in the winter. I've only had 2 UTIs in the past two years.

You didn't even need to say anything. Just ur name. LOL

[Stand]

I have been battling UTIs for quite some time. I went from only drinking water for the longest time to finally giving in and having pretty much whatever I want, with the main source still remaining water. No real answer to your question, just thought I would share my experience. You will probably hear a different story from everyone that responds.

Happy pissing!

Edited by Stand117711, 07 January 2012 - 02:17 AM.

[Stand]

A trophy guy, on 07 January 2012 - 12:44 AM, said:

I am a caffeine addict, I drink coffee and a high-caffeine pre-workout powder and I've never had a UTI. Like others have said, hydration is important, as caffeine is a mild diuretic.

How have you never had a UTI? How do you cath? Obviously I don't know you but I find it extremely hard to believe. Especially due to the length of your injury. Every single paraplegic or quadriplegic that I know suffers from at least a few each year. Just curious.

[Beautiful]

I'm addicted to lattes and Red Bull! My heart gets a bit angry at me as does my bladder, but drinking water definitely helps. So does flushing my bladder.

[A trophy guy]

Stand117711, on 07 January 2012 - 02:21 AM, said:

A trophy guy, on 07 January 2012 - 12:44 AM, said:

I am a caffeine addict, I drink coffee and a high-caffeine pre-workout powder and I've never had a UTI. Like others have said, hydration is important, as caffeine is a mild diuretic.

How have you never had a UTI? How do you cath? Obviously I don't know you but I find it extremely hard to believe. Especially due to the length of your injury. Every single paraplegic or quadriplegic that I know suffers from at least a few each year. Just curious.

Crede and valsalva. I don't cath. I mostly use crede, during the day, etc. But I can't completely empty my bladder using that method alone. So a couple times a day (right before bed and first thing in the morning) I use a combo of the crede method plus the valsalva method (which is just squeezing your abs as hard as you can). The valsalva gets out the rest that I can't with the crede alone.

[MTB John]

EC, shame on you. Instant is NOT coffee.
I drink a lot of iced coffee. They prolong the enjoyment and as the ice melts you stay hydrated..
Plus they help keep me cool, or at least give me they illusion there of.

[Edinburgh Colin]

MTB John, on 07 January 2012 - 04:24 AM, said:

EC, shame on you. Instant is NOT coffee.
I drink a lot of iced coffee. They prolong the enjoyment and as the ice melts you stay hydrated..
Plus they help keep me cool, or at least give me they illusion there of.

I know, I know, the shame!
I used to have a nice wee machine that made 2 big mugs of real coffee from fresh ground beans but after my injury it seems to have vacated the house! Captured in my wife's clean out and never replaced.
Maybe a birthday idea for this year?
EC

[goose]

I do love a good strong latte but I do limit myself. I try to offset them by drinking water before and after. I have noticed a slight burning sensation whenever I drink too many lattes without drinking enough water to help flush it out quickly.

I've really limited my Coke consumption to almost none. I'll drink maybe 1 coke a week if we have pizza .

As long as you're drinking plenty of purified water to stay flushed, a little coffee shouldn't hurt.



EC .....instant??? You need !!!! Treat yourself to a New Years present!!!

[MTB John]

Edinburgh Colin, on 07 January 2012 - 08:41 AM, said:

MTB John, on 07 January 2012 - 04:24 AM, said:

EC, shame on you. Instant is NOT coffee.
I drink a lot of iced coffee. They prolong the enjoyment and as the ice melts you stay hydrated..
Plus they help keep me cool, or at least give me they illusion there of.

I know, I know, the shame!
I used to have a nice wee machine that made 2 big mugs of real coffee from fresh ground beans but after my injury it seems to have vacated the house! Captured in my wife's clean out and never replaced.
Maybe a birthday idea for this year?
EC

If my Lady got between me and coffee I'd be 'dinging up' her newly renovated kitchen as well..

Fondest,
J

Edited by MTB John, 07 January 2012 - 10:07 AM.

[MissQuasimodo]

I've noticed that when i drink coffee i definitely need to drink at least twice as much water a well otherwise i get really bad cramps somewhere on my lower back where the kidneys are. maybe it has something to do with the fact that my urine tests show constant infection and i'm immune to the antibiotics (they said the very few antibiotics left that will work are the ones that will be given intravenously so they will save them for the emergencies. does this mean i walk around with constant UTIs?).

anyway, keep drinking loads of water and coffee should not be a problem.

lol I just noticed I used the words "walk around".

[oldwheelz]

Well at least one more person hasn't had a uti. Over 8 yrs. since my sci and with no meds. I have live blood testing twice a year and am always told how great my immune system is. Maybe it's the coffee I've been drinking for over 50 yrs.

[Tetracyclone]

Most important is to avoid taking your caffeine by Coke or Pepsi. Carbonation is very hard on the kidneys.

[blakeperkins]

Coffee has done some painful things to what "feels" like my bladder. And I've tried to eliminate carbonated drinks due to the issue with carbonic acid in the bladder and the infection risk that accompanies. I used to take a sport supplement called jacked or jack3d, and am nervous to start that back. I might test the waters with it. Since this injury occurred I've got a different mindset on the whole non-fda approved stuff though, so it obviously is nerve racking.

[A trophy guy]

blakeperkins, on 08 January 2012 - 10:43 PM, said:

Coffee has done some painful things to what "feels" like my bladder. And I've tried to eliminate carbonated drinks due to the issue with carbonic acid in the bladder and the infection risk that accompanies. I used to take a sport supplement called jacked or jack3d, and am nervous to start that back. I might test the waters with it. Since this injury occurred I've got a different mindset on the whole non-fda approved stuff though, so it obviously is nerve racking.

The only reason I don't use jack3d is that it doesn't really do much for me. I have used it in the past, however, with absolutely no health issues. I really believe the primary cause of UTIs is catheterization itself. These pre-workout products, at least the ones manufactured by reputable companies, should pose no real risk of bladder/kidney problems. Currently I use a product called Ravage, it's a new product made by the GNC product line. I have tried every pre-workout product under the sun and I can easily say this is the best I have ever used. Hands down. (ok, hijack over)

[Speed]

I have been paralyzed for over five years and have never had a UTI. I drink Dr. Pepper like im an addict or soemthing. Barely ever drink water. I cath about 6 times a day and am pretty steril about it. Maybe Im just immune to UTI's. LOl

[Kwag_Myers]

I'm 4.5 years post, love coffee, and haven't had a UTI in over a year. It seems to me that the acid in coffee may help deter UTIs, but I'm only speculating.

As Trophy Guy and others have already pointed out, coffee has a diuretic side. I'm fairly routine in my routine, but I still never really know when my system is going to go into overdrive. I've learned to tell when I need an unscheduled cathing. As long as your urine stays relatively clear you should be okay. If it starts clouding up or getting dark, better hit the water until it clears up again.