Caffeine Allergy/Intolerance

[Kelly_Fitz]

I have had a serious problem with caffeine ever since I got the Gardasil vaccine. Whether or not the two are related, I have no clue, but I was an avid coffee drinker, soda drinker, what have you, before I got this vaccine. About two days after I received the vaccine I started to suffer something I cannot even accurately describe--my hands would tingle, I would feel like I was dying, I felt like I had the flu and I had a horrible fever. Beside the fact that I was having a bad reaction to the vaccine, I didn't realize that at the same time I was having a bad reaction to caffeine. All of the sudden, any time I had any coffee, soda or anything, I had a horrible panic attack and felt like, for lack of better words, like I was going crazy. I have suffered this since February of 2007. Just today I had HALF of a diet coke, no kidding, HALF, and the entire day couldn't even exist in my own skin. It is as if my body cannot metabolize it properly and it honestly makes my blood pressure go sky high---i'm talking like 150s or so without me even being anxious. What do I do??? What caused this?? Does anyone else have a similar experience??

From someone who is completely lost and feeling like they have no answers, there has to be someone else who has experienced what I have. And if not, then maybe I have no hope of anyone helping me explain what happened....I went to the dr. who administered the vaccine, who wouldn't help me, and countless others who dismissed my problems. But this is a last ditch effort to find someone else who either shares this problem or who can help me out.

Thanks.

[labefam]

My husband drank coffee for years but a few years ago decided to switch to decaf, He is now slowly trying to switch back to coffee but is not doing well. he has headaches, anxiety, face numbness...My question is this...If he continues on coffee, will these symptoms eventually go away? Does anyone know?

[CharHeike]

I also have different reactions to different caffeines, but I started to keep a journal of my symptoms and noticed that it wasn't just the caffeine, it's how much sleep, exercise, stress, etc...in the day.  It has a lot to do with your adrenal glands.  Read my posts about what the adrenal glands are doing and you will understand how it all works.

[CharHeike]

I also read about infections.  High cortisol amounts are related to infections.  An infection can raise your cortisol and your cortisol can be raised and the minute it lowers it exposes you to infection.  So it works both ways.  Stress is the same way.  Have you noticed that right after a very stressful situation you tend to catch a cold of some sort?  Also, for women, have you noticed around your menstruation time either right before or after you catch a cold?  I'm not saying your adrenals are bad or not working, I'm saying that it might be more than just a caffeine allergy or intolerance.  Basically, cut caffeine, lower your stress, and try to eat healthy.  Also, if you exercise more than your body can handle (even though exercising is good for you) you will release cortisol into your bloodstream.  Basically, keep a journal of your day to day activities and find a link.  It could be caffeine, stress, exercising, infections, etc... or a combination of a few.  If you tune into your body more, you will be happier in the long run.  Let me know if anyone needs more help with this.

[CharHeike]

I have been going through the same thing and Drs make you feel like your crazy or a hypo.  What's happening in your body has to do with your adrenal glands.  Mine started after I had my 4th baby.  What happens is your body does not metabolize the caffeine correctly.  So if you notice, you drink the caffeine in the morning, but the afternoon your symptoms will really flare up.  Once your body starts to metabolize and break down the caffeine it surges into your bloodstream, (did you notice you got really tired right before?  The caffeine "crash") then to compensate for the caffeine your adrenals release cortisol, but so much is released because of how much caffeine is now in your bloodstream that your adrenals now have to release adrenaline to counterbalance the cortisol.  So one minute you feel like your exhausted then all of a sudden you are flushed in the face, have a racing heart, your blood pressure goes up, and so on.  So the cortisol makes you "hypoglycemic" then the adrenaline comes in and gives you a panic attack.  Basically your body builds up an immunity to the substance and now your adrenals have to work overtime.  I know everyone wants there caffeine, but there are def. safer alternatives to try and I'm sorry to say, but this probably will never reverse itself.

[bomonkey]

Wow...thanks to everyone for posting. This just happened to me.
I am a coffee aficionado so it really hurts, but there's really no choice in the matter.
It's been about two weeks and I barely miss it.
I'm choosing to think of us as superior genetic hybrids seeded by an alien race long ago. We are emerging into our True Forms. The alien race shall return to the planet soon and we will be the ones who'll be spared from being put to work in their Mines. (We will be given decent admin positions)

It gets me past realizing I'll never have chemex-brewed, single source organic Tanzanian Peaberry again

[abbadabba1]

Allergy or Sensitivity or Intolerance?

When folks discuss this as laypeople, the terms we choose may not make sense to doctors. They recognize caffeine as a drug, so it is a drug reaction we are having in their mind.  But why it comes on so suddenly to some who used to guzzle the stuff is why we think "allergy."  I use drug sensitivity or intolerance when discussing this with professionals, but I read you loud and clear.

Pharmacology uses caffeine sensitivity as a marker when studying genetics and pharma reactions.  It is real, and if your doc is ignorant, tell themn to look into the National Health studies.