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Coffee smoking
I am beginning treatment the first week of Nov and still smoking and drinking coffee. I have alot on my plate with lupus ,hep c and vasculities and the rash on my face really getting me down.I went for a laser treatment for my face yesterday and waiting to see if it gets any better of not.The redness comes from the lupus and the vasculitis it is horrible but I still try to look for the bright side and think if the treatment works maybe my face will clear up. How do I start. There is so much. I have been waking up with coffee and a smoke for over twenty years.Now they say no coffee no cigs. I have much anxiety already and i think adding more by taking away the cigs will just make things worse. Has anyone ever got some positive results from the patch? I tried the generic kind and I felt the only way that thing could of worked is if I would have put it right over my mouth! Hoping praying trying to meditate and keep my spirits up with my doggy. Living in an emotionally abusive relationship trying to fix it or trying to leave i need a place for me and doggy and too tired and sick to work.Sorry complaining. But seriously how bad is coffee? I know smoking is bad but I don't know how to even start to try to quit.
Due to the Tx meds being diuretic, you may want to consider decreasing your coffee intake.
It's bad enough always first looking for location of nearest restroom whenever you go somewhere while on Tx because of the meds and amount of water you should be drinking. No need to add to it with a lot of coffee, which really acts counter to the water increase you should be considering as it too is a diuretic.
As for smoking, my doctor questioned if I wanted to add more stress to what I was going through.
It's bad enough always first looking for location of nearest restroom whenever you go somewhere while on Tx because of the meds and amount of water you should be drinking. No need to add to it with a lot of coffee, which really acts counter to the water increase you should be considering as it too is a diuretic.
As for smoking, my doctor questioned if I wanted to add more stress to what I was going through.
I see you posted a question on the Lupus and Auto Immune forums that listed your meds. Sorry you didn't get an answer there. I was hoping JennyPenny2009 would see your question - she knows more about the quinine-based drugs and corticosteroids than I do. You might try sending her a PM.
Wish revenire were still here. I know he gave some serious thought to the issue of auto-immune disease and tx.
I understand you wanting to treat sooner rather than later, but saying you've got a lot on your plate right now is something of an understatement. You only want to do this once, so make sure you have a plan that all your doctors are on board with, and something that includes contingencies for anything that might come up.
Good luck and take care.
Wish revenire were still here. I know he gave some serious thought to the issue of auto-immune disease and tx.
I understand you wanting to treat sooner rather than later, but saying you've got a lot on your plate right now is something of an understatement. You only want to do this once, so make sure you have a plan that all your doctors are on board with, and something that includes contingencies for anything that might come up.
Good luck and take care.
I would think coffee and cigarettes are a minor consideration compared to managing Lupus while txing with IFN. Are you on any meds for the Lupus? Has the doctor discussed how IFN might effect your Lupus or how Lupus meds effect the HCV?
The smoking for the most obvious reason that your liver needs to filter all the toxins and the coffee I researched and the jury is still out on that one however in the brochures they give you when you first get diagnosed suggests both these things and of course the water too. Coffee is a diuretic. So it makes sense to add the extra water.I think the coffee helps me fight off the fatigue. I am not sure if I am alone on this one but It seems like the biggest deal just to do ordinary things. I never used to be this way. Maybe because I have Lupus too? Does anyone else feel like they are always tired regardless of how much sleep? Thanks for the link! That settles it I am keeping my coffee , sweet nectar of the Gods. As for the smoking u r right it is not the most opportune time. Stress for me is reaching the breaking point so I am trying to remedy that before treatment. Thank you so much for the warm welcome
I stopped drinking coffee a few years before treatment (I enjoy it now!). I smoked throughout tx, but bought 'roles' instead of taylormade and rolled smaller cigarettes and cut them in half. This way, I'd cut down smoking, but felt I could have one whenever I needed one.
I was told by the study team that coffee was very dehydrating. The need to quit was not a requirement but it would help with staying hydrated while on treatment. They recommended drinking double the water if I had had a cup of coffee.
Funny though, I had gone to the doctor two years ago for support in quitting smoking and walked out of that appointment with my Hep c dx.
Funny though, I had gone to the doctor two years ago for support in quitting smoking and walked out of that appointment with my Hep c dx.
I don't understand the requirement to quit coffee. My hepatologist recommended I continue with drinking my coffee, said it was good for me. I drank coffee all through treatment. Is there something about your own situation that your doctor wants you to quit?
I think a lot of people on the forum smoked and/or drank coffee during treatment. I have to date not seen one piece of literature that either of them affect treatment in any way.
I have frequently read that people did not like the taste of coffee while on treatment, but then again treatments messes around with your taste buds. You might end up hating it or loving it while treating.
As Bill said, it has been suggested by several studies that coffee is actually good for the liver.
Unless there is some other medical reason, I would not stop smoking at this time, if it will add more stress.
I have frequently read that people did not like the taste of coffee while on treatment, but then again treatments messes around with your taste buds. You might end up hating it or loving it while treating.
As Bill said, it has been suggested by several studies that coffee is actually good for the liver.
Unless there is some other medical reason, I would not stop smoking at this time, if it will add more stress.
I asked the DR for the Chantix and he said he didnt' think it was good for me. I think I need a new DR. In Canada they insist you see a psychiatrist before u stat treatment so I will ask about Chantix again. I feel so much better since joining the forum Sometimes just having an outlet is all one needs. Good to know cutting back on coffee is enough. I am like u were a full pot before shower. Again u are right about the relationship thing being the hardest part to fix, Faith if I take the leap the net will be there for me and my little doggy. He is like my child it seems. Good Luck to you too and thanks so much for the reply bless you
Welcome to the forum! I am sorry to hear you feel so bad but the bright side is you are starting treatment.
I was a smoker and coffee drinker for 43 years. Never thought I could survive without both of these crutches. I quit smoking 2 years ago with Chantix and the support of a "quit" class at a local university. The Chantix worked well for me and I laid it all down within two weeks. I quit taking the Chantix at that point and never picked up another cigarette.
I didn't quit coffee (but I tried to slow it down) until I was treating. Within two weeks I couldn't stand the taste and stopped drinking it completely. It was nothing for me to down a full pot prior to my shower in the morning. I am 29 weeks in and I still am not smoking or drinking coffee.
Please take care of your relationship issues as I would think that would be more difficult to fix while treating. I know ~ I left a similar relationship!
Good luck to you and ask anything here as there is a great group of people in support of you!
I was a smoker and coffee drinker for 43 years. Never thought I could survive without both of these crutches. I quit smoking 2 years ago with Chantix and the support of a "quit" class at a local university. The Chantix worked well for me and I laid it all down within two weeks. I quit taking the Chantix at that point and never picked up another cigarette.
I didn't quit coffee (but I tried to slow it down) until I was treating. Within two weeks I couldn't stand the taste and stopped drinking it completely. It was nothing for me to down a full pot prior to my shower in the morning. I am 29 weeks in and I still am not smoking or drinking coffee.
Please take care of your relationship issues as I would think that would be more difficult to fix while treating. I know ~ I left a similar relationship!
Good luck to you and ask anything here as there is a great group of people in support of you!
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And why coffee? I understand the caffeine might increase anxiety; something that we tend to develop at times during IFN therapy. If their concern is the caffeine, would decaf work for you? There are a number of studies that suggest coffee to not only be liver friendly but also that it possibly slows the progression of live disease; here are six studies that discuss this:
http://www.google.com/cse?cx=000772985894926410863%3Awvp_6dwxpvm&cof=FORID%3A0&q=coffee+fibrosis&sa=Search
Very strange; at my last visit, my doctor at a large research and transplant facility wanted to make sure I was drinking *enough* coffee :o).
Good luck; and welcome to the discussion group, by the way—
--Bill