I did some searching today on the effects of caffeine on the body. These last few months I have had about two liters of diet coke per day and generally felt a bit restless and keyed up. After reading about all the potential "dangerous" effects of caffeine, I am going to stay away from it.
I found numerous articles where caffeine was shown to trigger the fight or flight response, activate the production of adrenalin and cortisol. People who take in caffeine throughout the day are basically in a constant state of stress, wearing out the adrenal glands.
People react differently to caffeine, but if you are a person who tends to be anxious, I think staying away from caffeine altogether would be wise.
Caffeine and HPA axis
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Viking
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Caffeine and HPA axis
Age: 31 Previous symptoms: penile pain, pain in the rectum, occasional shooting pain in the perineum. Helped by: relaxing / meditation, internal massage, abdominal massage, stretching Makes worse: stress, being out of comfort zone. Current symptoms: Occasional mild soarness. www.kroniskprostatitt.com 95 % better
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kevin
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Re: Caffeine and HPA axis
agreed.
Started: Spring 2003; high urinary frequency and pain associated with bladder filling; urinary hesitancy; pubic/prostate/perineal discomfort; Helped by: trigger point therapy, Afrin nasal spray, Cymbalta, hydrocodone (small doses), distraction. Makes worse: sex.
Not medical advice. Consult your doctor.
Not medical advice. Consult your doctor.
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Nyckelben
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Re: Caffeine and HPA axis
It's a bit gloomier though if you tend to be a worrier, but also wretchedly drowsy most days. Coffee tastes so good, and makes me feel alive in the mornings..
I haven't found it to trigger anything (the same day) yet(more than occasionally), but then I haven't found anything to definitely trigger the symptoms so far. Maybe in time I'll grow wiser and stay away from caffeine. Now it occasionally increases frequency, but just occasionally. No correlation no control.
I haven't found it to trigger anything (the same day) yet(more than occasionally), but then I haven't found anything to definitely trigger the symptoms so far. Maybe in time I'll grow wiser and stay away from caffeine. Now it occasionally increases frequency, but just occasionally. No correlation no control.
Age: 27 | Onset Age:25.5 | Symptoms: Intermittent: nocturia, hesitancy, ache in testicles, thighs,perineum, back. Shooting pain in lower abdomen. When sitting: tense/taut feeling in buttocks, underside of thighs.
Occasional dribbling. Occasional sharp pain in bladder area when bladder has been rather full for a while.
Constant: Somewhat increased frequency. Weak urine stream(less than 50%, change was sudden). Ever present, mostly not variable. Helped by: Not thinking about it. Made worse by: Drinking a lot of anything and then going to sleep (sometimes), sitting (muscle tightness) (sometimes)
Occasional dribbling. Occasional sharp pain in bladder area when bladder has been rather full for a while.
Constant: Somewhat increased frequency. Weak urine stream(less than 50%, change was sudden). Ever present, mostly not variable. Helped by: Not thinking about it. Made worse by: Drinking a lot of anything and then going to sleep (sometimes), sitting (muscle tightness) (sometimes)
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carld
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Re: Caffeine and HPA axis
I have to agree that caffeine can pump up the fight or flight and add to anxiety. I have been drinking it lately after 2 years off. I think it's time to go back to de-caff because I enjoy the taste not the buzz. I'm already a hyper SOB.... 
I am not a medical doctor. Please fill out your signature (click here) ☼ ☼ My Starter List for new members
I encourage anxiety prone UCPPS people to consider L-Theanine
Age, 44 onset age 37 Feb 2006 Freq. need to urinate. Sensation of having to urinate soon after going. Perineum discomfort/burning/tightness, pubic area discomfort @ times,poor urine stream, post urine dripping/spray. All symptoms have improved with my protocol. At the worst I give it a 1 to 2 on irritation and discomfort and frequency. Helps: Elavil 5mg for anxiety and mast cell protection, (will only take it as needed) self internal PT as needed, stretching, walking, stairmaster cardio workout and light weights, reducing stress, moment to moment relaxation, deep breathing relaxation and using a Theracane. Makes worse: sitting for long periods, stress, over focusing on it. Currently 95%-98% recovered. Stay positive, relaxed and control your anxiety.
I encourage anxiety prone UCPPS people to consider L-Theanine
Age, 44 onset age 37 Feb 2006 Freq. need to urinate. Sensation of having to urinate soon after going. Perineum discomfort/burning/tightness, pubic area discomfort @ times,poor urine stream, post urine dripping/spray. All symptoms have improved with my protocol. At the worst I give it a 1 to 2 on irritation and discomfort and frequency. Helps: Elavil 5mg for anxiety and mast cell protection, (will only take it as needed) self internal PT as needed, stretching, walking, stairmaster cardio workout and light weights, reducing stress, moment to moment relaxation, deep breathing relaxation and using a Theracane. Makes worse: sitting for long periods, stress, over focusing on it. Currently 95%-98% recovered. Stay positive, relaxed and control your anxiety.
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chrisjiujitsu
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Re: Caffeine and HPA axis
Since the topic was brought up on this forum I want to add how I think it relates to CPP. Valium tends to help many when they are in a flare. I can vouch for that, valium is a good friend of mine in bad times. Caffeine does the opposite by making your nerves more sensitive. So if you benefit in the short term from taking valium, you likely are hurting yourself by having any caffeine at all including chocolate.
Age: 26 | Onset Age: 20 | Symptoms: Used to be pain around the base of the penis, now I have golf ball in rectum feeling that can be very painful. | Helped By: kegal exercise/biofeedback (fixed ejaculation pain), antiinflamatory drugs, warm baths (intermediate term relief), hamstring stretching (very short term relief), the biggest being stress management | Worsened By: Stress, Standing for long periods, ejaculating used to make it worse, but not anymore
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Canbob
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Re: Caffeine and HPA axis
I would say the day I gave up caffeine for good was the day I started to turn things around with the chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome demons. I used to drink 8 - 10 cups of coffee a day. We're talking Starbucks and not the weak stuff. I really loved it. I still have a long way to go with chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome but I have to say of all the treatments, drugs, life style changes I have tried ... I got the greatest benefit from going caffeine free. It was tough. You can't imagine the headaches. However, it was worth it.
Age: 51 / Onset Age: 48 / Current Symptoms: Occasional burning during urination, frequency approx 2 times per night, sore testicles, sore perineum, difficulty sitting, pain for approx 2 days after ejaculation / Symptoms Increase: After lengthy sitting, ejaculation / Symptoms Decrease: After warm bath (particularly after ejaculation), exercise, rest / Historic Meds: Flomax, Cipro, Zithromax, Gatifloxacin, Minocycline Hydrochloride, Sulfamethoxazol, Roxithromycine, TMP/SMZ, Doxycycline Hyclate, Noroxin, Valium (Diazapam), Finasteride, Elavil (Amitriptyline), Prosta-Q, Q-Urol and Saw Palmetto / Current Meds: Aleve (naproxen) or Advil as needed
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kevin
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Re: Caffeine and HPA axis
Yikes! 8-10 cups a day will crank up your sympathetic nervous system beyond the point that a chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome sufferer can handle.Canbob wrote:I used to drink 8 - 10 cups of coffee a day. We're talking Starbucks and not the weak stuff.
I've cut caffeine out of my diet completely. No coffee, chocolate, coke.
Started: Spring 2003; high urinary frequency and pain associated with bladder filling; urinary hesitancy; pubic/prostate/perineal discomfort; Helped by: trigger point therapy, Afrin nasal spray, Cymbalta, hydrocodone (small doses), distraction. Makes worse: sex.
Not medical advice. Consult your doctor.
Not medical advice. Consult your doctor.
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Sleeper Service
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Re: Caffeine and HPA axis
I dunno. I quit caffeine for a while and it made no difference. Now I'm back on it I seem to be getting better anyway. YMMV.
Age 56: Onset 2006 and bouts on and off since then. See posts for details.
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scoobysnacks
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Re: Caffeine and HPA axis
Yeah at my worst it was as real agitator. Now, not so much. I see no difference and I drink green tea and coffee all day long and take a supplement with it it in before I work out. But, I'm an old hat at this stuff now...lol.
Age:29 | Onset Age: 25.5 | Symptoms: Initially burning in prostate/perineum, burning in urethra, uncontrollable muscle contraction before urinating, dual ache in groin, left testicle pain, feeling of golf ball in rectum, soarness in rectum, and muscle spasms, now mainly very mild urinary tract inflammation, burning mildly after ejaculation, some days after physical activity involuntary mild muscle contraction before urinating | Helped By: .5 mg of Ativan, Aleve (naproxen), quercetin, alcohol in large quantities (vodka and soda), stretching, walking, internal massage the perineum area and levators. | Worsened By: sitting, weightraining, jogging, coffee, caffeine in general, alcohol bothered me at first, overdoing sex