Caffeine / soda after LARP

My LARP-doc's team told me that caffeine and anything carbonated will irritate my bladder and make my leaking worse. This Mayo Clinic article agrees.

I work long hours - before 5am until after 6pm, including commute. I used to have few servings of Diet Coke during the day to keep me alert. Today was my first day back to work post-LARP, and it was rough.

-Gedman

Yes, this will be rough....will try to limit my coffee and diet coke, but I think completely eliminating them will be hard. As I am still avoiding alcohol, I can basically drink water or cranberry juice when I go out to a bar...

Good luck with the return to work. Tomorrow is Friday, so the two day week will be nice. I am set to return on Monday, and hoping the five days won't tire me out....

Give up chocolate? I don't think that will happen. Especially this week, after boss sent me tower of boxes of chocolate from Harry and David.

But seriously, feel blessed and lucky that these seem to be my biggest concerns right now.

only thing that seriously messed with me was asparagus. I mean messed with me tot he point I was on verge of going to ER.

Not going to give up chocolate.

yeah, probably true. Lots of burning if you drink coffee.

Some say cranberry juice is bad (unless you actually have a UTI)

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones.

STRONG Coffee, Pepsi, Coke, Juice, Beer, Wine, Whiskey and water, has had no impact on me, everything is just the same as before surgery.

Actually, wine and beer has had a "better" affect on me. I used to go to the bathroom very often before surgery when drinking wine, beer, etc;, now I can hold it for at least 4 glasses before nature calls.

The one thing that does get me, or concerns me. When I lay down, whether it be for a nap or bed for the night, I can only get three hours in, before I awake to go pee. This is even with nothing to drink for at least 2 hours before.

Asparagus?! Geez!! We had that for dinner last night, and not long after Hubby had his 1st bladder spasm!
Your right Davidg, I was seriously wondering if I'd have to run him to ER, as he was in that much pain! Thank God it soon passed!

Not to state the obvious, but maybe it's worth thinking about getting off sugar and caffeine entirely? I've had all kinds of inflammation issues over the years (in addition to the prostate), and I have found they have all lessened to some degree since I gave up processed sugar, gluten and caffeine a few months back. Plus, the instant weight loss is a nice fringe benefit...

Wish I had tried it sooner...

Doug

Okay, I think we need a reality check here. If eliminating sugar, caffeine, and gluten helps you, on your journey, than I support it. For you. But, here's my situation:

Yes, I should be grateful that it seems my cancer was caught early. I know there are many men here with longer and more difficult struggles. But right now, I am wearing adult diapers and have a messed-up sex life. Add in, no coffee, soda, alcohol, chocolate, sugar, can't exercise, ugly scars on my stomach, and I might as well just be completely depressed.

So, my take on these issues is: I am going to reduce caffeine/soda/alcohol first. If still having problems, then further reductions. But, eliminate chocolate? That seems much too difficult.

Sorry for being *****y...just haven't been feeling very good today, as the reality of some things is sinking in. Thanks for letting me vent.

Hey Brooklyn - no worries - be as "witchy" as you like - that's why we're here...

Naturally, what I decide to do, or what you decide to do, or what anyone decides to do about their PC is a personal decision - and I certainly didn't mean to sound preachy. But for me, PC has been a wake-up call - and since I can't do anything about the fact that I'm going to be "someone who had cancer" for the rest of my life, I figure I might as well do something about the things I can. So...for me, getting rid of sugar, gluten and (most of my) caffeine was a no-brainer - easy, actually.

But I hear you - quality of life is incredibly important - and while I'm not at the diaper/messed-up sex phase yet, I will be after July 1st (my surgery date) - and I imagine I may feel differently about certain things then. I certainly don't intend to never have a piece of lemon merengue pie again (my favorite) - but for the time being I'm saving the sugar for special occasions - because it makes me feel like at least I'm doing something.

Sending you some virtual chocolate - hope you feel better soon...

Doug

I am feeling much better this morning. Set my alarm once during the night to wake up to pee, and no problems.

I think yesterday was just my low point in all of this. I was baking a lemon poppy seed bundt cake last night (yes, you may insert gay joke here ;-) ), and couldn't find baking powder in the kitchen. This resulted in loud screams of anger on my part. Well, my partner went around the corner to the store and got what I needed. Clearly some misdirected cancer anger going on there.

I certainly agree about making some health changes in the future...less alcohol in my future, and working up to my exercise levels when I was preparing for marathons are part of my plans.

LOL Brook! I want some of that cake, it sounds good. I can have it with my immaginary coffee this morning. Glad you are feeling better. I have not felt so good also dealing with this crap. Today I feel like just laying in bed all day so I dont have to change a pad.

All this chatter about health and bundt cake, and noone can tell me what is likely to happen if I actually drink a can of Diet Coke? Don't you people have any priorities?!? ;)

-Gedman