I went to see my doctor today because I’ve been feeling very tired.
(This could have something to do with the fact that I’ve got six kids and one of them, an Angela.)
(I dunno. It’s tough to say.)
They drew several vials of my blood (Hooray! Instant weight loss!) and are going to check my levels for vitamin D, vitamin B12, thyroid hormone and Easter joy. In addition, my doctor suggested that I limit my intake of quick carbohydrates—i.e. anything crunchy, fast and satisfying—and give up what she termed “adrenal beaters”.
In other words, caffeine and alcohol.
In other words, my Easter joy.
I told this to Cate on the way home—as we pulled up, in fact, in front of a local Caribou Coffee. (It was 3 pm. I needed a pick-me-up.)
She stared at me, unblinking.
“You? Give up coffee?”
Her incredulity was highly satisfying.
She shook her head. “I’ve known you all my life, Mom. Asking you to give up coffee would be like…”
She paused, searching for the perfect metaphor.
“Asking a kangaroo not to hop!”
Exactly.
I’ll let you know how I do with this life change.
Awwwwwwwwww…..Poor Maggie!!
Oh, wow. You have my deepest sympathies….and prayers.
Seriously, though, I hope you figure out what's causing the fatigue and can fix whatever it is. Being tired all the time is no fun.
BTW, if you can do it, if you can give up caffeine, could you share how you did it? I don't think I could handle it. I'd go mental and my kids would have to lock me up, lol. 😉
Personally I like her comment of "I've known you all my life Mom"
A child, know her own parent since birth? No way! Still better than the time I proudly announced to all my third grade friends that "both of my brothers are boys" though :-).
ha! Went to the doc last week for same thing! Oh-and had nurse dig around first on one arm, then the other, then back to first before she could get a vein (taking blood has never bothered me before-but i almost passed out this time-!). Anyway, she is a Catholic, Hilgers trained physician who will be looking at hormones (acceptable). But also suggested magnesium and vitamin D, high protien, lo carbs, and….yes, yes, cut down/off that ol caffeine. I shutter to think!
I will be praying for you because I could not give up caffeine. It is the one vice I have in life. Have you thought of walking every morning to get yourself exercised and the blood flowing? I do that and drink caffeine and I feel like a million bucks. Hang in there.
Okay, Maggie- you can sooooo do this. I know! I just did it! And if I can give up coffee, anyone can. I'm from Seattle. We breathe coffee. In fact, I think I've been drinking 3-6 cups a day since I was 14 or something.
Okay, so…
The headaches those first three days might kill you.
But.
If you survive that, you're good! And then you can discover decaf tea, like I have.
Stop it. Seriously, it isn't that lame. Okay, maybe it is, but when you're desperate, you'll take it!
You will! Just wait!
Rooting you on from the west! 🙂
P.S. I am amazed and shocked to say that I feel soooooo much better off coffee. No one is more surprised by this than I am. I sleep better, feel less antsy (I didn't even know I was antsy), and I wake up feeling so much better every morning.
Yeah, but, Sarah…if I give up coffee I will be, like, giving up my whole PERSONA.
You know, like an alcoholic who says, "I can't not drink. I won't be fun anymore."
That's how bad I got it when it comes to my mug of coffee.
Oh Margaret….I'll be praying for you. I hope they can find out what's wrong and make you better and maybe you won't have to give up caffeine. Or,if you do, maybe start with 1/2 and 1/2 blends,they sell different brands in the grocery store. I feel for you. Hugs from California.
For every cup of coffee, drink a glass of water. You may be dehydrated, dear girl (which could seriously make you feel draggin'-your-butt tired). Coffee is a diuretic when consumed in large quantities. Just try it. Can't hurt.
I wonder if you may have an iron deficiency, which can cause that kind of tiredness. (But if that's the problem you need to cut down the caffeine anyway.) In any case, I sure do hope you're hopping around again soon.
Coffee: one cup in the morning and one cup in the afternoon…moderation is the key. As for alcohol…one cup in the afternoon, one cup in the evening…
I agree with Barb and the water consumption.
Oh, my! I know how you love your coffee…and the kangaroo analogy seems pretty apt!
Praying for you! 🙂
Thank you, everyone, for chiming it. I appreciate (read: NEED) the prayers.
I think that moderation *is* key, i.e. cutting back from my 4 cups of coffee/day.
Oh my. That looks bad when I write it. It's so fun at the time, though!
I noticed I had a bit more energy when I started taking B12 in the morning.
Margaret,
Sympathy and prayers. I've never been a coffee drinker though I do enjoy an occasional cup. But I used to have a major Coke addiction. As in 5 or 6 a day. It was definitely a part of my persona. And then I had to go cold turkey because I was getting TMJ. It was hard. But I did it and now only drink soda occasionally. You can do it!
I'll be praying.
Anecdotally: I'm approaching 50 and have seven children (the youngest is 4). I haven't experienced that kind of tired except in the early months of pregnancy. And I'm not in that great shape, but I don't drink coffee. Ever. I just never acquired a taste for it. My husband is a major coffee addict and he is beginning to drag a lot (yes, he denies it is the coffee). Coffee is a diuretic, so it does flush valuable vitamins and minerals from your body as well as cause dehydration. And, as you learned, it causes adrenal exhaustion and then the whole coffee/exhaustion thing becomes a vicious cycle. A good book that speaks of adrenal exhaustion (as well as how to eat well and heal) is "The Schwarzbein Principle." Good luck! Too bad it's not Lent, eh?
Deacaf coffee?? I'm not a coffe person so maybe that's not reasonable but seems like it would be a place to start. I think Barb's suggestion for the water is good. I would try it. I have had that tiredness and now take thyroid meds and vitamin D. It's helped. I hope they get you feeling better soon! 🙂
I gave up caffeinated coffee one Lent and by the end of the 40 days, I was really hardly drinking any coffee at all. Pretty much realized that if it doesn't have caffeine, there is no point.
4 cups, Margaret, is TOO much. You KNOW that.
it's already been mentioned by ditto on The Schwarzbein Principal. Seriously….she even talks about how to ween yourself off stuff (something like don't drop down to 3 cups for a week or anything….instead stay at 4 but make it like 3/4 coffee…1/4 watered down and after some time go down more). It really is worth the price(or you can get on the waiting list at the library – mine is currently lent out).
I recommend weaning yourself back by mixing decaf beans in with the regular. Do it one week's supply at a time and you'll barely notice. I did this and got us all down to half-caff painlessly.
There's no point in going cold turkey, or in drinking less coffee than you want to drink.
Find a GOOD decaf! For sone reason, the Starbucks decaf Italian roast gives me the same " mouth feel" as a cup of regular….and I don't usually like Starbucks!
Carla
http://www.bringinghenryhome.blogspot.com
You know what Margaret we have been on a "green smoothie" kick over here. It may sound weird but they are not only really good, they are also super duper packed with vitamins and minerals.
I think they can help you fight this fatigue thing you have going on. Green smoothies are a serious 'pick me up'. Even my husband was sold on it after he tried it and felt so alert!
Try it, it can help with the decreasing of the coffee too.
Praying!
From a fellow coffee lover, just wanted to let you know that coffee inhibits b12 (maybe all b vitamin) absorption, and you need b12 to absorb/ utilize iron well, so cutting back on the coffee consumption will probably have you feeling all kinds of better after you get past feeling all kinds of awful!!
I had to cut back for that very reason, and my best tip to make it possible to keep up with the "lower dose" is to make your one (or two) cups of coffee count by making sure they are satisfying, not just a quick fix – drink your favorite coffee in your favorite way!
Then make a list of all the things you want to offer up your coffee free hours for…makes it easier to drive past that yummy cup o' Joe when you know you're bringing graces to someone who wouldn't otherwise be getting them!!
From your friendly post Cistercian mass photographer here in sunny Texas,
Lisa