Success at giving up sodas-Cokes?
#324197 - 02/06/08 01:18 PM
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How did you do it? Did you wean yourself off or go cold turkey? I'm desperately trying to do it and have bad headaches when I quit. I know that stuff is tearing up my stomach so I want to quit. Any suggestions?
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I just quit cold turkey. It wasn't that hard, but then, it typically took me at least 2 days to get through a 20 oz. bottle. Probably a good thing I was a big fan of water and herbal tea before the IBS hit. (Sorry, I'm not much help! )
Good luck!
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I used to drink it ALL the TIME. I was the same way – I'd get headaches if I didn't drink it every day. For the first week, I found it very hard, and I cheated quite a bit. Rather than drinking 3-4 glasses a day, I would limit myself to one only. Then, on November 19th (which I consider my first day on the diet cheat-free), I didn't have any at all. I just drank lots of water. The next day, I felt I had done so well that I didn't want to "spoil" it by having a diet coke. So I didn't have one that day either. Each day got easier as I became more and more proud of myself for sticking to it. And yes, I had headaches, but I just took plenty of Tylenol. Not the best solution, I suppose, but it helped. The headaches took about 2 weeks to go away. I won't lie – it wasn't easy – but it is doable. Just try to think of each cheat-free day as one more step towards feeling better!
-------------------- IBS-A since age 12, and fructose sensitive; with the exception of my pregnancy, have been following Heather's diet since Nov. 19, 2007.
Taking 12g of Acacia per day. Relatively stable since March 2008!
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I just quit cold turkey. I didn't get headaches so that was good but I really missed the taste! But it wad doable, I just drank a lot of water and tea instead. I would also have some cranberry juice diluted with water. Not the same but oh well
-------------------- IBS-C, bloating, cramps
pregnant
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Thanks for the advice ladies. I'm getting married in May and I'm very stressed with wedding stuff and we are trying to buy a house. It's our FIFTH house we are trying to buy since October and it has been a nightmare. Needless to say, I feel like a walking balloon. The caffeine also gives me migraines so I'd do myself a big favor by giving it up altogether!
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I agree with everyone else. Just say NO. That is what I had to do for coffee and everytime I was tempted I reminded myself of the discomfort I would feel if I gave in to that temptation. After about two weeks I got passed my addiction to caffeine and now I carry herbal tea bags with me everywhere and just ask for hot water.
-------------------- IBS-D, Gas & Bloating
Barbara50
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To be honest...diet coke doesn't bother me. I try to drink the caffeine free type. I know everyone is different.
Have you tried a little seltzer with a safe fruit juice for you...at least you get some carbonation. (unless that really bothers you)
Sandy
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I was the biggest diet coke addict in my past life and I sometimes wonder if that contributed to developing IBS. I probably drank 60-100 oz a day. Nothing tasted good to me without it. I routinely picked up a 44oz in the morning on the way to work and continued all day.
I stoped cold turkey. I occasionally try a litte c.f. now but it usually hurts my stomach as soon as it goes down.
Just quit. Unfortunatley, pop is a big trigger.
-------------------- Laura
DX IBS 12/07
Following IBS Diet with Weight Watchers
Also GERD
Former cast iron stomach
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Fortunately, I had already weaned myself off much of the caffeine when I was pregnant. After I stopped nursing, I added the caffeinated cokes back a little at a time, but was mostly drinking caff-free Coke. By the time IBS hit full-force, I was probably having 6-7 cans per day on a normal day. When I decided to quit, my battle was more with intense cravings, rather than withdrawal headaches.
Even 2 years later, I still miss coke on occasion. I will never go back, though... Within less than a week of quitting cokes altogether, I went from constant nausea and D many times a day, to only 3-4 bad days a week... cut my symptoms in half!! Following the rest of the diet (and addressing underlying anxiety/depression) fixed the rest.
When I do have an intense craving now, I sometimes have one little sip, but the indigestion that lasts for the rest of the afternoon is enough to curb any more cravings for a while...
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