Prelief and coffee or soda

[Cawaggi]

I've read several times lately that some of you can have coffee or another food or drink with prelief. The coffee is what gets me. Maybe I'm more sensitive to coffee than others. I decided to try soda (rootbeer) tonight with 2 Prelief and some water too (to dilute it). So now I don't feel terrible, but I definitely have some symptoms (urgency) that I don't usually have. I'm pretty sure that they will go away by morning, but I just want to know, when you have that morning coffee with Prelief, does it get rid of ALL of your symptoms? OR do you get a little symptomatic like me? I take Elmiron too, and I'm doing really well, but when I get like this, I'm afraid it won't go away again.

[yvette]

For me, sometimes its not so much the caffiene as it is the acid in the coffee and its strength.

I do fine with Dunkin Donuts regular caffinated coffee, while Starbucks decaf is just too strong and too acidic for me.....causing that horrible frequency (and urgency soemtimes)

Now I don't take prelief with my coffee...I myself think I would do pretty well with a spoonful of baking soda with water...prelief just doesn't seem work that well for me. Even things like Tums and rolaids don't work fo me either (for heartburn). I wish they did tho -- the baking soda works great...but its NASTY and the sodium is so high.

y. :)

[Melissa27]

It seems for me, that if I am flaring at all, the prelief doesn't help as much with the coffee. Also, I took prelief with regular coffee and it didn't help totally, so I starting drinking instant coffee and mixing it with 1/2 parts water and 1/2 cup milk, and having the milk in there and then taking the prelief with it seems to help. But, again, if I am in a flare, I try to stay away from it all together because I know I am more sensitive to everything when in a flare! Hope this helps! Good luck!
MELISSA

[New Jersey]

Nothing helps to protect me from any coffee whether it be decaf or regular. I have been pain and symptom free for some time now. I attribute it in part to completely giving up all coffee and all tea. The only hot drink I have is peppermint tea. I put Splenda in the peppermint tea and that helps me when I am looking for a hot drink. Giving up coffee was a struggle as I had to budget more time to get rest. I drink pear juice when I need that little energy boost. I find it even hard to find the pear juice. Knudson used to make the pear juice without the citric acid. Well wouldn't you know, they didn't change the front of the label but now add citric acid to the pear juice!!! Yuck. I stick with "After the Fall" and other brands that are pure pear juice. I hope this helps and good luck. It made a huge difference for me to give coffee up...it was worth it........... :cool:

[Cawaggi]

Coffee isn't good for me. I drank it diluted with milk a couple of day ago, but I had frequency/urgency all day long. I used to drink Kava from time to time, but I'm having trouble finding it...I'll check a different store. I agree about the acid...I think that has more to do with it than the caffeine. Peppermint tea sounds worth a try too! Thanks!

[marcy]

Prelief did not help me at all. I tried it before coffee and I was still sick all day with urgency and frequency. Sadly I have given up coffee. I tried using mostly milk and just a 1/4 cup of coffee but that didn't work. So no more coffee!!!!!!!! Marcy

[Cawaggi]

I'm with you Marcy. I have to give it up. One of my sons bought me two mugs recently, and I wanted to try them out, but coffee really increases my symptoms, even with Prelief. I tried water and honey at one time...maybe I'll try that again. I wonder about hot chocolate...

[Saraly]

I can have very weak coffee if I take two Prelief first and if I'm not flaring. I went without coffee for 6 weeks and it not only helped my bladder but I had no GERD symptoms either. If I wasn't a coffee addict I would abstain completely. :rolleyes:

[ICNDonna]

I can have one cup of coffee with Prelief, but absolutely don't tolerate any kind of carbonated beverages.

Donna

[rnewman]

I drink low-acid coffee (no prelief) but just a note to you all...

I noticed this week that when I have my almond milk in my coffee, Im ok. When I dont, it ups my frequency..just a bit.

Try almond milk..it really helps combat the acid!!!

Rachel

[sunshine_77us]

I've never seen Almond Milk. Where do you find it?

[prbetty]

Dear Movnfwd55:

Prelief takes acid out of food; acid foods can cause heartburn, as well as bladder pain,urinary urgency and/or bowel distress.
As Customer Service Manager, I talk to people regularly who have gastro issues (GERD,reflux,IBS)who are using Prelief successfully, many of whom are IC patients.

Betty Corson
Customer Service
prbetty@akpharma.com
1-800-994-4711

[LittleFilly56]

grouphug I had to give up coffee all together. I tried Kava, but it too caused me to go into an immediate flare after breakfast. As soon as I cut out the Kava, the morning flares stopped. I was a die hard coffee drinker in the morning, but I had to give it up. It was worth it for sure. One call to the hospital on one particular weekend when I was having some problems put me in contact with a urologist who said he found that caffine could make or break his IC patients.

[Dixiefireball]

i can take two prelief's and drink a z-up with no problems. wink

[Steph2]

Saraly - GERD -

I haven't drank coffee for approx 8wks & feel better. I do take Prelief here & there & one Elmiron Q night w/o the cap!
I don't recall what the GERD is, so will you pls explain.
I will say that in the past if I'd drank coffee and ate too much or too fast at breakfast, I would start coughing like I was going to vomit. Eventually I would have a big big burp that seemed to come from my stomach and/or esophagus, & then I felt so much better. It had gotten to the point of sometimes I actually did throw up. Any1 know? Thanks. S

[tigger_gal]

I guess I am pretty lucky because I have no problems drinking coffee. I have found that the prelief don't do me any good tho... :(
Brat

[prbetty]

Hi!

If Prelief does not seem to be working for you, be sure to take the recommended dosage, which is
2 Prelief tablets with every meal, snack and beverage. Additionally, tolerance to food varies greatly as does the acid content of food and you may find that you need to use more tablets than the recommended amount. If anyone has any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 1-800-994-4711.

Betty
prbetty@akpharma.com

[sherrie]

i was just diagnosed a week ago, so bear with me...
has anyone taken prelief with sprite or 7-up? i quit caffiene about 2 years ago (before the IC diagnosis), and i was able to drink decaf coffee and tea, but the only things i can have now are milk and water. what about juices? does prelief help with any juices? i usually like water, but i'm starting to gag everytime i think about drinking more water.

any suggestions?
:confused:

[prbetty]

Dear Sherrie:

Prelief takes the acid out of acidic beverages including juices, coffee, soda, tea, wine,etc.

Betty Corson
prbetty@akpharma.com

[mrsaridings]

I am having a really hard time with all of this. My coffee is what gets me going all day, I have had to cut back on it though and I am doing decent. I tried the Prelief before they prescribed the Elmiron, and I took it for awhile but cant stand it now. I had to eat with it and take it more than twice a day. I would get so sick if I didn't eat, and I am so not a breakfast person but I wanted my coffe so bad. I know tea is not exactly that great either for this but I have been drinking sleepytime tea w/ sugar and cinn. in it and I think the herbs in it seem to help a bit. It isn't coffee, but my pain is less severe and it still gets me going (despite the name). I also have found this organic tea called Guayaki. I get it from ingles, it has a lot of herbs and stuff in it and since I've been drinking at least 3 a wk. I've noticed I don't have the frequency, the lower back pain, or as much burning. It must have like homeopathic herbs or something. I know herbs shouldn't be good for you but I'm not big on these tons of pills I'm supposed to take.

[chris0710sct]

How about cocoa any problems?

[chris0710sct]

I have been in a flare for two weeks I am in so much pain> coming here reading helps is there any store that carries prelief and how much baking soda in water?

[prbetty]

Dear Chris:

In Massachusetts, Prelief should be on the shelf with the antacids at all Brooks/Maxi Drugs, Osco, and Walgreens. If you cannot locate it, ask the Store Manager, not the pharmacist. The Store Manager stocks the over-the-counter products and will locate it for you. Additionally, any other pharmacy including WalMart can Special Order Prelief for you.

Our recommended dosage is to take to Prelief tablets with each meal and snack. More can be used when needed. Prelief contains no sodium, no aluminum, no sugar, and no potassium.

Betty Corson
Customer Service
AkPharma Inc
1-800-994-4711

[mrsaridings]

Cocoa doesn't really bother me, but I don't really drink it much. I can't have chocolate but I can have white chocolate which I love. I can drink a white chocolate cappacino and it doesn't bother me. Denny's has a great one. I haven't tried the baking soda.

[sami4]

I cant explain this but I have tried every low acid coffee under the sun and all of them sold at the IC store with symptoms of frequency for hours after. It didnt matter if I took Prelief or used cream.
I was at AJ's Grocery store and decided to heck with it I was going to have a house blend decalf with cream and almond croissant. I didnt even know I had drank anything. I didnt have pressure, frequency, urgency nothing nada. I bought 1/4 pound of House Blend Decalf which says low acid on the beans and brewed some two mornings in a row--still not pee symptoms. Why this particular brand seems to work for my crabby bladder I just dont know, but it does.
Sammi

[JBE3]

I have been in a flare for two weeks I am in so much pain> coming here reading helps is there any store that carries prelief and how much baking soda in water?
one teaspoon of baking soda should be your starting point. i put it in a small amount of water, so i can drink down quickyl...it tastes really gross. but, it's worth it. usually within about 30 to 45 minutes, my pain has subsided. hope this helps for you!
becky b.

[labguides]

My MD said tea, even decaf tea has acids. I am not a coffee drinker, but would love to have a cup of Earl Gray de-caf or English Breakfast de-caf. Oh, well!

[sami4]

I read on another thread that to make Prelief granules, just put your tablets in a spoon and crush them. When I had a cup of my AJ's decalf coffee I have been doing this with two tablets, putting it into black coffee. It completely disolves with no coffee cup residue and seems to be working well.
Sammi

[ABliske]

I gave up coffee 7 months ago. To those of you who've had IC a long time, did you find you could tolerate coffee or other food items with Prelief after being on the diet a long time?

[soccermom32]

I was a coffee addict all my life until this IC stuff. I haven't had coffee or any caffeinated beverages since February. My doctor has basically forbid me from any caffeine, carbonation, coffee etc.....

Hopefully one day I'll be able to again, but he said while I'm actively in treatment, "NO WAY!"

I do cheat now and then with the chocolate. I can tolerate a little, too much makes me flare.

[skrix]

I too am an avid coffee drinker, and I learned about Prelief a few months ago. I also have tried the low acid coffees. After trying a couple, I now buy Purroast coffee and my entire family enjoys it. I have found that I can tolerate that morning coffee with my Prelief and I do take Elmiron in the morning as well. I do avoid soft drinks or anything carbonated.

[kellymh]

Hi,

I use prelief for any tomato based products. But I have found that flat caffeine free coke does not bother me. I crave cola's and also fountain pop with lots of ice does not bother me. I cut soda out of my diet for years, but it didn't seem to change when I added flat soda back in. I get migraines and sometimes I have to have a regular coke. Not sure what's worse, the migraine or the symptoms from regular coke. I usually have symptoms anyway so I decided that the caffeine for migraines is my choice, they both are terrible.

I guess everybody is different.

Kelly

[icnmgrjill]

Would you pour coffee on an open wound?? .... Noooooo!!!!!
Would you pour coffee with prelief on an open wound?? ....... Errr... probably not!!!!

Thus.... if you're in a flare, you have to assume that your bladder is very irritated, inflamed or wounded... which is why we don't suggest drinking any coffee when you're symptoms are active.

Coffee is just filled with all sorts of irritants.

Jill

[shelbyriva]

Hi Cawaggi.....try 2 Prelief and buy low acid coffee, Puroast has a wonderful selection of house blends, decaf and dark roast and trust me when I saw it REALLY tastes like regular coffee.....bonus :) . Taking the acid out of coffee with Prelief is good but also adding low acid coffee helps and maybe that Almond Milk like Sunshine 77US mentioned and you may be good to go!

[austink]

I take 2 preliefs with my morning cup of coffee and I am fine. I find that soda, particularly with artificial sweeteners, really causes flare ups but the prelief helps to reduce the symptoms. It works great for my GERD and IBS too. I swear by the stuff.