I didn't do it for a stomach issue but because I was trying to get pregnant and wanted to stop drinking coffee. I followed a routine for a little over a week where I mixed decaf and caf together starting with 3/4 caf, 1/4 decaf, and then weaned down every 3 days to a lower ratio. I didn't drink a ton of coffee throughout the day, though, so it was really just weaned off a cup or two in the morning.

If I drink a soda I feel horrible. I gave that up too. No tea. Kidney stones put a stop to that.

OP here -- thanks all.

In the long run, I think I'll still be on caffeine, but probably not as much as I have in the past. I'm not a coffee guy, but I drink plenty of tea and too much soda. (The latter is going to be cut way back.)

I do like green tea. I've been drinking decaf green tea now, which is probably overkill, frankly.

Can't do Advil right now. Stomach issue. It'll be nice when it passes. There'll be some lifestyle changes (again, soda), but nothing as drastic as what I'm doing right now.

I once confused decaf with regular, and didn't realize I had gone cold turkey. God, it was awful. I thought I had mono, and my doctor did thyroid checks and strep checks. I would never do this voluntarily to myself. I love my addiction.

Maybe you can try green tea? It has very little caffeine and might be easier than cold turkey?

I am trying also. been only 3 days. It is such a crutch at work. I find I start to get back pain and headache about 1 to 2 in afternoon if I have no coffee. really need to kick the habit.

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone had to go off caffeine, temporarily but suddenly, to deal with a stomach issue? What steps did you take to deal with withdrawal?

Yes. Take advil for headaches and just prepare to be tired/sleepy for 1.5 weeks. give yourself a chance to catch up on sleep. Contrary to popular belief, caffeine doesn't make you MORE alert, it just STOPS your brain from recognizing how tired it is. (The example used was with a car--it's not like putting a brick on the accelerator, it's like putting a brick behind the brake pedel)

Ok so when you start to go off it, suddenly you will see how tired you are. You will also be withdrawing--many people need their cup of coffee in the morning not to wake up, but actually to stop their withdrawal--their exhaustion from the withdrawl.

I've done this and was shocked at how sleepy/tired I was, and then after about that week+, was surprised at how chipper I was in the morning.

I have to tell you my DH also did this by accident (when he once confused decaf with caffeinated) and he was sleeping all the time. So, if possible, just have a weekend with not much to do and sleep in!

Good luck OP. It's worth it.

No stomach issues but I quit cold turkey 11 years ago. It was hard. Headaches, tired, so very tired, felt like I was walking through mud all day long. Within 3 weeks the headaches quit and 3 months into complete withdrawal I started feeling better. I'd wake up feeling refreshed.

Your body does detox. I cannot drink coffee at all and rarely drink a caffeine free drink. Water is the only thing I drink.

I did - not to deal with a stomach issue, but just because I wanted to quit caffeine. Water and naps. And time. I'm still getting over it (it's been a month), but it's better. Good luck OP.

Has anyone had to go off caffeine, temporarily but suddenly, to deal with a stomach issue? What steps did you take to deal with withdrawal?