If this lump is indeed just a false alarm, caffeine may play a part in the fluctuation of hormone levels that lead to the development of these kinds of things in my breast tissue. Both my mom and older sister cut most of the caffeine out of their diets long ago --- now it's my turn. This shouldn't be a hardship in most ways. I haven't touched chocolate since about one-third of the way into this reducing regimen. I'm not accustomed to drinking tea or soda. And it's way too hot in this part of the world to savor a cup of cocoa! What is definitely going to be tough is making the switch in my morning coffee.
Was decaf available in the 1940s? Apparently so. The process of stripping the "caffein" from coffee beans was developed in Germany in 1903. A brand called Dekafa was introduced in the U.S. in 1909 or 1910, but it wasn't until General Foods began distributing Sanka (French for "without caffein") nationwide in 1928 that the concept took off. By the '40s, Sanka was available in an instant variety, too.
Of course, the big selling point in those days was not any kind of link to fibrocystic breasts, it was the idea that caffein-free coffee could prevent the "jitters" and sleeplessness that came along with a nightly cup of coffee. Judging from my American Woman's Cook Book (1945), coffee or tea were still a tradition at the evening meal, so I wouldn't be surprised in the least if insomnia was a problem for lots of people - especially those who drank coffee with a late dinner! Here's what my cookbook has to say about decaf:
CAFFEIN-FREE COFFEES - Coffees from which most or all of its caffein has been extracted are on the market. These are sold under trade names. Together with cereal beverages they are used by those who prefer them to coffee or who may find coffee too stimulating.
Day One of the Switcheroo: I made myself a pot of decaffeinated Eight O'Clock and promptly took a 90-minute nap. Eeesh. Will I be able to stay awake at work tomorrow morning?
15 comments:
I get this fibrocystic change phenomenon too....I too find limiting caffeine reduces the pain. Fingers crossed that it's what it is for you (very likely). Still, good to get it checked out. xoxo.
Hi Jitterbug:
I also have trouble with developing breast cysts. Limiting caffeine does the trick for me, too. I allow myself a cup of regular coffee every morning, but that's about it. Hope your tests go well.
Goood luck with the switch to decaff. A few years ago I decided to just cut off anything caffeine - coffee, soda, everything. You will feel better (It might take a while, but trust me). Best wishes :)
I switched to organic coffee and have had great results. The decaff taste great too! Use organic and do half caffeine and half decaf till you wean yourself to no caffeine. Then you will avoid the headaches.
Good for you. I've gotten off caffeine completely a couple of times in the past and stayed off for years. You will probably get headaches for about 3 days but it will stop completely. I would exercise a little in the morning to wake me up instead. Looking back, I was much healthier...hmmm. ;)
I admire you for taking a step to get off coffee and caffeine. I would find myself on the couch taking a nap too.
I found a copy of The American Woman's cookbook at an estate sale. Love it!
Watch the head-aches. Before I became pregnant for the first time (12 years ago), I weaned myself off caffeine over several weeks. Once I became prego, I found I had lost my taste for coffee and tea anyway. So funny! I drank lots and lots of hot chocolate instead.
Keeping a good thought for you!
Wendy
Try herbal Coffee, it has zero caffiene, but has the kick start of regular coffee. In the 1940s, you could drink Postum, but now it's Teeccino. It's a great alternative!
Thank you all for your continued good wishes! I've been amazed in the last few days to discover just how many friends-of-friends have fibrocystic or other breast changes that cause scares like this... If there's one thing good that comes of this, it's pushing me to clean up my diet even more. My sister tells me also that her doctor had her start a Vitamin E regimen when this happened to her the first time.
Today was Day Two without any caffeine. No headaches yet and I managed to stay awake all morning at work. So far, so good. Just taking it one morning at a time.
Mama Kitty, I'm glad you're enjoying the cookbook. Some of the recipes freak me out, but there's so much interesting material inside. And some great recipes, too! Let us know if you find any keepers.
SpinnakerSu, I've never heard of herbal coffee --- must check this out. Is that the same thing as roast chicory root?
Sending good thoughts your way. Waiting is the pits!
Hi Jitterbug!
Teeccino is made with herbs, carob, figs, etc. I think it does hvae chickory in it as well, but I'm not certain. It does taste very much like coffee though! I'm told it aids weightloss, too!
http://www.teeccino.com/defaultnew.aspx
Man, am I glad I'm not more sensitive to caffeine. I don't care if stuff is regular or decaf; although if I overdo the regular it makes me a little queasy.
Best wishes. Hope you get the "all clear," after all.
I decafed my self a few years ago and was happy to see that it existed in 1955, though due to my budget, now I only by the caffeine for my hubby and I have one cup in the morning. It can be hard at first ( I actually had withdrawls with the shakes and leg aches I drank so much caffeine) so good luck, you can do it.
Curvy Kitty, the waiting part probably won't even be over with Monday's mammogram! I'll have to wait for test results or a phone call or something even then. And if I am fibrocystic, waiting is something I'd better get used to. My sister has been thru this four times now.
SpinnakerSu, Teecino sounds good! I'll keep an eye out for it in the stores.
Latter-Day Flapper and 50sgal, I think I'm lucky in that I wasn't drinking more coffee than I could've been. I probably drank two good-sized mugs each morning. Nothing after noon. Not great, but could've been worse. That's probably making this withdrawal a little easier than I've heard it is for some folks.
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