Caffeine question!?

I'm 2 wks post op and have been drinking decaf coffee. Well today I accidentally drank caffeinated coffee instead. Has anyone else had caffeine within the first 21 days post op!? I'm just making sure I didn't totally screw up.

There's nothing wrong with caffeine. Aside from the fact that it's a drug (albeit a legal one) that you might not want to form a dependence on.

I don't think there is anything wrong with caffeine except that it may constrict blood vessels and capillaries that you may not want to when you are trying to heal up. Caffeine also metabolizes fairly quickly so you did no harm.

I was allowed caffeine right after surgery. My doc just wants me to limit to one mug (16 oz) a day so I stick to that. No issues with it at all.

Whew. Ok, because all the post op guides kept showing decaf and that's what I was drinking but I've been an avid daily coffee (caffeinated) drinker for many years and was making coffee this morning and made caffeinated instead out of habit. Thank you all for the reassurance!!

My surgeon allowed caffeine on Day 2.

I didn't actually start drinking it again until after I was released to full diet, because I didn't want the additional stress on healing tissues. The effect is likely minor, but I wanted to get the best start I could.

I'm a year and a couple of months out, and have just recently started drinking caffeine often enough to regain a dependence on it. I really enjoyed not being addicted, I have to say. But a 3-week run of migraines ended up getting me back on it daily and I can't risk the withdrawal effect right now. So I'm back to having to have my cup of coffee daily.

You most likely haven't screwed anything up. I just share my experience to say that it may be worth it to not start back up a daily caffeine habit after having to go through withdrawals pre-op. :)

I was cleared for coffee after a month but had been having it earlier. I don't think its an issue of caffeine but more of acid. I had mine with half hot skim milk. nearly 8 years later I am still having it daily. Full caffeine. Diane S

My favorite Crystal Lite is the strawberry with caffeine. I cannot find that flavor without the caffeine. So even though the doctor said no caffeine I have at least one a day. I have not felt any drawbacks to this but I have yet to see my doctor and tell him about this. I am almost two weeks post op.

my surgeon didn't allow caffeine for the first six months, but other surgeons do allow it. So it seems the jury is out on this. At any rate, given that there seems to be no consensus on this, I suspect it's not all that harmful, if it is at all...

The reason they don't want you to drink caffeinated beverages right away is because caffeine is a vasoconstrictor and it has both local and systemic effects. For that reason, it can interfere with adequate circulation to your healing pouch, so it is a best practice to avoid caffeine at least until you progress to a regular diet. Having said that, one slip up is unlikely to have any major effect and some surgeons don't even require their patients to come off of caffeine. Mine did, and it has been SOOOO HARD! I'm looking forward to being able to have coffee again!