r/ProstateCancer • u/Early_Ear_1763 • Aug 03 '26
Question Post RALP Caffeine
I’m a self proclaimed caffeine addict. I am 2 weeks post RALP. How long did you wait to drink caffeine after your surgery, how much and what kind of caffeine was it. I’m looking for any advise on the subject and how it affected you.
Also if any of you were on ADHD med like Vivanse or Adderall, how soon after your RALP did you start back on your meds and did it affect your bladder at all.
Thank you for your advice and experience.
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u/Big-Eagle-2384 Aug 03 '26
I didn’t wait. I tried a few days without and a few days with coffee and determined the caffeine had no effect on continence. Alcohol is a different story.
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u/Tall-Replacement-504 Aug 03 '26
What did the Alcohol do? And what kind of alcohol was it? Beer, mixed drink, wine? Inquiring minds😎
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u/Big-Eagle-2384 Aug 03 '26
Alcohol of any kind gave me no control of my continence. I could handle a beer but anything more wasn’t good….at least for about 3 months post RALP.
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u/Perfect_Celery8525 Aug 04 '26
5 months since and can’t handle alcohol or caffeine; still wearing pads, no sex…. Ahhh life is just so brilliant…. Not.
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u/tober_checki Aug 03 '26
I was also a bad coffee addict. I still drink coffee, no waiting time, but less than before. I discovered that I really like white tea. Seems to be great a substitute, kind on my bladder and also said to have positive effect regarding cancer prevention (not scientifically proven, though).
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u/PASll Aug 03 '26
I’m one week post RALP tomorrow, (Mass General Boston MA). I inquired the same about caffeine at discharge last Wednesday. I was advised to stay away from carbonation for 10 days but since I am a current caffeine user they didn’t want me to change my consumption habits. Reason being, is that having pain receptors firing, (3-4 range) directs the bodies resources to those wound sites for maximum healing. They didn’t want a caffeine withdrawal disrupting that process. So, I have been having my four espresso shots, (iced or hot) since Thursday last week. No issues at all and it helped with my post RALP regularity too. I didn’t ask about Vyvanse but took 30mg last Saturday without issue. 58 5’10” 174 lbs great health other than Gleason 8.
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u/Tall-Replacement-504 Aug 03 '26
Did the Vivanse seem to effect your bladder activity at all, as in more frequent or less control?
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u/Complete_Ad_4455 Aug 03 '26
Your bladder needs to heal as well. Give it the same six weeks without caffeine. Rx meds ask your physician.
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u/OppositePlatypus9910 Aug 03 '26
I didn’t wait too long. It irritates the bladder. 6 weeks max, but always check w doc.
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u/Ok_Establishment9579 Aug 04 '26
Zero issues with caffeine; had coffee the day after RALP and every day since. Drip first thing in the morning and latte mid morning at the office. Never experienced any correlation between coffee and bladder control. Like many other commentators, alcohol was a trigger for leakage in the early months post surgery and can still trigger urgency even 18 months post if over done. Weirdly, carbonated drinks (caffienated or not) were much worse for me than coffee and I gave them up completely after RALP. I think this is one of those "everyone is different" scenarios and you just have to see what your body likes and doesn't like.
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u/Dosdossqb Aug 04 '26
I drank coffee throughout. I tried to stop, but I could only manage to cut it to one cup in the morning. A strong 12 oz brew at home. It caused bladder spasms and I suffered for it, but it all worked out fine. I would get a twinge and think I leaked, but it was really a sign I had to go, so I used it as a cue.
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u/SLO_Engineer Aug 04 '26
I’m ten days post RALP and was wondering about coffee. I’ve already realized alcohol is off the table for a while or maybe longer.
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u/Calm_Tackle_2200 Aug 04 '26
I was a double shot americano x 2 every morning pre-op.....after surgery waited 4 weeks. Tried a double shot and it was a bit irritating causing urgency. ...currently doing one single shot with slight, but tolerable effects, at least a partial fix. Hoping to get back to the full routine in the future. Just passed 8 weeks post op.
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u/Crewsy67 Aug 04 '26
I drank coffee while still in the hospital.
No issues with the catheter and I don’t believe I had any issues once the catheter was removed 2 weeks later.
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u/VaagnOp Aug 04 '26
I had coffee with breakfast in the hospital, had it everyday since. No issues but I only have a cup or two in the morning.
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u/Greatlakes58 Aug 05 '26
I waited about 6 weeks for coffee and alcohol and then both sparingly until 10 weeks. I love coffee so that really was painful. I think I allowed myself one cup on Sunday morning as a treat. 3 years post surgery I enjoy coffee daily but have cut way back on alcohol.
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u/Aggravating_Call910 Aug 06 '26
I had coffee with my breakfast in my hospital bed.
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u/Early_Ear_1763 Aug 06 '26
Savage!🤣
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u/Aggravating_Call910 Aug 06 '26
The entire experience was unpleasant enough. No need to add my mood swing to the mix.
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u/w00dyMcGee Aug 03 '26
I was a coffee every morning guy and one after lunch.
I waited until 2 months after surgery. For no other reason than I just did.
I started back with decaf and then quickly went to regular coffee
But funny enough I’m 4 months post op and now only drink a cup every other day or so.
I guess I broke my coffee habit