I’e suffered from chronic fatigue for years. I picked one up a few years ago on a day I was weaker than usual.

I also have radiculopathy in both feet ( oscillating electrical type shock feeling and my toes feel like their in a vise)

As expected I noticed an energy boost and I enjoyed the flavor much better than any soda pop I’ve had over the last 50 years. What I didn’t expect was a reduction of the shock type pain I describe in my feet.

I can’t describe how bad it can get other than say some of you would seek euthanasia if you dealt with this odd type of pain year after year.

I’ll be the first one to admit that I’m a bit of a penny pincher. I’d just as soon as buy some koolade as spend 5 to 10 pucks on a case of sodas.

Now I find myself spending nearly $30 a case at BJ’s for these energy drinks and I often buy 2 cases each visit. THAT’S CRAZY but I’ve tried a lot of drugs for this feet pain Lyrica, Neurontin, valium and Xanax. Only strong opiates truly work none of the drugs help but for some reason I notice I can tollerate the pain with these energy drinks.

I started drinking one a day then when I noticed the reduction of pain I started drinking 2 a day now I’m up to 5 or 6 a day. I’ve been taking them at the 5 or 6 a day level for about a year.

My last radiologist report stated that I had Ostepenia. (Pre-Osteoporosis) I already had one L-1 spine burst fracture repaired where the doctors inserted a cage. That was 14 months ago. Now my latest MRI & CT scans show that I have 2 or possibly 3 more compression fractures. Compression fractures will happen at least once for 50% ladies (I’m a man) after their 70′s “IF” they have osteoporosis. Being this is rare in your 50′s I decided to search the net for why my bone were fracturing. [Many compression fractures heal on their own] I was shocked to find some common factors causing or making bones loose calcium and minerals and they are soda pop, sugar and caffeine.

After reading this I knew I had to stop these drinks. Hell I’m on disability income. These drinks are over $2.50 each at quick stores. Some days that I cant make it to the warehouse store I end up paying more than $10 just to get through a day but I try not to run out of the cases.

I might add that I’e had all types of trouble trying to adjust my hours. I used to get to bed after the 11 pm news but these drinks were keeping me up until daylight to many times.

Keep in mind I’ve had a fairly uninterrupted supply of the E drinks for the last year. Armed with this new information I knew I’d better stop these E-drinks or my spine would fall apart and or I could become diabetic if I continued consumption of all that sugar.

I have a buddy that comes over on weekends for handyman stuff. He was headed over last weekend. I had run out of e-drinks and he usually picked me up a few each time he came over.

I explained to him that I didn’t understand it but I was so depressed. I didn’t have an ounce of energy and forwarned him that I would likely be stuck in my rocking chair while he was here. I added would you pick us up some e-drinks and he asked when I had my last one. After I explained that after I ran out I elected not to go get more since they are bad for my spine. He told me your feeling bad because of the e-drinks. He makes fair money but get paid every 2 weeks. He says he’s got to have one or two a day otherwise he will be grouchy with his girl and her kids.

I’d read an article where they said e-drinks were as addictive as crystal meth. (A get high drug) I laughed then but I’m not laughing now.

I know its a do or die kind of deal with myself but Im going to miss the flavor they are truly delicious. I’m a pill taker and if you are also you know that awful taste you can wake with. I used to drink (and looked forward to) a nice hot cup of cofee. I used nutrasweet instead of sugar back then (seems like a decade ago) but now I was waking up at 5am to 1 pm and heading straight to the fridge for an e-drink. What gets me about these e-drinks is how fast I down them. Before 30 minutes Ie downed 2 or 3 of them then I slack off.

I’m going to try and stop these suckers. Who would have dreamed I would have got hooked on sodas. I’ve smoked dope and other goodies in my days and honestly never remember feeling so darned depressed. Now I worry that kids or teenagers might not have the correct logic to deal with the depression and possibly make a wrong decision.

Dr. Oz show this Tuesday was all I needed to hear to promote my abstinence but many posters are correct. Dr. Oz forgot to point out that above all the ingredients (at least the ones they list) it states “2 servings” so one must double the totals for each can that they drink. Dr. OZ only 1/2 calculated the girl that drinks 16 cans a day. As if it were not bad enough she actually consumed twice what they showed on TV.

Well folks wish me luck. I wish I knew what drug or drugs help my neuropathy (radiculopathy almost the same) there may be some help in the E-drink concoction for people like me especially all the folks suffering from diabetic neuropathy. Maybe some pharmacy major or scientist will catch on? Once I get over the detox part Im going to have to learn to live with the rebound foot pain. (For folks that never herd of it please note it is nothing like how your feet feel after standing an 8 hour shift this pain is in a class by itself.

O yes I must add I do take other medications that can skew my thought pattern but lately Ie had a terrible time concentrating on any one task. I rarely finish a task before Im on to another task. It’s like I simply can’t think straight I will chalk that up to the E-drinks for now.

If I can remember and they don’t close this thread I will re-post with the outcome of my quest to stop. At this point Ive settled for a day on and a day off and a reduction from 5 or 6 to 2 or 3 drinks on the day on. Once I get to one drink eery other day I think I can get off of them.

Who would have ever dreamed. The FDA or some body needs to control anything that we consume on a commercial basis. And what constitutes a drug? If our beef is inspected why not our sodas. Also rather than the manufacturer printing the words 2,000 mg energy blend the blend must be listed for each chemical or ingredient in it. I never thought about the pesticide angel and that they are used for the crops of some of the ingredients.

People, we have to do something. We can not continue to be the lab rats of the world with Japan sending us lead based toys for our tots and dangerous drywall for our homes. Big Lots also sells energy drinks but their only 60 to 75 cents for a 16 oz but most appear flavors or brands that didn’t make it for whatever reason. I worry about what chemical or pesticides I might have taken. One thing is for sure I will never assume the FDA tests anything. Heck we know the drug companies just pay off the right people. Have you ever seen so many drugs recalled and or on the market but creating severe reactions.

Wish me luck. I hope my post helps someone. If you have yet to drink an energy drink do yourself a big favor and DON’T.

Coley

I hate the stuff. Guarana is not so bad but what little experience I have with it, it seems to be caffeine with a slight hangover.

Royal Ginseng? That stuff is good…