I mainlined Mountain Dew at a rate of two to four liters a day. That gallon translates into almost 2000 calories of sugar, way too much yellow number 5, and about 500 mg of caffeine. I was Single and Stupid and I pedaled every moment I could.
I didn't recognize it at the time, but I woke up every day feeling like this:
Dazed and confused, I stumbled through the first minutes of my day in a caffeine induced fog. But then I started drinking again and everything was fine. But not really.
I sometimes had horrific headaches. Sensitivity to light, nausea, blinding pain, inability to think, need for sleep - all migraine symptoms. It took me a few years to figure it out but my headaches are caffeine withdrawal. Excedrin is my Methadone.
If I don't take my daily doses of caffeine - morning and afternoon - I can induce migraine symptoms within 12 hours after my last expected dose. I can also make my poo burn 6 to 12 hours after spicing up a Big Box Meal at Taco Bell with Fire Sauce. I've done both experiments a few times. It's science.
If I'm off my drug for more than four days, I wake up all happy:
But I'm not willing to give it up. So I stay on the caffeine. It's no longer 4 liters a day and it's not Mt Dew, but it's consistent. I still wake up like my confused BabyGirl but at least I don't get the headaches.
Learning is another addiction I have. And bicycles. And collecting shiny slivers of metal. But by the grace of God I have only one chemical addition. I'm OK with that.
No comments:
Post a Comment