Gym

[shaybenholly]

Hi does anyone else go the gym how do you find it I was diagnosed in October underactive I was to ill to go the gym I use to go 5 days a week blood result last week doctor said I'm optimised an I'm feeling much better was thinking of going back the gym twice a week see how I get on ?

[gabkad]

Sounds good. Just move forward at a pace that is comfortable for you.

[shaws Administrator]

I looked at your Profile but you've not given any medical history so looked down several of your posts.

I understand you've only been diagnosed for a few months. I don't know what dose of levothyroxine you've gradually been increased to.

You are obviously feeling better if you want to return to the gym but I would be cautious initially as it usually takes a while for your body to reach an optimum of medication. That's when your blood tests show that you have sufficient thyroid hormones in your system and you feel good.

T3 is the active hormone which is needed in every receptor cell in our body, of which there are billions. Intense exercise reduces T3 so I would think introducing yourself gently back might be o.k. Just go by how you feel afterwards.

[shaybenholly in reply to shaws]

Thanks shaws I'm now on a 100 Levo was told by doctor I'm optimised still slightly tired but I'm so much better now I told doctor that I still felt a little tired she said that could be my vit d my level was 4 but she's testing my t3 just to make sure it's not that

[greygoose in reply to shaybenholly]

Your TSH was 4? In that case, your FT3 is likely to be rather low. TSH should be around 1 once you are on thyroid hormone replacement.

If you feel you must go back to the gym, take it easy, don't push yourself, whatever you do, or you will regret it the next day - and probably for the next week!

[shaybenholly in reply to greygoose]

I'm on a 100 Levo an optimised now my vit d level was 4 I haven't been the gym since being diagnosed now I'm stable I want to go back

[greygoose in reply to shaybenholly]

Well, I hope you did something about your vit D! That's very very low.

Well, good luck with the gym, but take it easy!

[shaybenholly in reply to greygoose]

I did I take 10.000 iu a day with k2 thanks for replys

[greygoose in reply to shaybenholly]

[shaws Administrator in reply to shaybenholly]

Your Vit D level sounds extremely low to me at 4. This is from the Vitamin D Council:-

The Vitamin D Council suggests that a level of 50 ng/ml is the ideal level to aim for. This is why the Council recommends that adults take 5,000 IU/day of vitamin D supplement in order to reach and stay at this level.

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

[shaybenholly in reply to shaws]

I no it's extremely low I'm taking 10,000 iu of vit d3 a day I get it retested the end of march so I'm hoping it's come up a bit by then but I no it will take a long time to get it right

[shaws Administrator in reply to shaybenholly]

Although it is called a vitamin - like vitamin B12 - both are essential hormones which are very necessary and hope your numbers will improve soon.

[shaybenholly in reply to shaws]

Yes I've learned this lately I didn't no it was a hormone no wonder I was feeling so rubbish I think it cause fatigue like hypo I was getting muscle pain in tops of my legs quite bad that's really improved I feel well just the odd day I feel a lot more tired than I should

[Fruitandnutcase]

I have Graves and went to the gym twice a week and pilates once a week before I was diagnosed. I kept going throughout my block and replace treatment because I had been going for a long time and liked the people who went there. I also didn't want to feel that Graves was going to stop me doing the things I enjoyed doing.

I started going to my gym as a medical referral so I didn't ever mix with a testosterone fuelled crowd which suited me fine - I just kept to the same days/ same group of people.

When I was really ill I cut back on the level of intensity I was working at and did what I felt able to do. I was just ticking over but at least I was doing that, Just getting myself there in the morning was a major achievement some days.

You could either speak to the staff about your medical condition and get advice on how to continue or else just turn the machines back until you find a comfortable level of resistance and do what you feel able to do.

[shaybenholly in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thanks for reply I feel like that I don't want this to rule my life I'm going to take it easy an see how I go I was a gym bunny 5 months ago but I no I need to ease myself into it

[Fruitandnutcase]

That was how I felt - I just didn't want Graves to take everything I enjoyed doing away from me. My machines and everything I did was pretty much just barely ticking over but I was there and that in itself was good. Just cut right back in everything you do and don't go mad.

[shaybenholly in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

No I won't I'm just going to take it easy an see how I go

[Northie]

Hello there, I go to the gym four times a week, and I go walking often for a few miles. I have dropped the amount of cardio I used to do considerably, but I still do my weights and the odd class/swim.

I do, however, listen to my body more now and if I feel that tell tale exhaustion thing coming on, i relax for a bit, be kind to myself for a day or two, maybe go walking only, then head back to the gym as I feel a bit more with it.

Go for it! :). But do listen your body. Wishing you well.

[shaybenholly in reply to Northie]

Thank you I no I will have to listen to my body I have more energy some days more than others don't no what that's about but I don't want it to stop be from doing what I love so I'm going to ease myself into an not over do it

[shaybenholly]

Thanks I will do I need a bit of normality back

[Hidden]

Why not ask a professional at your gym to give you a programme of exercise suitable for your condition? If there's nobody there capable of doing that, look online. Too much exercise for thyroidees can be worse than too little. If you've only just found your 'sweet spot' with meds you don't want to throw things out again by overdoing it. And your doctor still has some investigations to do.

[shaybenholly in reply to Hidden]

Yeah I will do I was only going to do 30 minutes twice a week an take it easy it's more for my mood I go the gym because I was agoraphobic an it helped me beat that it helped me get past my anxiety

[Veggiequeen]

I eased myself back into exercise by walking. You have to do what feels right for you. I used to swim and then gym. I still can't do that but I can walk and feel fit as it doesn't exhaust me. I feel better for it as it energises rather than tires me. So please go for it but take it easy. Gym exercise will tax you more than something like walking.

[shaybenholly in reply to Veggiequeen]

That what in going to do I can only try an see what happens I walk quite a bit as well but I get a real buzz from the gym only going to do half a hour light sessions to start

[Veggiequeen]

just take it easy. Don't want to end up back at square one. I am going to start swimming again soon as well. trouble is there I really don't know when to stop

[shaybenholly in reply to Veggiequeen]

That's my problem I don't no when to stop I was wondering the other day wonder if theirs any athletes with underactive

[sandrad]

I go to the gym and feel better for it, however I need to pace myself and 'feel' my limit. I also find I need to take slightly more medication that day (I try to go three times a week). If I don't slightly increase the dose I'm useless, during and after for at least a day or so.