Has anyone become ill following over exercise or eating disorder.

[zoeleestar]

Hi, has anyone experienced illness following a period of intensive exercise or calorie restriction and have you regained health. I think I've caused problems with my hormones and adrenal fatigue/ hypo. I'm treated for thyroid and PCOS. I still suffer fatigue and would be interested to know if anyone has advice around restoring health or could damage be irrepairable. Thanks.

[greygoose]

Well, calorie restriction has a negative effect on conversion, so it would make you more hypo. Anorexics often end up with hypothyroidism.

Intensive exercise uses your T3 - and a lot of other hormones, too - which you cannot easily replaced when you're hypo. So, that would make you more hypo, too. Best to avoid until you're optimal.

As to whether the damage is irreparable... Remains to be seen. But the best treatment is to eat more, exercise less, and optimise your T3.

[Angel_of_the_North]

I'm pretty sure that's what did it for me. I was a competitive bodybuilder. When I started to be ill, I wasn't checked for thyroid at all, just adrenal problems. But although I had an abnormal short synacthen test, I didn't have Addison's or Cushings, so nothing was ever done. I was just left to get on with it on my own. I had to change job (to one with paid sick leave!) and give up heavy exercise. That was over 25 years ago. Rest, dietary changes, meditation, healing sounds, biohrt and T3 have all helped, but I'm still not really right. But so much better than I was.

[Hidden]

Yes yes yes yes yes.

I had a severe RED for 5 years. I am now overweight and hypothyroid. Dieting never did work for anyone, it gets us all the same in the end. I was never overweight before in my life.

As for recovery, I'm still working on that one. I live in hope. The things that have improved it for me so far:

1. Maximum nutrition - don't cut anything from your diet unless it makes you feel ill. Eat saturated fats, good carbs like root vegetables and fruit and well prepared grains. Eat protein if you can digest it. I can't, so I'm taking amino acid powder instead.

2. Supplement b vitamins. You can't really go wrong with them, they're so important.

3. Try to rest as much as you possibly can. Don't go to the gym or go running. Walking is plenty enough exercise.

4. Don't cut calories. Calorie labels are an evil invention in my opinion. I wish I had never started counting them. Its a hard habit to kick.

5. Sleep 9-10 hours a night. Go to bed at 9-10pm. Make sure you're asleep before 11pm.

6. Don't be stressed. Try to spend as little energy on being stressed. Being in front of screens, arguments, staying up late, getting over hungry, these are all hidden stressors.

7. If you avoid anything in your diet, make it polyunsaturated fatslike margarine and vegetable oil. They cause problems Iin the thyroid.

9. Don't drink too much water and cold drinks. Drink only when thirsty. Your pee should be yellow. If its clear, you're drinking too much which stresses your cells.

Buy a thermometer and check your core temperature. If it is below 37 C it is not optimal. Experiment and see what makes it go up or down, and try to get it to increase.

Its a long frustrating process to heal but remind yourself you don't really have an option. If you try to restrict etc again, you'll just have more damage to clear up later. I WISH I had known this before I dieted myself overweight. But at least I hope it can help you

Best of luck. Keep going strong. You're not alone and you're not a failure.

[zoeleestar]

Thanks so much for the reply I appreciate you writing the post and your advice x