Exercise and Thyroid Conditions

[Persianne]

Hi,

Does regular exercise or lack of exercise affect an overactive thyroid in any way? Can exercise help reduce elevated thyroid levels?

Thanks.

[JuSa44]

I have an overactive thyroid and I find exercise helps calm me down but when I am very very hyper, as I have been lately, then I am too weak and exhausted to do anything.

[Portabella]

Hi I have an overactive thyroid and at my last consultant appointment he told me not to do any strenuous exercise. At that time I wasn’t even able to go up stairs so it was a pointless thing to say. I think regular exercise is helpful and I do a lot of walking and try to do weight bearing exercise because of the increased risk of osteoporosis which I find very scary.

[Billycasper]

Walking was all I could do when I had Graves’ initially. After a few months I went back to yoga but only a couple of classes a week. Later I went back to playing tennis but was very careful not to get over tired. May be I was over cautious but I felt heavy exercise had been a contributing factor, along with stress, to me developing the autoimmune problem.

[posthinking01 in reply to Billycasper]

I think you could be right regarding heavy exercise/exertion - would put a strain on adrenals as well - I always wince whenI hear of people running loads of marathons as to what they are doing to their adrenal response - it will be when they stop running that the damage will raise its ugly head - but back to main question hyper can put strain on heart which is why Dr. said no strenuous exercise!

[FallingInReverse in reply to posthinking01]

I am the poster child for this - 3 marathons under my belt. I miss them dearly.

[posthinking01 in reply to FallingInReverse]

Hi they provide the body with endorphins which is the feel good factor - often supplying a stimulant where it us needed by a sluggish metabolism- so I bet you do miss them - do you think they did your adrenals ‘in’ ?

[FallingInReverse in reply to posthinking01]

Im at the beginning of my learning on adrenals. But that is my absolute hunch.

I used to pass out (coma nap) for hours after when my friends would go out for a beer.

I remember running a particular half marathon that had a stretch of maybe 5-10k of long, straight and flat… and I remember as I inhaled and exhaled my eyes were closed and I’d every few steps let my eyes gently lift open then close again.

I can only imagine what my body was doing over those 10 years and constant training. Ugh. So much for turning 40 and getting healthy! But gosh I miss it sooo much, the goals, the improvements, being so capable and strong.

[pennyannie]

Hello Persianne and welcome to the forum :

Do you know the cause of your ill health, and have a diagnosis ?

There is more than one reason why your thyroid has become overactive and the antibodies - generally written as either a TPO - TgAB - TSI - TRab - or written as TSH Thyroid Receptor antibody alongside a number or range will determine the diagnosis and treatment going forward.

An overactive thyroid can leave the body totally exhausted and weak - as the body is in a heightened state - with metabolism running faster than normal - and you can feel your have run the marathon just sitting on the sofa - with your body exhausted but your brain telling you to run it again - as there is likely a mismatch in brain and body co-ordination.

I don't believe the antibodies have any bearing on anything - other than needing to be run to know which auto immune disease you are dealing with - as with auto immune we are looking at your immune system having been triggered to turn and attack your body rather than defend it - and quite why this has happened now is of course the 64 million $ question and you best placed to know the answer, if there is one.

If the diagnosis is an AI thyroid disease - there is no cure - but understanding the mechanics of the thyroid function and the treatment and management of same will help you better advocate for yourself.

If you care to share, your blood test results and ranges we can talk you through what it all means and offer considered opinion on your progress and support you throughout.

You can read much more about all thyroid health issues on Thyroid UK - the charity who supports this forum - thyroiduk.org

There are 2 AI thyroid diseases that can cause hyper type symptoms -

if you want to read around a little more suggest for Graves Disease you dip into Elaine Moore - books and website - elaine-moore.com

and for Hashimoto's - Dr Izabella Wentz - thyroidpharmasist.com

[Persianne in reply to pennyannie]

Hi Pennyannie,

I am literally just into this knowledge that I have slightly elevated thyroid levels. I have an appointment with Endocrinologist in 3 weeks. So I guess I will know more. I am not sitting around waiting for, that, but making any changes I need to. I am not tired or weary (other than with the weather), and I do not intend to be. I am not sure what the symptoms are suppose to be, but I guess I will be told. I have feelings of wanting to sick, but not sure if that is a symptom.

Thank you for reaching out, and for the resource links. When I get more info on my situation, I come back here.

[FallingInReverse]

this came up yesterday- see my response here!

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...