exercise during active Graves’ disease

[Kari55]

I have been on carbimazole since January. In the last weeks I have tried to go for a 15min jog (I usually do around 2k during this time). It’s a struggle but I enjoy it. Today, my heart couldn’t calm down for nearly whole day. Resting rate was 80-90 which is a bit high for me and I felt a but funny all day too.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Is it too early to do cardio exercise?

[pennyannie]

Hey there again :

Your body is in a ' heightened state ' and there can be a mind / body disconnect -

you need to rest and try and divert your attention into less strenuous activities -

what about a large painting by numbers ?

Has anything been advised regarding your extremely low ferritin reading ?

[Kari55 in reply to pennyannie]

thank you for your response pennyannie!

I’m definitely not going for a run again, perhaps I will try to do yoga or Pilates.

I’ve started taking iron nano, so will see if there are any results. I have seen a gynaecologist and he recommended a uterine ablation but I’m just not so sure about it.

[pennyannie in reply to Kari55]

Sorry can't help with this decision.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I would advise swapping to a more gentle form of exercise such as yoga/ pilates and walking (short distances) until your thyroid levels (plus key vitamins- ferritin. Folate, B12 and vit D) are optimal.

[JuSa44]

I had a graves relapse earlier this year and I was very hyper. I love exercising but I had to slow things down because my body couldn’t cope. I recommend doing stretching/pilates/yoga type moves until your thyroid levels are balanced.

[nooneimportant]

hello

Graves patient here - I am 2 years into graves and when I run I hit peak so therefore haven’t quite been able to reinstate it so I do a fast paced walk instead, I can now (in the last month) do weights and yoga but if I really really wanna run I do a jog on a trampet instead which eases some of the overall strain - and blasts my ear drums through my headphones - did one yesterday coz it was p!ssing it down! 🙂

Stress - in any form including exercise - makes it hard on us graves buddies so in my case slow and steady wins the race. If desperate to run you could try what I call jorking - little jog, walk double the jog time, little jog and so on.

For me I’ve just had to listen to my body quite carefully so, you’ve listened to yours and it’s said “erm no thank you not yet mrs!” Ok so plan b, let’s try some steady walking and gradually over time increase it … hitting just below what you’re comfortable with was a good start for me - even when I thought I can do more than this I stopped myself - slow and steady.

Like with any other illness your body is healing so we must treat ourselves like we would when poorly because we are - be kind to yourself and your body will thank you for it 🙂🏋️‍♀️🤞🏼

[Kari55 in reply to nooneimportant]

Thank you for these ideas! Jorking sounds good 😁 I’m struggling to remember that I’m actually ill 😩

[glo42]

Hello Kari55

You're clearly unwell so do try to be patient and listen to your body.

I have had to go right down from a daily run (which left me exhausted) to a daily walk and I also find that gentle stretches and Tai Chi are much better for me.

Be kind to yourself and please don't push your body or it will take much longer to get well. Pamper yourself and keep a positive focus on better days to come.

[Kari55 in reply to glo42]

Definitely won’t go for a jog any time soon. Will try a brisk walk tomorrow and see how this goes. My body clearly says no.

[pennyannie in reply to Kari55]

Just try a walk - and leave the ' brisk ' to others.

[Spagbol24]

I feel your frustration. I have resumed running while on Carbimazole since February. My heart rate does go high but I had a tendency to do that even before Graves disease. I will say though that it does drop to a normal rate after my run quite quickly. I do keep any eye on the HR while running and walk if needed. I can't find anything that gives me the stress relief of running! Good advice here from everyone! Though Im wondering if carrying on running could effect tablets effectiveness in the long run????

[Kari55 in reply to Spagbol24]

At what HR do you switch from running to walking? How would running affect tablet effectiveness? I’m seeing my Endo tomorrow so I can ask though I don’t think he knows much anyway.

[Spagbol24 in reply to Kari55]

Maybe goes up to 165-170...then I walk enough to make sure it doesn't go higher than that.Before diagnosis and medication it was getting to 198!!!

[Kari55 in reply to Spagbol24]

Gosh that was high for you!

I need to see how high mine goes next time I attempt to run. My Endo didn’t really give me any advice but this is exactly what I expected 🤣