[Anonymous]

#1076799

Hi Jim,

Welcome to the NGDF Family first off. One of the things that happens after RAI is the thyroid releases excess hormone it had stored up in the organ. Thus it increases your heart rate and such. It is not wise to exercise so soon after RAI without doctor’s approval.

I would stop riding my bike and call my doctor and get in to see why you are having angina type pains after your RAI. You may really overdoing it without realizing it.

Get yourself to your doctor to have it checked out. Running hyper increases our heart rates and adds stress to the heart by itself. Adding exercise to the equation may be enough to cause your pain.

We are only a click away.

Jake George
On-line Facilitator
Co-Author “Graves’ Disease In Our Own Words”

[Anonymous]

#1020340

I am a 61 yr old male with Graves in my fourth week after RAI, with no effect noticed yet. Other than constant hunger, my main symtoms have been associated with my heart; palpitations, elevated heart rate,and angina like chest pains. These chest pains increase with physical activity, like riding my bike. This angina has increased as of late and has me concerned. I have seen a cardiologist,just prior to RAI,and all seems OK. The main test was a stress-echo, which came out fine.
Are these angina pains normal with Graves? What else might I do?

Thanks, Jim

[Anonymous]

#1076800

Hi Jake,

Thanks for the advice. I just came from a visit with my endocrinologist (two days ago), and he was a bit perplexed as to why I have these chest pains. He prescribed two drugs, methimazole (30mg/day) to stop hormone production, and isosorbide (40mg/day) to relax blood vessels leading to the heart. I’ve just started taking both, and they seem to be helping some already. Hopefully, this may get me through until the radioactive iodine takes full effect.
I have experienced some angina without excercising, which is quite disconcerting to me.

Jim

[Anonymous]

#1076801

Jim,

Were you given the go ahead to excersise now? From what I understand you aren’t suppose to excersise when you are hyper. Ask your Dr.

[Anonymous]

#1076802

Hi Imagine,

No,I’ve not been given the go ahead to exercise, but my doctor told me to do what i’ve been doing if it’s not uncomfortable. I’m a cyclist, so I’ve been cycling, but at a much lower effort level than normal. This is difficult for me as I have always been quite competetive and cycle agressively. I can’t wait to get back to some semblance of normalcy.
Has anyone else out there excercised at a high heart rate while hyper? For me, it brings on chest pains.

Jim

[Anonymous]

#1076803

Hi Jim,

We’ve been told never to exercise in any kind of strenuous way while hyper, and especially not if the heart rate is already high. I would think that your chest pains qualify as being “uncomfortable,” so your doctor would seem to agree that you are overdoing it at this point. One of the complications of being hyper is that it can make the electrical impulses to our heart erratic, so this causes double problems with high levels of exercise — not only can the high heart rate go into dangerous ranges, but in effect the heart can “short circuit,” which could lead to heart failure. It’s really best to take it easy right now. I know it’s tough for someone who has exercise completely integrated into everything they do, but for now it’s far safer to take it easy. You’ll be able to get back to it soon enough.

~Ski
NGDF Assistant Online Facilitator

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