[Steph82]

#1059938

For those of you who are on Beta Blockers – how much do you feel comfortable doing exercise wise?

Prior to my diagnosis I was a beginning runner (I was running 3-4 miles at a time) and loved a good hard workout. I actually discovered I was sick when I nearly passed out doing a boot camp class, that is the incident that sent me to the doctor in the first place. After that I couldn’t do much without feeling dizzy and nauseous. I’m feeling great (finally!) and want to work out again but I was reading some stuff about beta blockers and how its could be dangerous to get your heart rate up while taking them. I ran a 5K race yesterday that I signed up for awhile back and while it felt great to be running I kept having this thought creep into my head that I could be harming my heart! My doctor never said a thing about exercise, only told me that I could do what felt “right”. Everything I read about beta blockers was just what came up in google.

Is it dangerous for me to be running and working out hard? I miss exercise! (and I can’t stop gaining weight!!!!) I see my doctor May 16th and I plan on discussing all of this with her at that time, but now what is the consensus on this?

[Talley]

#1178906

I assume I will be in the minority here, but I never stopped working out. I was dx with Graves in July/August of 2012 and I am on Propranolol. I work out 6-7 days a week – elliptical, treadmill and free weights. I listen to my body and workout as hard as I feel I can, but I work out most every day.
My doctor did not say anything about not working out – and I did tell him that I work out 6-7 days/week.

[brondack]

#1178907

In the minority – probably, but certainly not the only one. I got the good news about Graves in November of 2012 and have swung from hyper, to borderline hypo, to quite hypo, and back to hyper and I haven’t changed my exercise regimen at all. I work out one hour each morning at my companies fitness center and take several walks with my dog each day.

I guess I am one of the fortunate ones, because in all of the see-sawing, I haven’t experienced any of the anxiety, tremors, etc of hyper, nor the lethargy, etc of hypo either.

[Ski]

#1178908

As far as I know, beta blockers protect your heart, and keep your heart rate from going too high as well as minimizing the erratic heartbeat that can occur with hyperthyroidism.

Restrictions on exercise I know of are related to both those heart effects (which should be minimized while on beta blockers), and also the muscle damage that can occur if you are still hyperthyroid. Hyperthyroidism accelerates muscle damage, and restricts muscle rebuilding, so exercising while hyper can actually destroy muscle tissue and make your recovery take longer. Once you are at normal, stable levels of thyroid hormone in your bloodstream, that issue should be behind you and proceeding with a regular exercise regimen ought to be exactly the right thing to do.

[SueAndHerZoo]

#1178909

When I was diagnosed 6 years ago my BP was so low and my heart rate so fast that the doc put me on beta blockers, told me to STOP going to the gym, and referred me to an endo. After all testing and diagnosis I was put on Methimazole and stayed on the beta blockers for a while but doc said I could exercise “within reason” now. My Graves flared again a few months ago, still not under control, and I still run on my treadmill but constantly check my pulse to make sure it’s not going too high or too low.
Sue

[Steph82]

#1178910

I guess what I am saying is that I read that getting your heart rate up while taking a beta blocker is counter acting the meds and therefor putting added stress on your heart. Do you all not think that is something to be concerned about? You likely won’t feel anything until its too late right? I’m such a worrier that maybe I’m thinking too much into it. You just always hear about the healthy guy who died running because his heart just stopped or whatever, obviously people who die in that manner felt fine running otherwise they wouldn’t be out there doing it! I don’t want to do anything that will put me at risk for any additional issues (or death!) but I do want to be the active person I have always been!

[amosmcd]

#1178911

Hi, Sue–

I think calling your doc or even asking a pharmacist would ease your mind about exercising. I’ve only been on a beta blocker for a few days in a row a few times, but exercised while on it. I didn’t try anything new or more intense. But I’d been walking fast for exercise for 6 months before my diagnosis, and my endo cleared me to continue. I think exercise can really help with the anxiety and stress caused by Graves’. I’m recovering from my TT extremely well due in great part from being in good shape before surgery. I know that’s not possible for all Graves’ patients, but it’s worth trying if your doc clears you.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Amy

[cmac]

#1178912

Steph, after my GD diagnosis I was unable to run because I just didn’t have the physical strength. Also had an unslakeable thirst. I would try, but not get 1/2 mile along. Once the methimazole kicked in, I regained strength over about the next 2 months and got back to 4 miles, which I continue. I was on metoprolol all through this time. My feeling is, your body will tell you. I f you had a good 5k you should continue. To me the benefits of moderate exercise on anxiety and stress outweigh any downside. Just got taken off the metoprolol and replaced it with a water pill, hydrochloroziade, for hypertension. The beta-blocker was kind of a blunt instrument for me anyway, because I always had a good low heart rate, it’s the hypertension which is my issue.

[Kimberly]

#1178913

Hello – Obviously, we are fellow patients here, not docs, but patients are generally advised against strenuous exercise while levels are hypER.

Perhaps you could put a call in to your doctor’s office to see if you can get an answer prior to the 16th? Since your doc knows where your levels are, what your medical history is, etc., he/she is in the best position to advise you on exercise.

Take care!

[Author]

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