[KSF2ndTime]

#1017898

After 6 years of normality, I’m in the midst of my first Graves relapse. I have two question for folks on this board.

1. Could doing the P90X workouts have triggered my relapse or was the increased metabolism from the workout just masking my condition?
Here’s the story. Last summer I did my first round of P90X. (For those not familiar with it, P90X is a video workout series in which you do some pretty difficult exercises for 1 to 1.5 hours a day, 6 days a week, for 90 days.) I finally lost the 20lbs I gained after my last Graves treatment and had visible arm muscles for the first time in my life. However, about a month after I had finished, I started feeling a bit hyper. After another month, my heart rate wound down and I regained my strength, although I still had an increased appetite and excess sweating. This March I started a second round of the P90X workouts. At first everything was fine, but in May I got a very bad flu. I was sick for 2 weeks and didn’t do any workouts the entire month of May. Again, at the beginning of June, a month after I stopped working out, I started having heart palpitations and even more excess sweating. Went to my new GP (I’ve changed States since my original bout of Graves) to get tested, and it turns out my T4 and T3 levels are very high. Quite a bit higher than when I was diagnosed the first time. So, is the extreme workout triggering an episode or is it just a coincidence? I’ve been pretty stressed out for the last 2 years, so that’s another possible cause.

2. Does it make any sense that my thyroid hormone levels are very high but I don’t feel that bad?
As I mentioned above, my thyroid hormone levels are much higher than when I had Graves the first time. Free T4 is off the lab’s 7.7 IU/ml scale now versus 4.63 then. T3 is 649 IU/ml now versus 585 then. And yet, other than a rapid heart beat and sweating, I don’t feel that bad. Last time I was significantly more exhausted, had persistent gastrointestinal issues, and resembled an ADD teenager in attention span. Last time I lost 10 lbs. Now, I’ve gained 5. I suppose I should be glad I’m feeling pretty good, but it doesn’t make any sense to me.

[Kimberly]

#1061532

Hello – I’m not familiar with that particular workout regimen, but in elite athletes, overtraining *can* be associated with hyperthyroidism. However, stress and physical illness can be potential triggers for Graves’ (and for autoimmune conditions in general). It sounds like you’ve had quite a bit going on, so it would be difficult to point to any one particular cause.

As for not feeling poorly, I attended a presentation last year where one doc said that many Graves’ patients *don’t* see the doctor when their initial symptoms come on. These patients initially like that feeling of having extra energy – but eventually, the damage caused by hyperthyroidism really wears the body down.

I’m sorry that you are going through this again — please keep us posted on how you are doing.

[Bobbi]

#1061533

Hi. I’m sorry you have come out of remission, but blaming yourself (the extreme workouts, etc.) ignores the fact that remission is, by definition, temporary. You were blessed with some years of normal health, which is really good. I hope that you are able to get those hormone levels under control again, so that you can continue to feel reasonably well, even though you are hyper again.

Take care,

[mamabear]

#1061534

I am familiar with the workout, it is an exercise that helps strengthen and tone muscles. In my opinion I don’t think it would have mattered. As it has been already said, remission is temporary. Symptoms and be harsh the first time or not and then harsh the 2nd time or not, each time can be different from the last.

The flu is what triggered my initial issues. I have been in remission for 4 years and have had the flu once since then and also general virus’ and I have not come out of remission. You just never know what it could be. I have had personal issues with my 16 yr old and it is very stressful but I am still in remission. It really just can come and go as it pleases. Sometimes we will never know what triggered it this time. The point is, is that you are out of remission and need to go on medicine to help you get better again. Working out is not an option, you can damage your heart and that is not what you want to do. I have not used the PX but heard it is great. Since you have it then you know once you are better you can go back to it and regain what you might loose. You have done this before, know that the medicine might help again. If it does not then go from there. Talk to your dr. about how you feel, vent on here if need too get it out!

I am in remission , I don’t worry when it will come out of remission, I just know one day it might and it so then I’ll deal with it. It is truly that simple for me, I’m a busy mom and can’t worry and if it does happen then oh well medicine again or something else if I choose.

Good luck

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