[Anonymous]

#1145065

Check out the Gail Devers story on the web. She won a gold medal after recovering from Graves. Ask your doctor when and how much is safe for you. :]

[Anonymous]

#1048683

Hello everyone,

I just found this group while I was researching hyperthyroidism on the net. I was diagnosed with Grave’s last week, after about 4 weeks of intense symptoms which erupted while I was running a marathon.

Until then I thought the fatigue and muscle soreness I was having were due to menopause (I’m 51(.

My hormone levels are just above the normal range, so eventhough my endocrinologist was ready to do RAI, my husband and I held out for PTU. I started that 5 days ago. I’m also on a beta blocker to suppress my heart rate, which was 30-40 beats above normal at rest, and relieve other symptoms.

It never occurred to me that I wouldn’t be able to run again until I read your current thread about Grave’s and exercise. Now I’m panicking!! I’m an athlete. I run 2-5 marathons a year. My husband and I have a running-related business. It’s not just a hobby, it’s what we do.

I’m prepared to not be able to run until I get this condition regulated, but I hadn’t thought it would be all that long! Has anyone else out there gone back to running or another aerobic activity? How long did it take? Were you able to perform eventually at the same levels??

Thanks in advance for any feedback! I’m just glad there’s a place like this where people can get help and support!

Karen

[Anonymous]

#1145066

Have had Graves disease for 2 years. I play tennis at least 3 times a week. I was in remission (no meds) for the past year. Two months ago my T4 went up again. I was very weak on the court- but I kept playing- thinking I had a long flu. After both legs went numb while playing- I imediatly called my doctor and had labs. He said I had to stop playing for a while for my heart and muscles to recover (on Tapazole and Atenolol) I stopped for 5 weeks – now I’m back playing- it’s like having to build all muscles up again. My tennis game is almost up to normal. It’s been one month since I have been playing again. I think the beta-blocker is causing some exercise induced fatique – so when I lower the dose I expect to be back to normal.
You will run again- and maybe even at a higher level

[Anonymous]

#1145067

Hi Karen. Yes you can run after Graves again. There is a woman(Becky) on this board occasionally who is in her mid-fifties still winning her age group controlling the Grave;s with PTU.
I run about 25 mi a week which I guess is about half of what you do. I am 45 and have run 4 marathons. I had a 3rd child at 38 and had symptoms of Grave’s for 2 years before I was diagnosed at 40. My chief complaint was running was so much more difficult-esp on warm days. I was on PTU for a year and was able to run as well pre-Graves. I had then RAI, and I have to say, altho my thtroid levels are normal, I have slowed down significantly-at least a minute per mile. Maybe I am older and fatter but such a sudden decrease in performance I still think is linked to the RAI. I have my theories-and altho I am a scientist and well-read, I have nothing to back this up. Synthroid replaces T4 which slowly converts to T3,the active hormone. The thyroid naturally produces 10% T3 for immediate use. We on synthroid, don’t have as much T3. We can carry out most of our functions normally but I feel can’t perform at as high of levels as we used to.

As for running now. Listen to your body!! Hopefully you are at the worst you are going to be so you are in recovery. If your chest starts pounding, stop. I know I tried to push myself through it before I knew what was happening and I”m lucky I didn’t have heart failure.

Sue R_K

[Anonymous]

#1145068

Thank you Sue and Laura for your responses about running with Graves. It’s such a relief to talk to people who have experience with this. My endo is not informed about exercising w/ Graves. He said only that I could do what I felt like doing but he didn’t think I’d feel like doing much! So far he’s right,I can’t run. But it doesn’t help hinking about the future!

I’m used to listening to my body, but now I don’t trust it! The worst part of this for me is the elevated heart rate when I am sitting still!! I’m used to that when I run, but not when I can’t control it!

Last question…can you run while you’re on the beta blockerr? I tried this weekend and my heart rate started skyrocketing, so I stopped.

Thanks so much,
Karen

[Anonymous]

#1145069

Karen,
When I was diagnosed, I had been involved in step aerobics and fitness training for six years and I was also a dancer. Since then, however, I don’t seem to ever have the energy I need to exersize or at least no where near what it used to be. I am also on PTU and have been for a year now and I am on beta blocker too. Just the combination of the two drugs can make me feel very lethargic! But, I have to make myself exersize and I still take 3 dance classes a week but even then, I sometimes “poop out” just doing simple excersizes. I think that once we are regulated maybe we will have more energy! I am hoping and I hope for you too because I know exactly how you feel!!! Meme

[Anonymous]

#1145070

Hi Karen,
I was diagnosed with Graves coming up on 2 years. I was also a runner prior to graves. I was training for my first marathon and unfortunately never got to run it. Just prior to being officially diagnosed with Graves, I was running comfortably about 50 miles a week. For me, it was almost an overnight experience that I could not run a 1/2 mile. Pretty scary when going from talking during 10-12 and then gasping for air at the .5 marker. Plus my heart was clearly pounding! I was so scared that I booked an appointment with a cardiologist. After extensive testing, he found “nothing”. During the next month I pushed myself (very discouraging) to just run 3 miles, and usually with stops throughout. I then developed a lump on the back of my neck overnight and again was very concerned. Booked an appointment with my GP & also told her about my heart. During the exam, she noticed my enlarged thyroid and sent me to an Endo. For about a year and a half I was on Tapazole. I too was not excited about RAI and wanted to try other avenues. During that time, I am sorry to say that I was never able to run the same, even when levels were in control. I never seemed to have that much trouble with other forms of exercise (in-line skating, tennis, swimming), so I quickly switched gears to these. I also should mention that my “endo” who is also very “fit”, strongly encouraged me against running at all. He said walking briskly at the most and to monitor it closely.
I decided in early December to take the RAI in early December 1998. Tough decision for me as I am 33 and would like to have children, but I couldn’t stay on the “rollercoaster” any longer. Tapazole for me worked that way, but everyone is different. At this point, I am still hyper although, I will give blood tomorrow so things may have changed. In the meantime, I have been very discouraged with running, but have been again able to maintain swimming, tennis, and skating. Not sure why? Obviously for me running is the most strenuous on my heart. I have been reading the other responses and am encouraged and will continue to plug away at running, but very carefully monitoring my heart throughout. (p.s. I would wake in the morning to my husband watching my heart pounding out of my chest!) I hope this helps, and wish you luck with your treatment & running.
Kate

[Anonymous]

#1145071

You can run on a beta-blocker but it should keep your heart from beating as hard as it would normally so you end up slowing down alot. As your levels (T4) start falling, you should be able to run again. I remember I couldn’t run for at least a week after I started the PTU but I did walk. Then I would run for a minute at a time and walk and run another minute. After a month I was able to go for 20 minutes( I know it doesn’t sound like much-it was distressing to be able to run a marathon and a few years later, have to stop to rest after 2 minutes)

I know its hard but you will get better. A running friend of mine just snapped her ICL ligament-she’ll be out of the running for a long time and is going nuts. You’ll be on the road before her.

Running brings you in tune with your body. George Bush’s chief complaint was he was having a hard time running when it was easy for him before leading to his diagnosis of Grave’s.
Good luck!
Sue R-K

[Anonymous]

#1145072

Karen, I think the beta blocker that I’m on prevents me from exercising to the full extent. My heart rate does raise – but not enough so I get tired before I should. As soon as I started the beta blockers my heart rate slowed down- are you on enough to cover the Grave’s symptoms?

[Anonymous]

#1145073

I am a student in college who used to run track for years in my high school years until now. When I read your story I was in awe. I went from running the 100-200 meters and miles a day to not wanting to run at all. I was just diagnosed in march of this year and have been on tapazole as well. It has been a constant struggle but I am dealing with it. I go to my doctor this friday to talk about the radioactive treament. To say the least I am frightened to death but I am dealing with it. Your story made me feel like I was not alone thanks again and good luck with everything.

TJ

[Anonymous]

#1145074

How are you doing now? I am also a marathoner and holding out while I heal. I am currently on .125 mg Syn. and still feel lousy and feel like my running may never be what it was. I am desperate to communicate with other female athletes. Did you have to adjust your expectations of yourself as an athlete? Are you better now? How long did it take you to recover from Graves once you started Syn?

[Anonymous]

#1145075

Chela, remember that Gail Devers won the Gold at the Olympics with Graves’ Disease, on thyroid replacement hormone.

How long it takes each person to return to a more normal state is extremely variable, depending on a number of circumstances, some of which are in our control, and some of which are not. (For example, the severity and duration of hyperthyroidism, amount of muscle lost, length of time to stabilize thyroid levels, nutrition and exercise, etc.)

You may have to give up your expectations of yourself as an athlete temporarily, but not permanently.

I am as active again now as before Graves’, but it has been nearly four years since my diagnosis. I went hypo three months after my RAI, and that’s when my difficulties really started. My thyroid continued to die out steadily for over three years, so I didn’t ever feel entirely well because my dose always needed upward adjustment. During this time I worked out regularly, but my athletic performance (cycling) was pathetic compared to pre-Graves’ days. Until my thyroid quit dying out and I started on Armour, I had problems with endurance, fatigue and muscle weakness. You probably will not have this much trouble, especially if your thyroid levels don’t change a lot and you have a chance to heal.

The endocrinologist speaker at the NGDF Conference last summer told us it can take many months or even years for our bodies to completely recover from the damage caused by hyperthyroidism.

Hopefully you have a doctor who will work with you to find the type and amount of replacement hormone that will restore you to your normal athletic performance quickly.

Best wishes,
Dianne W

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