Exercise, Grave’s Disease and Hyperthyroidism

The other day I got to thinking about exercise.  If you follow me at all, you’ll notice that it’s something I tend to struggle with in the consistency realm. Years ago, I was super consistent about working out – I would work out at least 4 times a week. Personal training sessions, bootcamps, cardio, you name it I had my hands in it somehow. Once I was diagnosed with Grave’s Disease (an autoimmune disease resulting from the overproduction of thyroid hormones) I noticed my exercise endurance being compromised a TON. I just didn’t have the energy, and even if I pushed myself I’d end up feeling worse, not better. Diving into the realm of exercise as it relates to Grave’s has been super enlightening for this blog post – I’m actually sitting here asking myself why I didn’t research it sooner. In case this is something you’re struggling with or curious about also, I want to share what I’ve found with you!

My curiosity about the best exercise for people like me with Grave’s came to me the other day while, yes, I was working out. Right now, I’m in a season of hyperactivity after being in remission for a little bit. If I’m being honest, I was kind of expecting it. Just like many of you, this year has has a lot of transitions, a lot of ups and downs and a lot of stress. Stress is our downfall. Stress cripples us more than anything else as a society, yes, but also as people with Grave’s. So I got to thinking…. the purpose of exercise is often times to get the heart rate up, but what happens when your heart rate is already up? With many people with Graves, our bodies are already running at hyper-speed. Our metabolism is quicker, our heart rates are quicker, our bodies are just running faster than normal because of the excess in thyroid hormones, which is causing stress to the body. So is exercise that speeds things up and causes more stress on the body actually even good for us or are we being counterproductive and actually potentially increasing our risk for an adverse effect?

The findings? Both. It depends how controlled your Grave’s is. When I step back to think about this topic, it’s pretty clear to me that when we’re treating Grave’s with anti-thyroid agents like Methimazole, the primary intention is to slow down. Slow everything down. Slow the thyroid down, which slows the metabolism down. Slow the heart down, which slows other organ systems down. It’s not uncommon to find a lot of holistic treatments of Grave’s including meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, etc. The intention is to partner with your body to help it slow down. Realizing that, wouldn’t it make sense for that theme to continue into the exercise realm? It does, actually. What I found was that if you are in a season of hyperactivity and are working to regain normal thyroid levels, your primary goal is to listen to your body and help it to relax and slow down. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t exercise at all, but it does mean that increasing your heart rate more than it actually already is isn’t good. In fact, I read in a few spots that increasing your heart rate to dangerous levels during exercise can actually lead to cardiac arrest and other heart-related conditions (now, realistically, I think these are extreme cases, but it still needs to be mentioned that the threat is real). Having said that, from what I’ve been reading, it’s best to take it slow. Walk. Do gentle yoga. Get outside and breathe in some fresh air. If you’re feeling good, maybe even turn on a good song to move and groove around your house to. Bring in joy and fun, but do it in a way that brings peace to your body. Listen to it, it will tell you if it’s liking what you’re doing. Pay attention to the signs that it doesn’t like what you’re doing though too – not only just pay attention, but RESPOND. Don’t push yourself or you may regret it later.

My amazing friend Sara Flanagan, better known to the world as Ms. Health Esteem (PS – you totally need to follow her and check out her site, she’s a Grave’s Warrior and seriously someone you need to know, her autoimmune-friendly recipes are INCREDIBLE!!) had this to say when I asked her about her opinion on exercise and Grave’s: “There are a few things that are important to consider… when you’re first diagnosed (and if you’re flaring in the future) your heart health is a major concern, since an elevated heart rate and high blood pressure are typically major symptoms, among other things. So it’s really important to talk to your doctor about what the best options are for you, because you don’t want to stress out your cardiovascular system. I ended up sticking to very light yoga initially. And when my leg tremors weren’t as bad, I would go for walks. These days I’m in remission and my heart health isn’t a concern, but I do know that I can’t push my body too hard. I’ve learned to listen to it and respond from there. I still enjoy yoga and walks, but I also like to jump rope and do regular things like squats, crunches, lunges etc. Oh and dancing. I mean, it’s for funsies, but it’s also a great work out. I love it!”

Conversely, if you’re in remission or if your Grave’s is within normal limits and you’re feeling good, then experiment. Bring in some exercise that interests you and see how you do with it. The name of the game here though is figuring out what’s right for you. We may have the same symptoms, maybe even the same thyroid levels, but we’re different and the same kind of exercise can feel completely different. Figure out what works for you, honor your body and what it needs from you.

From my own experience, I’ve been using a lot of dietary changes and self-care to help support my body. Personally, I’ve chosen to take dairy, gluten and grains out of my diet almost completely. I’m Italian, so I might as well have given my left arm in the process, BUT it’s a constant work in progress. I definitely don’t do it perfectly, but I absolutely feel better when I’m just sticking to organic produce and organic, free range, non-GMO, etc. meats, seafood and poultry. I’m currently doing my own version of meshing together 2 ways of eating – the Autoimmune Paleo Diet and the Eat Right for Your Type diet. Luckily my blood type is O so it meshes extremely well with AIP with modifications. Again, it’s a work in progress and I don’t do it perfectly, but I allow myself a lot of grace =) Another thing I’ve been doing is using Lemongrass and Myrrh essential oils over my thyroid twice a day for their anti-inflammatory effects. I use an empty 10ml rollerbottle and fill 1/4 with doTERRA’s Lemongrass, 1/4 with doTERRA’s Myrrh and the remaining 1/2 with doTERRA’s Fractionated Coconut Oil. It should be no surprise to you either that I use other oils throughout the day based on need. If I’m feeling particularly anxious that day, I may reach for my Lavender or Grounding Blend. If I’m feeling fatigued, I may reach for my Peppermint and Wild Orange. I really do love having oils within arm’s reach on any given day for any given symptom. I also make sure I take the first part of my day to ground and connect in quiet. For me, this looks like no less than 1 hour every single morning right after I wake up. I’m a coffee lover, and while I know coffee probably isn’t the best option for an already hyper body, coffee actually grounds me, connects me and brings me peace. It’s comforting, and because of that I won’t give it up unless I start noticing extreme adverse effects. One thing I’m working on getting better at is unplugging at a certain time and having an evening routine. Relaxing baths, reading, shutting my phone down, etc. That is my work in progress, baby steps – I’m getting there.

I always love seeing the silver lining in things, so here’s what I want to shower you Grave’s Warriors with…. in a world where everything is speed and rush and do more, isn’t it amazing that our bodies are telling us not to? Think about it like this – your body is literally giving you physical symptoms that are telling you to realign in life, rebalance, let go of things that are causing way more stress, slow down, stop and smell the roses. You’re good enough, you’re amazing. Instead of striving and pushing and forcing, just be. Love yourself. Fall in love with listening to your body, giving it what it needs, rebalancing your life around things that make you feel GOOD and enjoying the process as it unfolds.

xoxo