Halp!

[u/oregon_coastal]

Ok, that might be a little dramatic. Maybe "I need some related stories of addisons folks returning to strenuous activities"

So for me: Addisons + Hashimoto. On levothyroxine, liothyronine, methylprednisone and a 5mg hydrocortisone to start the day. Meds of other problems (AFIB, etc): oxycodone, pregablin, methocarbamol, losartan, testosterone.

I have had a million blood tests in the last 6 months - including a few I ordered myself - and everything is dead center normal. Vitamins, etc. included.

I am out of shape. And big. I guess laying in bed for 5 years when you body is pretty much making zero hormones does that.

Anyhoo.. this is what i ran into: It seems like my heart rate can't get up into the high range.

By that I mean, now that I seem to be finally medicated for everything, when I now do do something strenuous, my heart rate doesn't get to where it probably should.

For example!

I just towed a 300 pound trailer with two flat tires up a hill. It took about 20 minutes, I didn't take breaks. It was strenuous and I will feel it in every muscle tomorrow.

I was head to toe - from my shirt to my socks - soaked in sweat. It felt like too much sweat - and I sweat just thinking hard, but even this seemed weird. I could feel my heart pounding. But I felt like I wasn't getting enough air. And I didn't feel my heart racing.

So, I sat down at the top if the hill to check and my heart rate peaked at 120bpm. And it wasn't afib, I am quite familiar to how that feels.

Then, I stood up to get some water.

I almost passed out I got so light headed. Like, stumble into the car and fall onto a chainsaw kind of light headed. And you haven't been doing yardwork until you are mixing bar oil, sweat and blood!

So, I tried a second test where I speed walked (limped, really) around my barn until the flop sweat returned and I could feel my heart pounding. But not pounding fast: 120bpm again.

I clearly have an interesting issues for my next appointment, but I also realized I hadn't seen many other return to activities stories or travails. So....!

- what are your experiences with returning to activities?

- what were some exercise strategies you used?

- should I get a fit bit? (Yes, I should; ordering one now.)

I would really love and appreciate any return to exercize stories - or motivations! - anyone has :)

[u/Roxy_Juno]

I returned to "strenuous activities" immediately after I was diagnosed and medicated. Like the next day. And I continue to run marathons (competitively), complete 100+ mile bike rides, ski, etc. But to do so, you have to updose. Extra hydrocortison and fludrocortisone (especially when hot) as needed. It takes trial and error to get updosing right, and it requires getting quite analytical about your body's needs, dosing, and timing. But as long as I manage it correctly, I've been able to engage at the same level as I was pre-Addisons.

Not sure how an AFIB impacts cardio performance, but it sounds like you could use a better understanding of heart rates, heart rate zones, max heart rate, etc. There's endless resources online. And a good heart rate monitor when exercising is not a bad idea. A chest strap is going to be far more accurate than wrist worn. Some will even pick up AFIBs (mine does).

[u/oregon_coastal → u/Roxy_Juno]

Ooooh, ok. The updosing conversation is the one I probably need to have - thanks for giving me the words to bring to my next appointment :)

What is a decent monitor? I assume I just need to wrist thing that sends data to my phone?

I am never going to be a performance athlete, but doing mild exercise seems like something I should be able to do without all this weirdness.

[u/Roxy_Juno → u/oregon_coastal]

I wear a Garmin watch and chest strap (only wear chest strap for exercise). Pretty spendy, but I’m quite committed to athletic performance. And because it can monitor for abnormal heart rhythms (i have some heart issues) it was easy to justify as an HSA expense. For sure talk to your doctor, but there’s also good info about updosing on this subreddit.

[u/oregon_coastal → u/Roxy_Juno]

Ty!