Crossfit and elevated liver enzymes

erin_2828
erin_2828 Posts: 3 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I was just inquiring if this has happened to anyone else.. and if they had any future complications..

I did crossfit for the first time (the Angie workout) and it was way beyond my level of fitness. I vomited after the workout, was miserable for three days. I didn't really feel like my urine looked like cola, but was dark.
I had multiple PVCs all day. I went to the doctor and the only abnormal I found was my AST was 789 and alt 166 (liver function test).

Is this common after a hard workout, and is this something concerning? I don't feel like I had rhabdo but I sure don't want it.

Replies

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited February 2016
    I don't think the workout was the cause. I would think the issue existed before the workout and that the workout was beyond your current fitness capabilities. It also is not normal for a workout...even and intense workout to cause you to have dark or cola colored urine...this would indicate that you have some condition and that the exercise is exacerbating that issue...but the exercise wouldn't really be the cause.

    I would say that it is concerning and I would consult with a physician as to how to treat the underlying condition as well as what exercise is permissible with said condition.
  • Lycan_
    Lycan_ Posts: 104 Member
    Your issue seems to be related to the intensity of the work out rather than the activities in a specific work out. There is plenty of research that suggests that intense physical activity leads to higher AST results

    ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2291230/
  • rejectuf
    rejectuf Posts: 487 Member
    Don't go back to that gym, for the love of god. Angie is an awful workout for a first timer. If you don't have rhabdo you're incredibly lucky.

    Continue to monitor your health, drink tons of water, and if the soreness increases then go back to your doctor.

    Coaches that let a new member jump right into something like Angie (100 pullups, 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats for those who don't know) have no business in the profession.

    Seriously, google Angie + rhabdo. Even people who are fit can get it if they're not prepared or used to high reps of the movements.

    Any decent coach would have had you do a shorter, more beginner friendly workout while the better prepared members proceeded on with Angie.

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited February 2016
    rejectuf wrote: »
    Don't go back to that gym, for the love of god. Angie is an awful workout for a first timer. If you don't have rhabdo you're incredibly lucky.

    Continue to monitor your health, drink tons of water, and if the soreness increases then go back to your doctor.

    Coaches that let a new member jump right into something like Angie (100 pullups, 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats for those who don't know) have no business in the profession.

    Seriously, google Angie + rhabdo. Even people who are fit can get it if they're not prepared or used to high reps of the movements.

    Any decent coach would have had you do a shorter, more beginner friendly workout while the better prepared members proceeded on with Angie.

    Wow, crazy...I never heard of this until now...

    I've never been a fan of crossfit for many reasons which I generally observe to be the antithesis of a good, healthy workout...but yeah, blowing out your kidneys to get in a bunch of volume just seems absurd.

    I've yet to enter a "responsible" crossfit gym...OP, don't go back to that box. I'm sure there are good boxes out there, but yeah...I've failed to ever come across one. The city I live in has actually banned their law enforcement and fire fighters from attending crossfit boxes due to a substantial increase in off duty injuries, many of which have been career ending.
  • rejectuf
    rejectuf Posts: 487 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    rejectuf wrote: »
    Don't go back to that gym, for the love of god. Angie is an awful workout for a first timer. If you don't have rhabdo you're incredibly lucky.

    Continue to monitor your health, drink tons of water, and if the soreness increases then go back to your doctor.

    Coaches that let a new member jump right into something like Angie (100 pullups, 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats for those who don't know) have no business in the profession.

    Seriously, google Angie + rhabdo. Even people who are fit can get it if they're not prepared or used to high reps of the movements.

    Any decent coach would have had you do a shorter, more beginner friendly workout while the better prepared members proceeded on with Angie.

    Wow, crazy...I never heard of this until now...

    I've never been a fan of crossfit for many reasons which I generally observe to be the antithesis of a good, healthy workout...but yeah, blowing out your kidneys to get in a bunch of volume just seems absurd.

    I've yet to enter a "responsible" crossfit gym...OP, don't go back to that box. I'm sure there are good boxes out there, but yeah...I've failed to ever come across one. The city I live in has actually banned their law enforcement and fire fighters from attending crossfit boxes due to a substantial increase in off duty injuries, many of which have been career ending.

    Rule #1: If the coaches don't advertise their certifications, it's probably a bad box.
    Rule #2: If their only certification is Crossfit L1 (a weekend course), they're 99% likely to be a bad box.

    Luckily, many of the worst gyms are starting to close down as bad coaching tends to drive people away.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    rejectuf wrote: »
    Coaches that let a new member jump right into something like Angie (100 pullups, 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats for those who don't know) have no business in the profession.
    .

    Holy hell ...how would a noob even manage that type of workout?
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Lycan_ wrote: »
    Your issue seems to be related to the intensity of the work out rather than the activities in a specific work out. There is plenty of research that suggests that intense physical activity leads to higher AST results

    ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2291230/

    Yup, a number of years ago I ended up getting referred to a liver specialist as the result of blood work......my doctor was mystified as my health was great but my enzymes were wonky and then I stopped running on the same day I had blood work done, problem solved!

    It's not just crossfit.
  • erin_2828
    erin_2828 Posts: 3 Member
    Well I'm a former athlete so I did push myself rather hard but I just had liver panels in May.. All completely normal. I'm gonna stay out of crossfit for a long time and just return to my normal exercise. I'm not sure that crossfit is for me but I had no idea how bad it could effect you either! Thanks!!
  • robertw486
    robertw486 Posts: 2,399 Member
    I don't think this is exclusive to Crossfit, or any type of coach really. Personally I think quite a few coaches use the "push to your limits" attitude to assess just where you are and your mental game. Though that might be good thinking for those that tend to slack off, it might be dangerous for those with a strong mental game who just suck it up and push through it.

    I'd follow up with your doctor after taking it easy for a while and switching things up. I've seen people report some large fluctuations after intense stuff, even though I'm not sure what a normal "trend" might be considered.
  • rejectuf
    rejectuf Posts: 487 Member
    Erin, after you fully recover, I'd recommend looking for a Crossfit gym that offers an on-ramp/foundations class. The goal is to teach each movement in a small group or one-on-one setting, while easing you into the workouts. They'll also teach you to scale movements to your ability level.
  • Amanda_Tate28
    Amanda_Tate28 Posts: 168 Member
    I'm so happy my uni gym has a great crossfit program. I am overweight and am not fit yet at all so they scale everything for me and others so it is a good workout for us but we won't over do it. Like instead of 100 pull ups, I would be doing 50 ring rows.
    I hate that so many crossfit gyms out there are dangerous and don't care for safety or form.
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    Stories like this are scary from both ends of the spectrum. A coach (and crossfit isnt the only culprit here) needs to evaluate each person's fitness level and scale accordingly. I see just as many "my trainer overworked me to dangerous levels" from globo gyms like anytime fitness as i do from crossfit. But at some point a person has to take responsibility for themselves too. Regardless of what the wod is or what the coach tells you, you need to know when something is beyond your capabilities. Too many people put 100% faith and trust into the coach. I see it all the time. Coaches need to stop burying people with a workout & people need to research before putting thier trust in a coach.

    Lastly I am very grateful to be associated with what appears to be the only crossfit box that breaks all the bad stereotypes.
  • SconnieCat
    SconnieCat Posts: 770 Member
    edited February 2016
    rejectuf wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    rejectuf wrote: »
    Don't go back to that gym, for the love of god. Angie is an awful workout for a first timer. If you don't have rhabdo you're incredibly lucky.

    Continue to monitor your health, drink tons of water, and if the soreness increases then go back to your doctor.

    Coaches that let a new member jump right into something like Angie (100 pullups, 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats for those who don't know) have no business in the profession.

    Seriously, google Angie + rhabdo. Even people who are fit can get it if they're not prepared or used to high reps of the movements.

    Any decent coach would have had you do a shorter, more beginner friendly workout while the better prepared members proceeded on with Angie.

    Wow, crazy...I never heard of this until now...

    I've never been a fan of crossfit for many reasons which I generally observe to be the antithesis of a good, healthy workout...but yeah, blowing out your kidneys to get in a bunch of volume just seems absurd.

    I've yet to enter a "responsible" crossfit gym...OP, don't go back to that box. I'm sure there are good boxes out there, but yeah...I've failed to ever come across one. The city I live in has actually banned their law enforcement and fire fighters from attending crossfit boxes due to a substantial increase in off duty injuries, many of which have been career ending.

    Rule #1: If the coaches don't advertise their certifications, it's probably a bad box.
    Rule #2: If their only certification is Crossfit L1 (a weekend course), they're 99% likely to be a bad box.

    Luckily, many of the worst gyms are starting to close down as bad coaching tends to drive people away.

    Good points here.

    OP, why on earth would a coach throw you into an ANGIE!? Why aren't you in an OnRamp as a beginner to CF? An OnRamp will teach you proper form and allow coaches to assess your fitness and assist in making modifications that will suit your own personal level of fitness.

    I am a new Crossfitter and LOVE my box (heh. heh.). I also did a ton of research before joining... I visited my current gym and asked the co-owner a TON of questions that included what ALL of their coaches backgrounds were and what his screening process was for hiring coaches. Turns out each one has a background of some form that relates well to fitness, nutrition, etc. I also asked what they do to combat injuries in their athletes, how they handle modifications, etc. (There were about 4 dozen more questions... I won't list them all here)

    Unfortunately, you'll find *kitten* coaches and trainers at all gyms - like another poster said, it's not just CF related. If you'd like to stick with CF, I highly recommend visiting boxes in your area and finding one that doesn't have *kitten* coaches like you seem to have found with your experience.
  • erin_2828
    erin_2828 Posts: 3 Member
    I'm not blaming crossfit, my husband does it all the time!! I am too competitive for my own good!!

    I went today and my ck is 15932, LFTs elevated but coming down, and both my arms are so swollen

    I'm a nurse and I just never really looked into how the Angie could harm me, ignorant if you shall. I'm just sharing info so maybe other newbies will be smarter than me
  • Burger2066
    Burger2066 Posts: 126 Member
    Mine are elevated when I've been doing intense workouts for a while. I've never done crossfit, and have no intention of doing so. But I do a lot of heavy lifting and HIIT workouts. Right now I'm rehabbing a hockey knee injury, so my levels are still down. But they'll be off again once I'm back at full speed. They thought I was going to die the first time the doc noticed the levels. Haha (I laugh because my health wasn't actually in danger according to my doc after we ran all of the tests and went over my workout schedule).

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