Flu like symptoms after exercise

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  • slay0r
    slay0r Posts: 669 Member
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    This has actually toned down quite a lot since I stopped doing lots of weight training, I don't know if that's connected somehow but I've stopped going to the gym as much and instead I'm doing 70 mins of intense cardio a day and I've not had any cold or flu effects...strange!
  • helenrs87
    helenrs87 Posts: 34
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    I also get this, had it about 5/6 times over the last few months. My symptoms are hives, ulcers, mild head cold, ringing ears and excessive aches much like I get with flu. On other occasions I though I had simply caught something (knowing that your immune system is temporarily weakened with exercise) but this cant be the case all the time, I've had it doing exercise in my own home, outside and at the gym. I get it mostly with cardio, but it has been triggered by weights too. I have been to the doctors 4 times and been laughed out on every occasion. I have also read about the shed of toxins when you metabolise fat that gets dumped into your blood. Especially if you have an over active immune system, I think this makes sense. It has been suggested that I had immunology problems, but a year and 10 months after my referral to the clinic... I am still waiting for an appointment. Have you ever had problems with your immune system? have you had allergies/hives/ulcers?

    I once went through a spate of getting in a very severe feverish state after a hot bath or sauna. My uncle is an alternative health specialist and suggested that the detoxification associated with such treatments did a similar thing, by dumping the toxins in your blood and your body responding as though you were ill. Have you ever had this?

    I am still seeking a solution for this, as I appear to gain more weight comfort eating when I'm ill than I lose working out. I will let you if i find any resolution as its getting me seriously down
  • slay0r
    slay0r Posts: 669 Member
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    Funnily enough I'd switched to cardio after doing this thread due to wanting to do some fitness challenges. All the illness stopped. Now I've just started to go to the gym again and the symptoms have almost immediately popped back up again, it can't be a coincidence.. I'm really run down today and I've got to cycle 10 miles back home in the extreme wind uuuurgh!
  • tariana
    tariana Posts: 4 Member
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    Interesting what you said about over exercising. But can 10min of cardio be considered over exercising? I always was a sedentary but last year, everytime I started working out, I got these flu like symptoms. The first time I worked out 30min everyday during 14 days, using the Biggest Loser Cardiomax. And as I had asmas and allergies when I was a kid, I rather stop the exercise and rest. Then when I was feeling better and got back to exercising, it came back with less than a week. So I rest and bought glutamina and once and again the flu symptoms came back with only 2 days of working out.

    The idea of my body acting against myself drives me crazy, because I really miss exercising. Hope someone will figure it out soon!
  • ivanr581
    ivanr581 Posts: 1
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    I have this same problem... One thing I did stumble upon was that we might get an imbalance of bacteria in our stomachs when we workout and in return makes us feel ill... A simple probiotic pill will get rid of this. I have not tried it out myself but a few people have confirmed this.. I will post back with results if end up taking them. Also if you try it out let us know te results
  • slay0r
    slay0r Posts: 669 Member
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    I've been doing the following:

    Having a seven seas "multibonita" Vitality vitamin which is complete with probiotics.

    I've also been eating some probiotic yoghurt (irish diet yoghurt it's amazing!)

    On top of this I've been drinking lots of non-concerntrated orange juice, taking my protein shake daily and making sure I'm eating more than enough.

    Not had the symptoms since but I have however been more tired on weekends.. that's probably due to 7 hrs sleep and 2+ hours exercise a day ontop of a stressful job but I hope the above helps. I've been having milk with my protein too.
  • goddessekati
    goddessekati Posts: 1
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    yes!!! thank you! i thought i was the only one having this...i work out 5 times a day, for 2 hours.
    i get this at the gym mostly, because i switch from hot to cold environment and i figured out thats the reason why i get it (this week though i was protected from the cold with scarfs and jacket and hoods and STILL got it)
    ...My symptoms actually get worse when i sleep, and when i wake up i feel like a have a cold, my throat hurts and i have ringing in my ears....
    i am so tired of this, i feel like its holding me back from my goals..plus none of my friends at the gym have it. i will try the probiotics and i hope this works..otherwise i dont know what to do. i feel exhausted from trying to find the right solution to this problem.
    thanks a lot :)
  • slay0r
    slay0r Posts: 669 Member
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    I got run down again last week, it seems to be when I don't allow myself enough rest it hits me harder as well. I think it's a mix of burning off fat, lack of recovery and not having the right things to boost your immune system.

    The combo of the green tea I drink, the probiotics (vitamins and yoghurts) and more sleep seem to be improving it so hopefully it's just a stage!
  • Sl1ghtly
    Sl1ghtly Posts: 855 Member
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    Has anyone else ever had the title? I seem to get flu like symptoms sometimes after I exercise, Sore throat, aching all over and a runny nose. It's a bit wierd but googling it there seems to be a lot of people saying the same thing. Does anyone know any potential solutions because it feels like I'm taking 1 step forward and 1 step back..

    Training beyond the energy limits of diet can cause several reactions including 'flu like symptoms'.
    I suggest reading this article- http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/training/overtraining-overreaching-and-all-the-rest-part-1.html
    Quite possibly your diet isn't balanced against your lifestyle/excersize.
  • LPS1986
    LPS1986 Posts: 104
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    I have an autoimmune disease, this happens to me a lot for like 12 hours after my workout. Just make sure to take it easy, not to say you are autoimmune but drink some tea the night following, get good rest and hydrate well throughout. I have a 24 oz water bottle that I finish by the time I am done working out.
  • dpacella
    dpacella Posts: 2
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    Happens to me after long intense mountain biking only. For instance, I just completed a 14.4 mile grueling race on Saturday. Was 2 hours of very high intensity (often hitting 95% Max heart rate; average ~150 bpm) Yesterday (monday) and today I feel awful...exactly as you described. This has happened before but usually only with extended endurance events.

    I tried to make sure i was not calorie starved, and had Pure Sport in my CamelBak. I drank lot's of fluid throughout the intense 2 hour.

    I am also following the PALEO approach to nutrition, and have been for the past 35 days. This happened to me when I was on the standard american diet but with a much higher frequency. If you read through the Paleo literature you will begin to understand why "chronic cardio" is actually harmful for us. It may make us look good in the short term but long term effects are negative. I dont know about others' goals but my main goal is to live as long and disease free as possible. I think I am going to limit the long endurance events. It's really not much fun anyway when I am maxing my heart engine. It's counter productive and works against us. Good luck
  • reneelee
    reneelee Posts: 877 Member
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    If pollen bothers your sinuses try a netty pot. Can be bought at pharmacy and you need to buy distilled water to us in the netty pot. It is shocking how much better you will be able to breath.
  • goleafsgo4325
    goleafsgo4325 Posts: 1
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    Another thing to have evaluated is chronic fatigue syndrome. This is a classic response cycle. You want to exercise, but when you do, you feel sick, usually 24 - 48 hours after. Then you rest and get better and try to exercise again. Same thing happens. From what I read, you want to make sure your exercise plan is gradual and slowly increase your tolerance.
  • ChristaCoetser
    ChristaCoetser Posts: 1
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    I have been struggling with this for many years and have tried so many different things. I came accross some answers, but it seems to be a skilled balancing exercise to get it right. I have an A blood type and harse exercise is not recommended for A's. Something in the blood is missing where O blood types have it present. Just go on google: "A blood types and exercise". Then I often drink anti-oxydens which assists with the allergies and the detox effect of exercise. I drink everyday some slow release magnesium which supports the immune against inflammation and muscle spasms that causes pain. Another natural support is: anti-biotics. This assists the stomach to rid of the toxins there. Then drinking water, but not too much. Too much results in loosing much needed electrolites.
    I researched on the importance of correct breathing. 70% of all toxins the body disposes of is through correct breathing. Type google: "breathing". There is a university in Australia that train people in correct breathing. Very interesting stuff. I found resently that I have too little iron in my blood and iron's function is to carry oxygen through the blood. But before using this, make sure to do a blood test for too much iron is very bad for your organs. But same story when too little is in the blood.
    I will try the anti-allergy medication. That is something I havent tried yet. Thanks for this topic. It is not good for living to not know. Best regards Christa
  • slay0r
    slay0r Posts: 669 Member
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    Has anyone else ever had the title? I seem to get flu like symptoms sometimes after I exercise, Sore throat, aching all over and a runny nose. It's a bit wierd but googling it there seems to be a lot of people saying the same thing. Does anyone know any potential solutions because it feels like I'm taking 1 step forward and 1 step back..

    Training beyond the energy limits of diet can cause several reactions including 'flu like symptoms'.
    I suggest reading this article- http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/training/overtraining-overreaching-and-all-the-rest-part-1.html
    Quite possibly your diet isn't balanced against your lifestyle/excersize.

    I honestly believe this is exactly what it was. When I was doing all my training I was still trying to lose weight so I wasn't getting in enough calories or carbs, I'm not getting these symptoms now I'm on a bulk. Now I'm eating 3000 calories a day I don't get anything near to this but as soon as I do a massive bike ride or something that lasts a few hours and I can't get enough calories in I get the symptoms again.

    Don't know if that's everyone elses experience but it makes a lot of sense, especially on a site like this where people are trying to lose weight and doing lots of exercise. I was burning roughly 1000 cals a day when I used to have this and I didn't eat all of it back.
  • teamAmelia
    teamAmelia Posts: 1,247 Member
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    I had something similar Thursday or Friday, but I think that it was my own stupid fault. I was on the treadmill and had the fan directly on my face and I was breathing with my mouth open. My throat and chest started burning after for about 5 mins and I stopped. I kept coughing and gagging. This was in the morning, and for the entire day, I had the worst time talking. If I would inhale to the point that a lot of air would hit my throat, I would have to cough. I felt achy, like I had the flu and was just miserable, but felt better the next morning.
  • fuzzieme
    fuzzieme Posts: 454 Member
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    Me! Always have, was told it would stop, didn't. My nose is the main one, sneeze city! Ha! Just take your time in the shower after. I take a twenty minute shower but I do my cool down stretches in there, not in the gym itself. If I have been swimming it can be hard to get a private shower at the pool so I go into the steam room and do sitting stretches. My nose hurts a tiny bit then but no other symptoms. But, shower immediately is my only aid
  • randybendorf
    randybendorf Posts: 2
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    Ok everyone is guessing, please stop.

    As always a few disclosures...did you get cleared by your doctor to work out? Are you an athlete? (I know you are not-but thats OK)
    Did you drop any weights on yourself exercising? If you did and this persists see a Doc right away!

    It is fine unless it is FLU season in your area.

    Working out or I should say, ramping up your exercise program a little to soon (especially weights) can produce FLU like symptoms.

    They should pass in 2-3 days gets a lot of rest, do not attend the gym - the idea here is rest, water and nutritional content.
    See a dietician (a real one) and get your diet modified to meet your exercise program.

    Oh and get your nose in some books! Don't ask people on here that don't even exercise or have many years doing it.

    Chow.
  • randybendorf
    randybendorf Posts: 2
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    PS if your a Diabetic you better see your DOC.

    Start here and read from CREDIBLE sources, not everything on the internet is true :)

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/320858-exercise-induced-flu/
  • geoffplahn1
    geoffplahn1 Posts: 1
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    Hi

    I have had similar for years. Starts with sore throat and lethargy.

    I dont have asthma or Exercise Induced Asthma (EIA), but just as a long-shot I used Ventolin before a workout.

    I recently discovered Exercise Induced Bronchspasm (EIB). This is a 90% fit ++ for me. Only that my sore throat can go on to a full blown cold/flu type experience.

    I have been told to eat better, take vitamins, try not over exerting etc: But Ventolin has cleared up the problem 100% when I use it.

    Research EIB and see an immunologist and allergy specialist.

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